WASHINGTON, April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Organic stakeholders have filed a lawsuit in federal court, maintaining that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the federal rulemaking process when it changed established procedures for reviewing the potential hazards and need for allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances used in producing organic food. A coalition of 15 organic food producers and farmer, consumer, environmental, and certification groups asked the court to require USDA to reconsider its decision on the rule change and reinstitute the agency's customary public hearing and comment process.

When it comes to organic food production, consumers and producers expect a high level of scrutiny and are willing to pay a premium with the knowledge that a third-party certifier is evaluating compliance with organic standards. The burgeoning $35+ billion organic market relies heavily on a system of public review and input regarding decisions that affect organic production systems and the organic label. The multi-stakeholder National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)[1], appointed to a 5-year term by the Secretary of Agriculture, holds semi-annual meetings to solicit public input and to write recommendations to the Secretary on organic policy matters, including the allowance of synthetic and non-organic agricultural materials and ingredients.

The unilateral agency action taken to adopt major policy change without a public process, the plaintiffs maintain, violates one of the foundational principles and practices of OFPA public participation in organic policy-making. In adopting the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), Congress created standards for organic certification and established the NOSB to oversee the allowance of synthetic materials based on a determination that they do not cause harm to human health and the environment and are necessary in organic food production and processing, given a lack of alternatives. Under the law, a review of these materials takes place on a five year cycle, with a procedure for relisting if consistent with OFPA criteria. Plaintiffs in this case maintain that the USDA organic rule establishes a public process that creates public trust in the USDA organic label, which has resulted in exponential growth in organic sales over the last two decades.

At issue in the lawsuit is a rule that implements the organic law's "sunset provision," which since its origins has been interpreted to require all listed materials to cycle off the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances every five years unless the NOSB votes by a two-thirds majority to relist them. In making its decision, the NOSB is charged with considering public input, new science, and new information on available alternatives.

In September, 2013, in a complete reversal of accepted process, USDA announced a definitive change in the rule it had been operating under since the inception of the organic program without any public input. Now, materials can remain on the National List in perpetuity unless the NOSB takes initiative to vote it off the List.

In a joint statement, the plaintiffs, representing a broad cross-section of interests in organic, said:

We are filing this lawsuit today because we are deeply concerned that the organic decision making process is being undermined by USDA. The complaint challenges the unilateral agency action on the sunset procedure for synthetic materials review, which represents a dramatic departure from the organic community's commitment to an open and fair decision making process, subject to public input. Legally, the agency's decision represents a rule change and therefore must be subject to public comment. But equally important, it is a departure from the public process that we have built as a community. This process has created a unique opportunity within government for a community of stakeholders to come together, hear all points of view, and chart a course for the future of organic. It is a process that continually strengthens organic, supports its rapid growth, and builds the integrity of the USDA certified label in the marketplace.

The plaintiffs in the case, represented by counsel from Center for Food Safety, include: Beyond Pesticides, Center for Food Safety, Equal Exchange, Food and Water Watch, Frey Vineyards, La Montanita Co-op, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, New Natives, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Northeast Organic Farmers Association Massachusetts, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Organic Consumers Association, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, PCC Natural Markets, and The Cornucopia Institute.

See joint statement of plaintiffs.

[1] The NOSB is a 15 member Board comprised of farmers, consumers, environmentalists, retailers, certifiers and food producers who advise the Secretary of Agriculture and the National Organic Program on all matters related to organic food and agriculture policy.

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Groups Challenge Major USDA Change to Organic Rule: Customary Public Comment Process Averted to the Chagrin of ...

BURNABY, Canada, April 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Increasing per capita expenditure, growing health awareness and rising inclination towards chemical and pest-free products to drive US organic foods market

According to recently published report by TechSci Research, "United States Organic FoodsMarket Forecast & Opportunities, 2020", the US organic food market is estimated to cross USD45 billion in 2015 on the back of rising per capita expenditure, increasing health consciousness, growing awareness about the benefits of chemical free organic food and rise in organic farming in the US. Strong distribution channels of manufacturers and their tie ups with retailers have added to the accessibility and visibility of various organic food products such as fruits and vegetables, organic dairy products and packaged food in the market.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 )

Availability of organic products is no longer limited to traditional sources but is available in over 20,000 natural food stores and nearly 3 out of 4 grocery stores in the country. Manufacturers are also increasingly collaborating with a number of leading retailers like Walmart, Whole Food, etc. to widen their product distribution and market reach. Besides fruits and vegetables, the demand for organic dairy products has also increased with significant rise in online stores over the last five years. The market is dominated by a number of players including Amy's Kitchen, Hain Celestial Group and Mondelez.

"The industry is projected to witness increasing number of mergers and acquisitions along with expansion plans of various major players to cater to the exponentially growing demand for organic foods. Moreover, continuing growth in the number of organic food retailers, manufacturers and distributors would push the consumption to higher levels in coming years. The market is anticipated to witness an increase in number of certified organic farms as the demand for premium product ranges is likely to grow in the future." said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

"United States Organic FoodsMarket Forecast & Opportunities, 2020" has analyzed the potential of organic food market and provides statistics and information on market sizes, sharesand consumer behavior. The report will suffice in providing the intending clients with cutting-edge market intelligence and help them in taking sound investment decisions. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes emerging trends along with essential drivers and key challenges faced by the organic foods industry in the US.

About TechSci Research

TechSci Research is a global market research and consulting company with offices in Canada, UK and India. TechSci Research provides market research consulting services in six verticals - Information Technology, Chemicals, Water & Water Recycling, Consumer Goods & Retail, Automotive and Energy & Power. The company uses proprietary innovative business model that focuses on improved productivity that also ensure the creation of high-quality reports. With more than 100 client engagements with fortune 500 clients, TechSci Research enjoys the status of a premium market research services provider in the industry.

Media Contact Ken Mathews Sales & Marketing Consultant Contact Phone- +1 646 360 1656 Email- ken.mathews@techsciresearch.com

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US Organic Foods Market Poised to Surpass USD 45 Billion in 2015 Says TechSci Research

Food businesses have it good, insofar as people will never stop eating. Businesses selling ingredients are starting to do much better than those that sell cooked food, given increasing health concerns of eating junk food, making matters difficult for companies like McDonalds Corporation (MCD). Even among those selling ingredients, specialty supermarket chains like Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (SFM) and Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFM) are doing better than others like Walmart Stores Inc. (WMT) due to their offerings of fresh produce that is natural and organic, the two buzzwords around food that are becoming increasingly popular with an ever-more health conscious population. Let us look at why Sprouts Food Market is a good investment bet in the current scenario.

Healthy eating trends

More and more people are becoming conscious of the benefits of eating organic and naturally produced food that reduces the number of chemicals entering their bodies via the food production process, in terms of fertilisers, pesticides and feed. There are also increased concerns surrounding the consumption of genetically modified foods, with some long-term studies linking them to deleterious effects on the body. Also, consumers now want to find non-allergic food, such as gluten free food, in their supermarkets. All these factors are leading to the increasing popularity of stores such as Sprouts Farmers Market.

The pricing factor

One reason why the company is doing better than many rivals is because of its aggressive pricing. The company has made a smart strategic decision of keeping the price of essential items such as milk low, which in turn generates heavier customer traffic, thereby offsetting any loss in profits.

Opportunity for growth

The company started out with one store in 2002 and right now, has a total of 191 stores across 10 states in the U.S, with its largest presence in Texas, where it started and in California. That means there are 40 more states that the company has no presence in and that gives it a lot of room to grow. The company is looking at having 1,200 stores, more than six times the current number, in the next 15 years, and there is no reason to say that the company wont get there. In the coming year, 27 new stores are planned for opening.

Not an income stock

Since going public in 2013, the stock has not performed well and hasnt paid out much in terms of dividends either. So it is not for investors looking for regular income or short-term gains. But for long term investors, it looks to be a solid growth story. This is even more so after the exit of Apollo Global Management which has sold all its stock in the company last month, effectively giving the company more control over its operations.

Conclusion

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Organic Food Demand Rise And Smart Pricing Makes Sprouts Farmers Market A Smart Long-Term Stock Pick

TORONTO Lets be honest: organic food can be pricey. But does it really make that much of a difference?

Experts say going organic canhelp limit your pesticide exposure since organic food is said to belower in pesticides, free of genetically modified organisms, additives, and irradiation. If youre trying to stretch your dollar at the grocery store, though, there are certain fruits and vegetables that mightbe better than others to buy organic.Theyre the onesbelieved to be the most contaminated by pesticides,alsoknown as the Dirty Dozen.

The annual list is put together by theEnvironmental Working Group, aU.S.-based health research and advocacy organization. For the fifth year in a row, apples have been the biggest offender when it comes to pesticide residue. According to analysts, thats becauseof chemicals applied to the crop before and after harvest to preserve them longer.

Theres also the Clean Fifteen. The produce on that list is the least likely to hold pesticide residue, according to EWG. The cleanest fruit on the list? Avocados. Only one per cent of them showed any detectable pesticides.

READ MORE:The 41 most nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables

Registered dietitians believe the lists can be a handy tool for consumers.

If you cant afford organic all the time, you can buy fruits and vegetables off that list and not worry as much about your pesticide exposure, said Edmonton-based registered dietitian Lalitha Taylor.

READ MORE:5 ways to save money on fruits and vegetables

When it comes to nutritional content, though, Taylor and other dietitians stress that theres no good research to support that organic food is better than conventional (non-organic) produce.

A 2012 study from Stanford found organic foods were no higher in vitamins or minerals, except phosphorus. While they did have a 30 per cent lower risk of pesticide contamination,the pesticide levels of all foods tested were within allowable limits.

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Pesticides in produce: best bang for your buck when buying organic

Bio food is legally coined by the European Union. Foods falling into this category originate from controlled organic sources, are not genetically modifi ed and dont use conventional pesticides, artifi cial fertilizers or sewage sludge. For animal products it stipulates that animals be kept in appropriate conditions as defi ned by EU regulations and are not fed any antibiotics or growth hormones. Source: http://www.gesundwachsen. org/organic-bio-foods. More or less when we are talking about bio-food, it means organic food. Based on the small knowledge I have of the food crop production industry, I am reacting to points 75 and 76 of our budget speech 2015-16. First of all let me congratulate the Honorable Minister of Finance for his budget speech. There is no doubt that the use of chemicals has an impact on our health and it can be related to the increase in the amount of cancer diagnoses. But at the same time, since the last 10 years several harmful active ingredients have been banned worldwide and some are still on the waiting list. We do have competent bodies in our country which are monitoring these hazardous chemicals and persistent organic pollutants closely. Now, how are we going to implement such a dream project? Normally, we cultivate around 7000 hectares of land annually and the average production has remained almost the same for the last fi ve years. The bio-food crop production is around 1/3 of the conventional crop production and we must not forget that in Mauritius, we are almost self suffi cient in food crop production. Therefore, to cater for the 50% bio production we will need a surplus of 7000 hectares of land. Are these lands available? We are a young island compared to the old continents and most of our lands are marginal and are of basaltic type, they are very poor in nutrients and minerals as our average top soil is around 6 inches and those of the continents go up to more than 36 inches. To compensate these mineral requirements we are totally dependent on chemical fertilizers although we use manure and compost for the balance of the soil bio-diversity and there is no way out. Most of the time, we use seeds and tubers as planting materials. There are very few well-established companies around the globe, which can provide these bio planting materials under a bio certified label and they are very limited in terms of varieties for the same crop species. This can cause a high bargaining power by suppliers as there are monopoly situations on the market and taking such a risk will expose us to food security problems. There are two types of crops : the cash crop and the food crop. Those falling under the cash crop category are sugar cane, rice, wheat, maize etc. Food crops refer to vegetables and in Mauritius only sugarcane is produced as cash crop. Some bio-planting materials are patented and require an intellectual property rights fee on every production. These planting materials can be genetically modifi ed seeds or new hybrid seeds with characteristics of pests and diseases resistance. Therefore, embarking on the vision of 50% bio-food, we will need to set up an intensive research institution to produce around 30 common vegetable species. This will entail high investment and resources; over 90% of failures are recorded on research programs and out of which a percentage fails on trials and development programs; and only 10% remains. Out of this 10% rate of success only 1% will be adopted by the farming community. What about the alternatives of chemical fertilisers? Organic fertilizers are not the solution because of the adaptation problems and they need complex minerals to feed on so as to release absorbable minerals that are used as nutrients by plants. The source of manure must come from a bio certifi ed farm which is not applicable in Mauritius because none of our livestock and dairy farm can provide such product. Even our local compost manufacturers will have diffi culties to market under a bio label because their sources of raw materials are from household green waste and segregation is being done on site and not at source. Another issue is the process of certifi cation; there are two levels of certifi cation, one is land which will be under production and second the products. To certify 7000 hectares of land is quite a big task and necessitate a huge amount of time, resources and technology. Now just imagine about the production certifi cation. It can be done either by public or private sectors and this cost will be transferred to the customers. Are the customers ready to bear this additional cost which will be quite heavy? Above that, we will need a mechanism to control these rates because vegetables prices fl uctuate everyday depending on market demand and supply. We will also need new regulations under a Bio Food Act that will resolve disputes should there be frauds in production and sales of produce. Another issue will be the application of compulsory trademarks or labeling for traceability purposes for those dealing in bio production. The treatment and minimal processing zone facilities. On an individual basis we dont have capital for investment and even under regroupings it is quite a heavy investment. The type of water, the packing and labeling area, the control unit etc are the logistics that should be present to differentiate bio-food from common ones. All these additional costs will have an incidence on the customers bill at the end. Maybe there is a misinterpretation of bio-food production and sustainable agriculture which are two different concepts but bring almost the same results in the end. The world is moving towards sustainable development, and sustainable agriculture forms part of it. Production systems, policies and institutions that underpin global food security are increasingly inadequate. Sustainable agriculture must nurture healthy ecosystems and support the proper management of land, water and natural resources, while ensuring world food security. To be sustainable, agriculture must meet the needs of present and future generations for its products and services, while ensuring profi tability, environmental health and socioeconomic equity. The global transition to sustainable food and agriculture will require major improvements in the effi ciency of resource use, in environmental protection and in systems resilience. Sustainable agriculture requires a system of global governance that promotes food security concerns in trade regimes and trade policies, and revisits agricultural policies to promote local and regional agricultural markets. Source: FAO. We have chosen the wrong way and this bio-food project will engulf a huge amount of public funds. There is an alternative way, sustainable agriculture. Our farming community has already encompassed it and is moving slowly but surely.

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WHAT A TARGET, 50% BIO-FOOD : Is it a joke or a dream? Lets find out.