As geopolitical tensions with North Korearise, shares of Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (HAIN) are all over the place. First up 1.6%, to $41.25, now down 0.12% Tuesday. Shares are off their early morning highs, though, opening near $43 after the company beat on earnings per share and revenue expectations.

Hain stock had been on a tear, but accounting issues derailed the stock over the last few years. Those issues are in the past and Hain is now doing OK, TheStreet's founder Jim Cramer, who also manages the Action Alerts PLUS charitable trust portfolio, said on CNBC's "Mad Dash" segment.

The big concern is Whole Foods Market (WFM) . The natural and organic food trend is still very much alive, which plays right into Whole Foods' wheelhouse. However, now that Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) is running Whole Foods, there are questions as to what role Hain will play and whether it will lose pricing power as a result.

Taking a broader look at consumer packaged food companies and retailers in general, Cramer pointed out that their "dividend is not protecting [them] anymore."

Expanding on that thought, he explained that investors are so unsure of the operating environment and what disruptions Amazon may introduce -- which can also be a negative for Amazon -- that the dividend yield is no longer enticing enough. Even though many of these dividend yields continue to rise, investors aren't taking the bait.

Getting back to Hain, the company is doing OK, but there are a few question marks remaining, Cramer concluded.

More of What's Trending on TheStreet:

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The New Amazon Whole Foods Monster Means You Should Avoid Organic Food Stock - TheStreet.com

With the carcass of a dead dog and 25 pounds of marijuana in a freezer at Beyond Organics, inspectors from Fraser Health gave the Maple Ridge business a high hazard rating.

There were other violations from the May 29 inspection, as well, such the conversion of a backroom office into a bedroom, because food premises must be separate from living quarters, with no direct access.

There was a heavy fly infestation inside the premises on Dewdney Trunk Road, according to Fraser Health, and foods obtained from unapproved sources. The latter violation arose because labels were missing on many meat products in both the deli cooler and freezer display.

In the comments section of the Fraser Health inspection report, it was noted pets were not allowed inside the building in downtown Maple Ridge.

Fraser Health also received a complaint that dogs were staying in the living quarters, adjacent to the main food processing area.

Health inspectors also had RCMP attend, because of the large quantity of marijuana found.

There were two follow-up inspections, on June 6 and June 15.

On June 6, according to Fraser Health, the dead dog was still in the freezer, the back room was still a bedroom, and labels were missing on meat products.

Another hazard was recorded proprietor Denis Prasad was spraying Raid aerosol in the food processing area, in an attempt to beat back the heavy fly infestation.

It was noted that the premises was not open to the public.

On June 15, the inspection found the hazard rating low, dropping to a score of three, from a high of 68 on the previous one.

Anything over 30 is considered a high hazard rating.

A note on the Fraser Health report said Prasad should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding labelling requirements for proper or accurate labelling.

The majority of food products were purchased from approved manufacturers and processors, according to Fraser Health, and repackaged at Beyond Organics for sale.

The processor named in the report was Arctic Meats. A representative from that Port Coquitlam-based business said it does not produce organic products.

Beyond Organics has a sign on its front door that it is closed for renovations. The storefront is missing a window, which has been covered by plywood, and has broken glass on the door.

Prasad said the last inspections by Fraser Health ruined his organics business.

The dead dog was stored with dog food only.

He had a pet food business for 15 years, which was separate from his organics business, and all the meat in that freezer was not intended for human consumption.

He said it was a customers pet, stored as a favour.

Until he decided whether to cremate it, bury it whatever. Sometimes when you have a pet, its hard to decide. You just cant throw it out, said Prasad. Its just like human being dying, you dont leave it there in a chair, youre going to take him to a morgue, to a freezer.

Prasad told the Fraser Health inspectors the freezer food was not for human consumption.

It has zero human food.

He said the marijuana on site was leaves and branches, given to him by another business that wanted him to create medicinal pet food.

I threw it in the freezer and I forgot about it, he said. So it was all liquid slush.

He said the Fraser Health inspector identified the weed from the smell.

I said its not pot, pot is the bud, said Prasad. He calls 9-1-1, police, and weve got six cop cars here.

To this day, they havent charged me for nothing.

Ridge Meadows RCMP confirmed they attended Beyond Organics on May 29, and no charges are stemming.

Prasad said he is now out of business and blamed health inspectors, adding he is considering a lawsuit.

Im building a case on them, he said. Im not finished with them yet.

Meanwhile, a noxious smell is coming from the building and the city has received complaints.

The city has received complaints about the property and the bylaws department has made contact with the property owner, said Robin MacNair, city bylaws manager. We understand that the property owner is moving quickly to resolve the issue.

See the rest here:

Organic food business stored dead dog, 25 pounds of 'pot' in freezer - Barriere Star Journal

*Save 10% on purchases $0.99-$99.99 and 15% on purchases $100 or more. Offer valid online only. Transaction total is prior to taxes & after discounts are applied. Offer valid on select merchandise when choosing In-Store Pickup. Savings will automatically reflect in the shopping cart with the purchase of qualifying merchandise. Maximum value $150. Offer not valid on gift cards, gift certificates, previous purchases, charitable donations, veterinary diet, RX medications or vaccines and may exclude all or select items from the following brands: Advantage, FRONTLINE, K9 advantix, PetArmor. Offer may not be combined with other promotional offers or discounts. Terms and conditions of this offer are subject to change at the sole discretion of PetSmart. Offer valid on PetSmart.com through August 28, 2017 @ 6:30 am EST.

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20% Auto Ship - Sign up for Auto Ship and have products conveniently delivered to you at the frequency you choose! Save 20% on your initial order and 5% on recurring orders. Plus enjoy free shipping on orders over $49. Discounts will automatically apply at checkout once the customer has enrolled. Maximum value $150. Offer not valid on gift cards, gift certificates, previous purchases, or charitable donations and may not be valid on all merchandise. Offer may not be combined with other promotional offers or discounts. Terms and conditions of this offer are subject to change at the sole discretion of PetSmart.

Free Standard Shipping on orders over $49 - Transaction total is prior to taxes & after discounts are applied. Due to size and/or weight, certain items bear a shipping surcharge or special handling fee, which will still apply. Savings will automatically reflect in shopping cart with the purchase of qualifying merchandise. Maximum value $75. Valid only on orders shipped within the contiguous 48 U.S. states & to military APO/FPO addresses. Offer not valid on products in the following categories: live pets; canned, fresh or frozen foods; select cat litters. Offer may not be combined with other promotional offers or discounts. Terms & conditions of this offer are subject to change at the sole discretion of PetSmart. Offer valid on petsmart.com through August 28, 2017 @ 6:30 am EST.

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Dog Food Guide: Grain Free, Organic, Natural Dog Food ...

A quick look at food, wine and more in the news. Time

Customers shop at a Whole Foods Market in Upper Saint Clair, Pa.(Photo: Gene J. Puskar, AP)

The news that Amazon would be lowering prices on a range of products at Whole Foods Market on Monday excited many shoppers.

And Amazon Prime members have even more reasons to be excited.

As Amazon completes its purchase of the natural foods grocery chain, it plans to make Amazon Prime the customer reward program at Whole Foods stores.

More: Amazon to lower prices at Whole Foods starting Monday

More: Here are all the benefits that come with your Amazon Prime membership

There are only limited details about the perks that will be available for Amazon Prime members, but this is what we know so far:

Prime members will be able to get special savings and in-store benefits that other customers will not be able to get.

Whole Foods private label products 365 Everyday Value, Whole Foods Market, Whole Paws and Whole Catch will be available through Prime Pantry and Prime Now.

Ordering though Prime Now allows members to get free two-hour delivery in select cities and zip codes. Need it faster? Prime Now lets you get one-hour delivery for $7.99.

Prime Pantry features discounts on a wide range of groceries and household products in everyday sizes instead of bulk sizes with free shipping for 5 qualifying items or more.

More: 9 ways to score Amazon Prime at a discount

More: Amazon Prime perks you're probably not using

In addition, Amazon Lockers will be available at certain Whole Foods stores that will allow customers to pick up items ordered online at Amazon.com at their local Whole Foods store or send returns back.

The first round of price cuts that are set to begin on Monday will be available to all Whole Foods shoppers and not just Prime members.

The discounts will be on such items as: Whole Trade bananas; organic large brown eggs, avocados, baby kale, baby lettuce and Gala and Fuji apples; "animal-welfare-rated" 85% lean ground beef; organic "responsibly-farmed" salmon and tilapia; creamy and crunchy almond butter; organic rotisserie chicken and its generic organic butter.

Amazon did not say what the price cuts will be.

Were determined to make healthy and organic food affordable for everyone. Everybody should be able to eat Whole Foods Market quality we will lower prices without compromising Whole Foods Markets long-held commitment to the highest standards, Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer, said in a statement.

And this is just the beginning we will make Amazon Prime the customer rewards program at Whole Foods Market and continuously lower prices as we invent together.

The membership for Amazon Prime is $99 a year, or $10.99 a month. Students can get Prime Student for free for 6 months and then save 50% off on a Prime membership.

Same-day delivery? The option to share your benefits? Tech expert Kim Komando highlights the Amazon Prime perks you should start using.

Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2xzdgAL

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Amazon Prime members can expect these perks at Whole Foods - USA TODAY

Amazons acquisition of Whole Foods is set to close on Monday and the company is wasting no time in making changes. In a press release emailed out this morning, the company is making it a point to make healthy and organic food affordable to everyone. If youre familiarwith Whole Foods you know that their organic food can get rather pricey. Buying organic food, in general, hasnt been a cheap undertaking for consumers. Price is a big part of the reason many families dont buy organic food to begin with.

Were determined to make healthy and organic food affordable for everyone. Everybody should be able to eat Whole Foods Market quality we will lower prices without compromising Whole Foods Markets long-held commitment to the highest standards, said Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer. To get started, were going to lower prices beginning Monday on a selection of best-selling grocery staples, including Whole Trade organic bananas, responsibly-farmed salmon, organic large brown eggs, animal-welfare-rated 85% lean ground beef, and more. And this is just the beginning we will make Amazon Prime the customer rewards program at Whole Foods Market and continuously lower prices as we invent together. There is significant work and opportunity ahead, and were thrilled to get started.

Its been our mission for 39 years at Whole Foods Market to bring the highest quality food to our customers, said John Mackey, Whole Foods Market co-founder and CEO. By working together with Amazon and integrating in several key areas, we can lower prices and double down on that mission and reach more people with Whole Foods Markets high-quality, natural and organic food. As part of our commitment to quality, well continue to expand our efforts to support and promote local products and suppliers. We cant wait to start showing customers whats possible when Whole Foods Market and Amazon innovate together.

Heres what will be new in Whole Foods Market stores on Monday and what customers can expect over time as the two companies integrate:

To add to all of that,Amazon and Whole Foods Market technology teams will begin to integrate Amazon Prime into the Whole Foods Market point-of-sale system. Prime members will also get in-store specials and benefits. It certainly sounds like Amazon has a plan to possibly make Whole Foods more accessibleto everyone.

What do you think of Amazons plan for Whole Foods? Let us know in the comments below or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

See the rest here:

Amazon wants to make healthy and organic food affordable for everyone - Techaeris

In this week's 2 the Outdoors, Terry Belke visits an organic farm in Elba, New York.

Terry Belke, WGRZ 8:43 AM. EDT August 27, 2017

Some Beautiful Peppers Await Delivery To CSA Customers.

ELBA, NY There are more than two million farms across the country, and those farms employing over 800,000 people. Of those, only about 15,000 are certified as organic farms. Perhaps that's because the certification process to become an organic farm is so stringent.

It took Porter Farms in Elba, NY three years to make the transition from conventional to organic farming. Differences between the two include restrictions in the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and rotation of crops.

But there is much more to it than that.

"Being certified organic involves an annual process where an inspector comes out to the farm," said Emily Porter, the farm's Promotions And Marketing Coordinator, "They will check the quality of our soil. They will check the quality of our water, they test it, obviously, and they want to know what we planted, when was it harvested, when was it cultivated, when was it sprayed, what was used."

Porter Farms is also a model of biodiversity. Katie Metzler, CSA Coordinator for the farm, says that a visit here will find several different crops growing.

"We don't have what's called a monoculture, which is hundreds of acres of one crop out there," Metzlersaid. "If you look around you'll see all different crops planted. We've got our vegetable plot, we've got our corn, we have our Alfalfa, we have cloverfields, we have wheat, we have triticale."

The farm also offers a Community Supported Agriculture Program, a cooperative agreement that benefits both farm and customer.

"What people actually do is they purchase a share in our farm," Porter said. "They pay us in advance, and that helps us pay for seeds and for keeping up any of the machinery. It helps us pay for labor costs, those types of things."

Metzler says their members get fresh in-season produce every week.

"Every week our members get a grocery sized bag of whatever's in season," Metzler said.

Reann Engler is an enthusiastic CSA member .

"I like to cook; I like the diversity; I like the way we get whatever is in season. Work with what's in season,"Engler said.

Porter Farms Takes Pride In Both The Quality And Diversity Of Their Crops.

Porter Farms connection to their community is no surprise. The family is beginning their third generation running the farm, and Porter says they're teaching the next generation as well.

"My daughter will come out and sell flowers, and my nephew is here on a regular basis with my brother," Porter said. "We just want to expose them to this lifestyle, so they understand the hard work that goes into it, but also the wonderful connection with Nature they can have."

It's a bountiful formula rooted in tradition, one that binds the community in a lush green embrace.

"A lot of our customers want to know, first of all, where their food comes from, but also what care was taken to avoid any potential harmful chemicals on their food," Porter said.

Engler agrees.

"It gets you closer to the community, you come in here on a Saturday morning and everyone's coming to pick up their bags, and everybody else feels the same way about organic foods and just fresh food and local food," she said.

If you would like to learn more about Porter Farms, click here .

2017 WGRZ-TV

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Organic Bounty At Porter Farms - WGRZ-TV

In a recent survey, Natural Grocers asked customers to weigh in on what matters most when shopping organic

LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --In a recent survey of Natural Grocers customers, respondents revealed their top 3 reasons for choosing to purchase organic produce.

These survey results offer insight into the growth we've seen in the organic sector over the last decade. This growth has been mirrored by an increasing amount of scientific evidence emphasizing the benefits of organic food and organic agriculture. Recent large scale meta-analyses that carefully weighed all the data available from previously published studies have shown that organic produce is higher in antioxidants and much less likely to be contaminated with harmful pesticides and heavy metals than conventional produce.i

Organic buyers reduce their exposure to pesticides

More than 90% of the respondents said that one of the main reasons they buy organic "is to avoid pesticides." This reasoning is backed by solid scientific evidence, as one study found that 94% of people in the United States have detectable levels of pesticide breakdown products in their urine.ii Conversely, studies focused on the effect of eating organic have shown that consuming a diet that contains at least 80% organic ingredients for just one week reduces the pesticide breakdown products in subjects' bodies by 96%.iii Given these examples, it's no wonder that avoiding pesticides is a primary reason consumers choose to eat organic.

Organic produce is naturally non-GMO

The next most common reasonchosen by 70% of survey respondentsto buy organic is to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are pervasive in our food supply, and produce is no exception. Currently, genetically modified (GM) summer squash, such as zucchini, is grown in the United States and sold as fresh produce in both the United States and Canada. Similarly, approximately 80% of the total papaya grown in the United States (predominately in Hawaii) is also genetically modified, which is likely to increase as more GM papaya is in the process of being grown in new places such as Florida. A small amount of sweet corn sold in grocery stores is also GM, meaning that the delicious sweet corn you throw on the grill could be a GMOunless it's organic. Other types of GM produce that have been approved to be sold in the United States include potatoes and apples, though they haven't made it to the marketplace yet. Buying organic is a great way to be 100% sure that your produce is non-GMO because GMOs are never allowed in organic production.

Organic produce provides higher nutritional content

The third most common reason Natural Grocers customers choose organic produce is because they believe it is a more nutritious option to feed their families. And they are rightside-by-side comparisons of conventional tomatoes and organic tomatoes have shown that organic tomatoes have 20% higher levels of lycopene and 30% higher levels of vitamin C.iv Other studies have shown similar results when comparing organic and conventional fruits and vegetables.

Many of the phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables that are beneficial for human health are naturally produced by plants in order to discourage pests from eating the plant. When plants are sprayed with pesticides, the plant's innate production of these beneficial phytonutrients is reduced, resulting in a less nutritious product, while organic crops are forced to rely on their own defenses and produce more phytonutrients to deter pests. And it's not just about what organic produce has more of, it's also what it hasless ofdata shows that organic produce has 48% lower levels of cadmium, a harmful heavy metal that makes its way into conventional soils through contaminated synthetic fertilizers.

Organic produce supports a healthy ecosystem and agricultural economy

As you can see, there are some pretty significant reasons why consumers choose to buy organic produce. There are other reasons to consider, too.

Organic agriculture is known to regenerate ecosystems and the soil, while conventional agriculture strips the environment, destroying our natural resources, and requires constant chemical inputs. There are also numerous hidden costs of conventional agriculture that burden society and decrease quality of life.

On the other hand, a recent study conducted by a Penn State agricultural economist found that communities with high levels of organic agricultural activity are more successful economically. So no matter what your reason is for shopping organic, you should feel good about your purchase and know that you are voting with your dollar for a type of agriculture that benefits the environment, the economy, and human health.

Written by Jonathan Clinthorne, Ph.D. Manager of Scientific Affairs & Nutrition Education

Jonathan F. Clinthorne, Ph.D., is an ultra-endurance athlete trained in immunology and expert in human nutrition. Clinthorne has served on numerous medical advisory boards and has authored a number of research papers covering topics such as probiotics, immune function, inflammation and human nutrition.

Jonathan's mission is to help make free science-backed nutrition education available to everyone and reduce our dependence on pharmaceutical drugs. Jonathan has been seen on Fox TV, Forbes, Ultra Running Magazine, Runner's World and Organic Authority.

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin CottageNatural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com) is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural groceries, body care and dietary supplements. The company offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format, affordable prices and free, science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Founded in Colorado in 1955, Natural Grocers has more than 3,000 employees and operates 140 stores in 19 states.

i Baranski M, et al. Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Nutrition. 2014; 112(5): 794-811.ii Barr, Dana B et al. Concentrations of Dialkyl Phosphate Metabolites of Organophosphorus Pesticides in the U.S. Population. Environmental Health Perspectives 112:186200 (2004).iii Oates L,Cohen M,Braun L,Schembri A,Taskova R. Reduction in urinary organophosphatepesticidemetabolites in adults after a week-longorganicdiet. Environ Res.2014 Jul;132:105-11.iv Vinha AF,Barreira SV,Costa AS,Alves RC,Oliveira MB. Organicversus conventional tomatoes: influence on physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds and sensorial attributes. Food Chem Toxicol.2014 May;67:139-44.

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-top-3-reasons-shoppers-buy-organic-produce-300503419.html

SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.

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The Top 3 Reasons Shoppers Buy Organic Produce - The Daily Meal

Although Whole Foods has often been referred to as Whole Paychecka reference to what many say are the organic supermarket'soutlandish pricesall that may soon be coming to an end.

With Amazons acquisition of Whole Foods Marketofficial as of Monday, the two companies say they plan on making the popular supermarket's natural andorganic offeringsmore affordable, with an approximate price drop of about 15 to 20 percent on many items.

Whole Foods Market says it will now offer lower prices on a selection of populargrocery itemsacross its stores, and the company promises more to come.In addition, Amazon has plans to integrate Amazon Prime into the Whole Foods Market point-of-sale system, translating into lower prices forPrime members, along with somein-store benefits.

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This is exciting news for Newarkers, as Whole Foods recently opened its first location here to much fanfare.

The organic supermarket is located downtown inside the elegant Hahnemixed-use building on Broad Street, hometoseveral businesses and offices,including a Petco andExpress Newark university-community collaboratory, along with160 market-rate and affordable apartments.

Whole Foods offers a wide variety of organic and vegan choices, fresh produce and flowers, bakery items, beauty and health products, meat and seafoodand prepared foods, along with in-store caf-style seating.

Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Center, said that the company is determined to make healthy and organic food affordable for everyone.

Everybody should be able to eat Whole Foods Market quality, he said. We will lower prices without compromising Whole Foods Markets long-held commitment to the highest standards.

Wilke said that best-selling staples will be the first products chosen for the price drops, including Whole Trade organic bananas; responsibly-farmed salmon and tilapia; organic brown eggs; organic avocados, lettuce and kale; almond butter; animal-welfare-rated 85 percent lean ground beef, and more.

Ihsaan Muhamadof Newarksaid that, as a vegan, he visits the store on occasion for specialty items.

I literally came here today just for the vegan pancake mix, he said. The vegan items here are the main draw for me.

Sam Allaman, a graduate student at Rutgers who lives down the block from the market, said that although he has never been a fan of Whole Foods prices, the promised discounts could persuade him to become a Whole Foods shopper.

The price drop makes me want to shop here, Allaman said. Before that, I could never justify paying $11 for an eggplant.

The Kemps, a couple from Newark, said that it was their first time ata Whole Foods Market. They usually shop at Walmart of ShopRite, but are trying to eat healthier.Items like organic milk aresomething the couple will now be shopping for at Whole Foods.

Were attracted to the organic whole food, said Mr. Kemp, who did not want his first name used. Theres more of a healthy variety.

The couple noted their initial surprise at some of the prices, but said they are, literally, willing to pay the price for healthier food.

Were willing to sacrifice and pay a little more to become a little healthier, he said.

Whole Foods co-founder and CEO John Mackey said the market has been on a mission to bring the highest quality food to customers.

By working together with Amazon and integrating in several key areas, we can lower prices and double down on that mission and reach more people with Whole Foods Markets high-quality, natural and organic food, he said.

As part of our commitment to quality, well continue to expand our efforts to support and promote local products and suppliers. We cant wait to start showing customers whats possible when Whole Foods Market and Amazon innovate together.

Whole Foods Markets private label productsincluding 365 Everyday Value, Whole Foods Market, Whole Paws and Whole Catchwill be available through Amazon.com, AmazonFresh, Prime Pantry and Prime Now.

Customers can also have products shipped from Amazonto their local Whole Foods Market store for pickup or send returns back to Amazon during a trip to the store.

With the acquisition, the company will maintain operations under the Whole Foods Market brand, with Whole Foods Market maintainig itsheadquarters in Austin, Texas.

Founded in 1978, Whole Foods Market is the first national Certified Organic grocer, bringing in approximately $16 billion in sales last year.

Whole Foods has more than 460 stores in the United States, Canadaand the United Kingdom. The Newark location is its 19th store in New Jersey.

Read more here:

Whole Foods customers can anticipate lower prices with Amazon acquisition - TAPinto.net

08.23.17

Washington, D.C. Today, the national advocacy group Food & Water Watch urged the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to extend the review of the proposed $13.7 billion Amazon.com-Whole Foods Market merger. The unusual and complex deal would pose substantial risks for consumers, farmers and innovative food manufacturers. The proposed mega-merger would jump-start Amazons floundering efforts to sell food and groceries by adding millions of square-feet of retail space at Whole Foods 436 U.S. locations.

The two companies already have many customers in common and the Whole Foods stores substantially overlap with Amazon Freshs distribution centers, giving the merged firm a strong platform to dominate the emerging online grocery and grocery delivery businesses. The deal also poses substantial risks to the thousands of smaller-scale and local farmers that have been supplying fresh fruits, vegetables and meat to local Whole Foods stores.

Amazons proposed takeover of Whole Foods could destroy long-standing arrangements with local farmers as the e-commerce giant pushes for larger scale suppliers and unreasonably low prices, said Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter. The deal could unravel decades of goodwill with local farmers who have helped build local food economies across the United States.

The deal could also harm independent organic and natural groceries and the innovative food manufacturers that have been delivering the healthier food that shoppers are increasingly demanding. Moreover, the deal could also weaken certified organic products, as Amazons chaotic third party marketplace could introduce fraudulent organic food and dilute organic standards, in part in an effort to push down on the price of organic farm goods. Already, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is struggling to combat fraudulent organic imports and the proposed deal could exacerbate the prevalence and problem of organic fraud.

Amazon has allowed its third-party sellers to sell counterfeit shoes, shirts and electronics the proposed deal could allow a flood of fraudulent organics that would dilute and undermine commitment to certified organic food, said Hauter.

Shoppers could also be disadvantaged in the face of Amazons opaque pricing algorithm that allows different consumers to pay different prices for the exact same goods. The complexity and volatility of prices and promotions can disadvantage and confuse consumers who may or may not be getting the best prices for any given good. This effective price discrimination is entirely inappropriate for food.

The FTC must extend the review of the Amazon-Whole Foods merger to fully investigate the wide-ranging implication of this latest mega-merger, said Hauter. Today, a tiny number of retailers dominate grocery sales and this proposed merger poses more risks than benefits for farmers and consumers.

Read Food & Water Watchs letter to the Federal Trade Commission.

Contact: Kate Fried, Food & Water Watch, (202) 683-4905, [emailprotected]

Read more:

Food & Water Watch Calls on FTC to Extend Review of Proposed Amazon-Whole Foods Merger - Food and Water Watch

LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --In a recent survey of Natural Grocers customers, respondents revealed their top 3 reasons for choosing to purchase organic produce.

These survey results offer insight into the growth we've seen in the organic sector over the last decade. This growth has been mirrored by an increasing amount of scientific evidence emphasizing the benefits of organic food and organic agriculture. Recent large scale meta-analyses that carefully weighed all the data available from previously published studies have shown that organic produce is higher in antioxidants and much less likely to be contaminated with harmful pesticides and heavy metals than conventional produce.i

Organic buyers reduce their exposure to pesticides

More than 90% of the respondents said that one of the main reasons they buy organic "is to avoid pesticides." This reasoning is backed by solid scientific evidence, as one study found that 94% of people in the United States have detectable levels of pesticide breakdown products in their urine.ii Conversely, studies focused on the effect of eating organic have shown that consuming a diet that contains at least 80% organic ingredients for just one week reduces the pesticide breakdown products in subjects' bodies by 96%.iii Given these examples, it's no wonder that avoiding pesticides is a primary reason consumers choose to eat organic.

Organic produce is naturally non-GMO

The next most common reasonchosen by 70% of survey respondentsto buy organic is to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are pervasive in our food supply, and produce is no exception. Currently, genetically modified (GM) summer squash, such as zucchini, is grown in the United States and sold as fresh produce in both the United States and Canada. Similarly, approximately 80% of the total papaya grown in the United States (predominately in Hawaii) is also genetically modified, which is likely to increase as more GM papaya is in the process of being grown in new places such as Florida. A small amount of sweet corn sold in grocery stores is also GM, meaning that the delicious sweet corn you throw on the grill could be a GMOunless it's organic. Other types of GM produce that have been approved to be sold in the United States include potatoes and apples, though they haven't made it to the marketplace yet. Buying organic is a great way to be 100% sure that your produce is non-GMO because GMOs are never allowed in organic production.

Organic produce provides higher nutritional content

The third most common reason Natural Grocers customers choose organic produce is because they believe it is a more nutritious option to feed their families. And they are rightside-by-side comparisons of conventional tomatoes and organic tomatoes have shown that organic tomatoes have 20% higher levels of lycopene and 30% higher levels of vitamin C.iv Other studies have shown similar results when comparing organic and conventional fruits and vegetables.

Many of the phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables that are beneficial for human health are naturally produced by plants in order to discourage pests from eating the plant. When plants are sprayed with pesticides, the plant's innate production of these beneficial phytonutrients is reduced, resulting in a less nutritious product, while organic crops are forced to rely on their own defenses and produce more phytonutrients to deter pests. And it's not just about what organic produce has more of, it's also what it hasless ofdata shows that organic produce has 48% lower levels of cadmium, a harmful heavy metal that makes its way into conventional soils through contaminated synthetic fertilizers.

Organic produce supports a healthy ecosystem and agricultural economy

As you can see, there are some pretty significant reasons why consumers choose to buy organic produce. There are other reasons to consider, too.

Organic agriculture is known to regenerate ecosystems and the soil, while conventional agriculture strips the environment, destroying our natural resources, and requires constant chemical inputs. There are also numerous hidden costs of conventional agriculture that burden society and decrease quality of life.

On the other hand, a recent study conducted by a Penn State agricultural economist found that communities with high levels of organic agricultural activity are more successful economically. So no matter what your reason is for shopping organic, you should feel good about your purchase and know that you are voting with your dollar for a type of agriculture that benefits the environment, the economy, and human health.

Written by Jonathan Clinthorne, Ph.D. Manager of Scientific Affairs & Nutrition Education

Jonathan F. Clinthorne, Ph.D., is an ultra-endurance athlete trained in immunology and expert in human nutrition. Clinthorne has served on numerous medical advisory boards and has authored a number of research papers covering topics such as probiotics, immune function, inflammation and human nutrition.

Jonathan's mission is to help make free science-backed nutrition education available to everyone and reduce our dependence on pharmaceutical drugs. Jonathan has been seen on Fox TV, Forbes, Ultra Running Magazine, Runner's World and Organic Authority.

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin CottageNatural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com) is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural groceries, body care and dietary supplements. The company offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format, affordable prices and free, science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Founded in Colorado in 1955, Natural Grocers has more than 3,000 employees and operates 140 stores in 19 states.

i Baranski M, et al. Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Nutrition. 2014; 112(5): 794-811.ii Barr, Dana B et al. Concentrations of Dialkyl Phosphate Metabolites of Organophosphorus Pesticides in the U.S. Population. Environmental Health Perspectives 112:186200 (2004).iii Oates L,Cohen M,Braun L,Schembri A,Taskova R. Reduction in urinary organophosphatepesticidemetabolites in adults after a week-longorganicdiet. Environ Res.2014 Jul;132:105-11.iv Vinha AF,Barreira SV,Costa AS,Alves RC,Oliveira MB. Organicversus conventional tomatoes: influence on physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds and sensorial attributes. Food Chem Toxicol.2014 May;67:139-44.

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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.

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The Top 3 Reasons Shoppers Buy Organic Produce - Markets Insider