Organic food pioneer now looks to disrupt housing, real estate ... Phoenix Business Journal The founder and former CEO of Alpine Valley Bread Co. has a new ambitious venture. and more »

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Organic food pioneer now looks to disrupt housing, real estate ... - Phoenix Business Journal

The world of sustainable food just got a little more exciting. With the creation of Barnraisers brand-new Discover program, theleading digital authority on organic food andthe number one sustainable living community have united. This new partnership will help create an even bigger space forsupporting sustainable good food and healthy living, pushing these fields to new heights by connecting people who care about where their food comes from with the people who produce it.

Organic Authority joins some of the top change-makers in the new food revolution on thenew platform, includingFairtrade America, MicroShiner, and Food Craft Institute.

Barnraiser is the most complete source for the products, people, and stories in our organic living movement theyre a perfect partner to showcase our stories and trends, says Laura Klein, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Organic Authority.

Organic Authority is the leading organic, eco-conscious food and lifestyle publication online, redefining what it means to live a conscious and healthy lifestyle in America today. Its already a favorite amongst people who want to make a difference in their food system for its obsessive coverage of the latest trends and news in food, nutrition, wellness, natural beauty, and more.

Barnraiser is a platform connecting artisan food makers, innovative farmers, and chefs at the forefront of sustainability with the people who demand more from their food system. This platform makes it easy to discover and fund projects committed to making a difference in the way we produce food in this country.

Were meeting the needs of an entire generation who demand authenticity, connection, and influence in food and health, says Eileen Gordon, Barnraiser Founder and CEO. Our work, together with our new partners, continues to expose consumers to the good food, farmers, food businesses, innovators, and tastemakers changing how we eat and live.

Together, these two leaders in the field of sustainable food will create and curate an information hub connecting readers to their food community and helping to incite change in Americas food system.

Related on Organic AuthoritySustainability is Stylish in One of Americas Favorite Towns These 61 Badass Disruptors are Changing Your Food System 5 Online Sharing Communities that Bring Peers Together for Common Needs

Emily Monaco is an American food and culture writer based in Paris. She loves uncovering the stories behind ingredients and exposing the face of our food system, so that consumers can make educated choices. Her work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Vice Munchies, and Serious Eats.

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Organic Authority and Barnraiser: The Sustainable Food Future - Organic Authority

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HARTFORD -- A growing number of food products boast all natural ingredients, while others are stamped certified organic, but the two are not regulated the same.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture currently has strict policies as to which food products and farming operations can be labeled certified organic.

To be labeled Organic, must be grown or processed in a certain way... free from preservatives, pesticides, or chemicals or things like that, Teresa Martin Dotson, a registered dietician, explained.

She said for some consumers the deterrent for buying non-organic fruits and vegetables is the potential exposure to chemicals, like pesticides, but said a consumer should consider the make up of each one. For example, strawberries grow close to the ground and are more likely to be exposed to pesticides. Also, a fruit like a strawberry is one that you eat the skin and all, meaning your own exposure to the chemical is greater.

If you're looking at something like a banana that you're taking the peel off and only eating the inside, then should you really buy organic? Martin Dotson explained. She added, It depends on how much youre going to eat, what the exposure is what part you're going to eat of the fruit and vegetable."

When it comes to meat and poultry, labels reading all natural come with a different set of terms to decipher.

"It basically means that they, the animal is allowed to live in their most natural environment so a lot of times you'll hear 'free-range chicken' or 'grass-fed beef', Martin Dotson said.

The U.S. Food and Drug administration calls all-natural food label regulating more challenging than organic. Their policy states natural must mean nothing artificial or synthetic has been added to the food. They state that policy was not intended to address food production methods or use of pesticides and does not consider whether natural should describe the nutritional benefits.

It was just last year the FDA sought out public input on the issue asking should the FDA define the term natural, if so, how?

"I think you have to look beyond 'natural' and look at what the true content in terms of nutrition is like how many calories, how many grams of fat are in it, Martin Dotson said on the matter. She also advises that nutrition labels may be the fine print that consumers should be paying closest attention to.

"If an item is 100 calories that might be okay but what else am I getting? Am I getting vitamins and minerals with that 100 calories or am I just getting 100 calories but no nutrition, she explained.

Nutrition labels are currently mid-makeover here in the U.S. According to new federal regulations they must all follow the new labeling guidelines by 2018.

Martin Dotsons other advise to consumers is to not get bogged down with organic or all natural labeling and get back to the basics.

The most important thing in terms of organic or natural or any of those things is really focusing on buying whole food. I think so many times we want everything in a bottle or in a to-go container or something like that but the best choices are things that are easily and readily available, like a whole apple or some carrot sticks, she explained.

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When to buy organic; Deciphering food labels - FOX 61

Enjoy al fresco dining this Memorial Day! Well be open for brunch from 10am-2:30pm on Memorial Day Monday. Cant wait to see you then!

Our favorite drink special of the year is back for the summer! Join us every Thursday for $5 select cocktails. Currently on offer are our Mojitos, Margaritas and Red & White Sangrias. Plus, enjoy a round or two al fresco on our patio.

Spring is in the air! And with the new season, comes new flavors, bright colors and a new array of exciting dishes for our dinner menu all starting Wednesday, April 5th. Enjoy any bottle of wine for half off while youre at it! Our Wine Wednesday promotion is offered weekly.

Just as you remember it- our classic, unrivaled Breakfast Sandwich is back on our brunch menu and available to you 7 days a week. Our house made English muffin makes this sandwich unlike the others in its category and blends in perfectly with our Slagel Farm scrambled egg, melted cheddar and house made aioli. We

After many introductions over weekend brunch as a chef special, we decided the Plantain Sandwich had to become available to everyone, everyday. It just wasnt fair to the busy weekday lunch crowd who only heard and had to just imagine how crispy plantains could replace bread on any sandwich. Now, our Plantain Sandwich is officially

Weve all got healthy eating on our minds now that its the start of a new year. What about healthy drinking? Our Matcha Latte is a wonderfully delicious coffee alternative when your body craves a warm, soothing drink. Perfect to start your day or halfway through for a little pick me up. Matcha is simply

For the seventh year in a row, nana is honored to have made the honorary Bib Gourmand list for Chicago! None of this would have been possible without everyones support. We thank all of our local vendors, producers and suppliers, our entire family and all of our supporters and guests who give us the inspiration

Nothing says brunch quite like a Mimosa with freshly squeezed OJ! Brioche French Toast, Chilaquiles, our signature Nanadict and all of our incredibly delicious sandwiches are on offer every weekend until 2:30pm for brunch. We dont take reservations, so just come on in and well get you seated as quickly as we can! Happy brunching,

Pour on for half the price! Join us for a bottle of red or white for half off every Wednesday. Its a deal not to be missed this season.

Keep nana in mind when looking for places to host your holiday party or cater your next office luncheon, school function or seasonal celebration. Full and half sandwich platters, big, beautiful salads and fun finger foods all make for an excellent and memorable spread for your guests. Visit http://www.nanaorganic.com for our full catering menu. Email

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Nana - Local, organic and sustainable food

By M. Jason Kuo By M. Jason Kuo May 22 at 8:00 AM

Last week,The Washington Postreportedthat 36 million pounds of imported nonorganic soybeans suddenly obtainedorganic labels for domestic sale after entering California. This could happen because soybeans, like other foods, are imported via complex global supply chains, involving many different specialist businesses between the farmer and the final customer.

Regulating these supply chains to ensure, for example, that organic foods deserve their labels is hard. Here are five reasons why.

1) The U.S. government doesnt enforce its standards for organic foods.

The key regulator for organic foods in the United States, under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, is the Department of Agriculture. The USDA is in charge of regulating organic food, both when it is produced in the United States and when it is imported. Its illegal to sell imported foods as organic in the United States unless the product meets USDA standards.

[Robots arent killing the American dream. Neither is trade. This is the problem.]

However, the USDA doesnt actually administer the standards for imported foods. Instead, the certification checking that the food meets U.S. standards is done by USDA-recognized foreign regulators or USDA-authorized third-party organizations. This means the USDA outsources its authority to its equivalent agencies in other countries, as well as third-party certifiers.

2) Not all countries have U.S.-recognized regulators.

The number of USDA-recognizedinternational regulatorshasbeengrowing since 2009. However, it is still relatively small.Currently, the USDA allows imported foods to be sold as organic if they have passed muster with national regulators in Canada, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland. But the United States does not recognize the national regulators of Ukraine and Turkey, the two countries of origin that handled the recent shipment of falsely labeled soybeans. This means that exporters from these countries had to turn to a different system.

3) Thats why third-party certifiers are necessary.

USDAs Certifier Lookuppage lists 82 authorized third-party organizations. Although most of these USDA-accredited certifying agents are domestic, 33 areforeign agents. Also, although some of them are purely private, others arepublic. For instance, theOrganic Food Development and Certification of China in Nanjingis a Chinese government entity.

[What is NAFTA, and what would happen to U.S. trade without it?]

These USDA-accredited third-party certifying agents can also issue certification documents, acting as de factogatekeepers of organic food imports to the United States from other countries. Therefore, if these imported soybeans from Ukraine and Turkey were sold as organic in the United States, presumably the shipments were certified by USDA-authorized third-party organizations.

4) But certification remains challenging in a complex global economy.

In theory, this should all work very well. In practice, ensuring that imports labeled organic are actually organic is very hard, because global supply chains are complex and nontransparent. A number of suppliersor organizations may sell the product before they reach the final customer.

This creates ample opportunity for things to go wrong. For instance, the USDA may not have any good way to know whether its accredited certifying agents have issued false certification documents to unqualified foreign suppliers. Middleman organizations can use real certification documents for products that are not actually organic.

[Okay, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead. What was it?]

Indeed, as The Postreported, the broker of the fake organic soybeans claimed that it might have been provided with false certification documents.However, its impossible to know what went wrong about this particular line of organic food importuntil the USDA completes its investigation.

5) The problem stretches beyond the USDA.

This is not the USDAs fault it is one regulatory agency with limited resources, trying to deal with a multitude of suppliers. Some of these suppliers, in all likelihood, are operating unethically.

Regardless of the hurdles, my researchsuggests that the prospect of the USDA enhancing its regulatory oversight of organic integrity in global supply chains is attainable. In response to a similar globalization challenge to food safety, for example, the Food and Drug Administration has increased transparency and accountability in global supply chains. More substantively, the FDA has conducted more inspections of food facilities in other countries, developed more innovative enforcement tools, and educated more foreign regulators and relevant stakeholders about U.S. requirements.

People may wonder whether increasing regulatory oversight is an implicit form of trade protectionism. But, in fact, more U.S. food regulation results in more food trade, not less. Asmy research shows, greater oversight of foreign food facilities boosts trade in food from foreign countries to the United States by leveraging the U.S. governments reputation to reassure customers. If these lessons extend to the USDA, too, we might expect that more regulatory oversight would make it easier for genuine organic producers abroad to sell their food to American customers.

Jason Kuo is a postdoctoral fellow at the Mortara Center for International Studies at Georgetown University. He gratefully acknowledges financial support from a Carnegie Corp. Bridging the Gap grant. Follow him on Twitter @mjasonkuo.

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Why it's so hard to know whether organic food is really organic - Washington Post

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Beatrice Trum Hunter, who wrote "The Natural Foods Cookbook" in 1961, long before organic foods became a staple at supermarkets, and who took an early stance against pesticide exposure, sharing information with "Silent Spring" author Rachel Carson, has died. She was 98.

Family members said Trum Hunter, died Wednesday night in hospice care in Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

Trum Hunter "was writing and educating Americans about whole, organic foods decades before the farm-to-table movement took the country by storm," said Vita Paladino, director of the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, which has a collection of her personal and professional papers.

"Her quiet determination forever changed America's relationship with food and nutrition; we are proud to safeguard her remarkable legacy," Paladino said.

A native of New York City's Brooklyn borough, Trum Hunter and her husband, John Hunter, bought property in Deering, New Hampshire. They turned their home into an inn in the summer that exposed city dwellers to organic and natural foods. Trum Hunter made her own muffins, bread and soups.

Her interest in nutrition grew after she read what she called a "mind-blowing" book published in 1933, "100,000,000 Guinea Pigs: Dangers in Everyday Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics," by Arthur Kallett and Frederick J. Schlink. It argued that the population was being used in a massive experiment undertaken by food and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

"The first thing I did was to cut out sugar," she told Yankee Magazine in a 2015 interview, "and then I began to use more whole grains and more fresh vegetables." She even gave up apples for a while, concerned about the chemical sprays. Schlink published "Consumers' Research" magazine, which she joined as food editor.

When "The Natural Foods Cookbook" came out, Trum Hunter said she attracted some criticism from some dietitians and nutritionists because she wasn't using processed foods. She said others thought of her as a "crank." Through the years, though, the book has become a classic.

"Beatrice blew my mind and my sense of possibility wide open," Frances Moore Lappe, author of "Diet for a Small Planet," told The Associated Press in 2002. "I still remember my excitement in trying out her shocking combinations: barley, dill and mushrooms? Wow!"

Trum Hunter also favored meat, eggs and butter. Years later, she said she would have eliminated many of the organ meats from her book, which carried a recipe for brain salad, for example. "They were so ignored by many other cookbooks at the time," she told New Hampshire Public Radio in 2004.

Trum Hunter also was contacted by Carson before the publication of "Silent Spring" in 1962, about the potential harm of chemical pesticides to the environment. She shared research with Carson about DDT and other pesticide use.

"She was influential in helping Rachel Carson find evidence for the damage done by chemical sprays to wildlife and birds," said Linda Lear, who wrote the biography, "Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature."

In all, Trum Hunter wrote 38 books and numerous articles and columns. Some of her other works include "Gardening Without Poisons," ''The Great Nutrition Robbery," ''Our Toxic Legacy," and "The Sugar Trap and How to Avoid It."

Another passion was photography. She inherited photo equipment from her late mother-in-law, photographer Lotte Jacobi, known for her candidate portraits of such renowned figures as Albert Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt. Trum Hunter's work focused on ice crystals. She exhibited her work throughout New England.

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Pioneer of organic food cookbooks dies like she lived, quietly at 98 - NH1 News

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Organic Foods And Beverages Market Analysis By Product (Fruits & Vegetables, Meat, Fish & Poultry, Dairy Products, Frozen & Processed Food), Organic Beverages (Non-Dairy, Coffee & Tea, Beer & Wine)), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" report to their offering.

The global organic food & beverage market is expected to reach USD 320.5 billion by 2025. Growing popularity of non-GMO products among consumers, owing to the health benefits associated with their consumption, is expected to drive the demand over the forecast period.

Fruits and vegetables dominated the global organic food market accounted for over 37% of revenue share in 2015. Furthermore, increasing consumption of meat and poultry products resulted in the fastest growth of the segment and is expected to grow substantially at a CAGR of 13% over the forecast period.

Non-dairy beverages such as rice, soymilk, and oat beverages accounted for over 33% of the total share of organic beverages market in 2015. However, beer and wine is projected to grow substantially at a CAGR of 13.5% over the forecast period owing to increasing global economic conditions and high consumption of a broad range of flavored beverages.

Companies Mentioned

Key Topics Covered:

1. Methodology and Scope

2. Executive Summary

3. Organic Food & Beverage Industry Outlook

4. Organic Food & Beverage: Product Outlook

5. Organic Food & Beverage Market: Regional Outlook

6. Competitive Landscape

7. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/pwrfvd/organic_foods_and

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Organic Foods And Beverages Market to Reach $320 Billion by ... - Business Wire (press release)

Soybeans on a Central Illinois farm.

Earlier this year, an investigative piece inthe Washington Post revealed thatsomeorganic milksmay not deliver the health, animal welfare and environmental benefits shoppers expect. If that already hasyou rattled, another bit of discouraging news may further alter your shopping habits.

It turns out that some organic corn and soy imported into the U.S. does not meet USDA organic standards, the Washington Post reported in an otherinvestigation.

As much as half of the organic commodities American food companies use is imported, including soy and corn. And where those products are used, which is usually within a companys supply chain as ingredients or feed, imposes countless problems for the food industry.

On one hand, the organic edamame purchasedat a store such as Trader Joes or Costco is probably safe. The same goes for any other frozen or canned vegetable product you have stored in your kitchen.

The trouble, reports Peter Whoriskey of the Post, is that shipments of soy and corn on their way to become animal feed for organic food companies often dont meet organic standards. The USDA requires producers of organic foods such as eggs, meat and dairy to use organic feed which is why there is often a sizable price difference between conventional and certified organic food products.

But the problem is the paper trail. Companies that import certified organic products must keep receipts and invoices. But the USDA does not require companies to trace these products back to the farms at which these crops were grown. Meanwhile, records that Whoriskey and his team at the Post were able to obtain revealed high levels of residue on products grown in Ukraine and China. Yet dubious paperwork some importers had submitted allowed them to fetch a far higher price for the product due to the organic label on its products.

The USDA claims to take a harsh stand against companies that flout its organic certification rules. The agency says that the use of fraudulent documents to market or sell crops as organic can result in fines of up to $11,000 per violation. And the agency publicly posts a list of companies found to violate its rules; it was last updated on Monday.

The problem, however, is that such enforcement measures are weakened by spotty inspections. Farmers can hire the inspection companies of their choice, and they are often scheduled days or weeks ahead, which eliminates the chance of any spontaneous visits. Furthermore, testing for pesticides is not a standard practice, and is only conducted sporadically. The result, said Andrew Porterfield of the Genetic Literacy Project, is that as many as 43 percent of the organic foods sold in the U.S. could have substances prohibited by USDA organic guidelines.

Everyone is hurt by the USDAs lack of rigor when it comes to ensuring that organics are actually organic by definition. Farmers and ranchers in the U.S., already squeezed by thin margins, find it tough to compete against imports that are often cheaper and may not even be a genuinely organic food product in the first place. Food companies and retailers have their brand reputation put at risk because of doubts sowed within their supply chains. And consumers are left wondering if the extra money spent on supposedly certified organic products was a waste not to mention the fact that they and their families could have been exposed to chemicals they thought would never occur due to the premiums they had paid for supposedly safer foods.

Image credit: Kevin Dooley/Flickr

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Not-So-Organic Corn and Soy Revealed in Food Companies' Supply Chains - Triple Pundit (registration) (blog)

Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Whole Foods used to be my idea of grocery heaven. Once upon a time, I shopped at the California Street location in San Francisco it was light and airy with produce for miles. I knew the cheesemonger. I had philosophical conversations with the butcher. I stared longingly at the Le Creuset bakeware. The soap aisle smelled like lavender. Heaven.

But eventually, I fell out of love. Or, to be more specific, I changed my mind about organic food after reading the research: It turns out organic isnt more nutritious or even necessarily better for the planet. So I pretty much stopped shopping at Whole Foods altogether.

Im not the only one. Whole Foods may have once revolutionized the organic-food industry, but its no longer the only game in town. These days, many consumers are now buying their organic groceries at less expensive stores, including Costco and Walmart. Whole Foods sales are on the decline, driving many observers and even their own investors to suggest that in order to survive, the chain has to make a drastic change.

Well. I have a suggestion as to what that change might be. Its pretty drastic, but, hear me out, Whole Foods. This could be good for both of us. Here it is: Why not revolutionize grocery shopping all over again? Only this time, the revolution should be powered by science and agronomy, and not misleading marketing.

Heres my first problem. Labels like organic and conventional are too broad, and too black and white, to really be all that helpful. A more specific, more informative approach could fix this: If Whole Foods listed all of the pesticides used on every fruit and vegetable, whether natural or synthetic, consumers might begin to understand that both conventional and organic produce are grown with pesticides, and what matters more is the toxicity of the pesticide used. Copper sulfate, for example, a pesticide allowed in organic produce in the U.S., is more toxic than some conventional pesticides. Chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used in conventional agriculture, is more toxic than glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup. Its worth noting that Whole Foods took a step in this direction once before with its Responsibly Grown program, which recognized that conventional produce can be more sustainable than organic, but organic farmers loudly objected and the company eventually undercut those standards. Its time to bring them back.

This new science-based labeling system should also make it crystal clear that trace pesticide residues arent dangerous for consumers as long as the residues measure below the tolerance levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (and they do, year after year), then they arent a cause for concern. If there is a concern about a pesticides toxicity, its the health risk to farm workers and their families, and thats something to consider before buying those perfect-looking strawberries.

Well also want to know the pesticides environmental impact, like how it affects the bees or the surrounding water supply. Many people believe pesticides alone are killing off the countrys bee population, but if you dig a little deeper, you discover that pesticides arent actually the biggest culprit. Iida Ruishalme, a biologist who writes the blog Thoughtscapism, has published several in-depth posts examining the different hazards to bee health. She says even though neonicotinoid [pesticides] steal most of the thunder, there are graver threats to be concerned with: The Varroa mite, disease, habitat loss, and invasive species (such as the European honey bee itself) play a far greater role.

But pesticides are only one piece of the broader sustainability puzzle. Consumers should also be able to know whether the farmer who grew their produce uses practices like cover-cropping and conservation tillage, two things that improve soil health and mitigate the impact of climate change by increasing the sequestration of carbon in the soil. Both organic and conventional farmers can and do incorporate these methods.

Antibiotics are another area where more precise language would be helpful. If Whole Foods moved beyond labels like antibiotic free and provided more specific information about how their conventional farmers use antibiotics, it could encourage more strategic and sparing use of these drugs. And when it comes to organic meat, let consumers know which organic farmers responsibly treat their sick animals with antibiotics and remove them from the herd, and discourage the use of unproven and ineffective homeopathic remedies.

And while were at it, reward the farmers who pay their farm workers a decent wage and ensure good working conditions. Its a standard that would at least achieve something real and tangible unlike the non-GMO food label thats so ubiquitous in Whole Foods stores. The Non-GMO Projects butterfly seal of sanctity, slapped on products throughout the store, is a symbol of the issues that drove me away from Whole Foods in the first place: The Non-GMO project is (a) misleading, and (b) not backed by science. Products like non-GMO tomatoes are really just a trick on the consumer because all tomatoes fit that description; there are no genetically modified tomatoes currently on the market. And despite the fear over genetically modified foods, there has never been a proven case of illness attributed to a GMO. The overwhelming, well-documented scientific consensus is that these foods are safe (or, to be precise, just as safe as other types of food).

But what people really need to understand and what Whole Foods has the power to show them is that there really is no such thing as a GMO. Its a breeding method, not an ingredient. Rather than label something non-GMO, label each modified crop by its particular enhancement, so that consumers can evaluate each genetically modified food by its own merits. Customers could choose from disease-resistant papaya, inoculated against the papaya ringspot virus, or food made with Bt corn, modified to include the same toxin that other farmers have to apply in a separate pesticide application, often in larger amounts. Crops modified to be Roundup Ready, like soy and canola, allow farmers to apply the herbicide Roundup without affecting the actual crop. Lets also include foods like seedless watermelon and ruby-red grapefruit these fruits may have been created by non-GMO breeding methods, but theyre genetically modified all the same.

True, all of this may sound like a lot of information. But food labels are already jam-packed with information these days its just that most of that info is vague and unhelpful (what does natural really mean, anyway?). If Whole Foods could get consumers to focus on agricultural measures that matter, I just might fall in love with the store all over again. So, lets do this, Whole Foods. Tell the cheesemonger Im on my way.

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Whole Foods Would Look a Lot Different If It Were Science-Based - New York Magazine

I must admit that when I heard that a 2000-acre organic farm that had maintained its organic status for 18 years is being forced by the local government to spray pesticides on their crops, I was appalled, and a bit disbelieving. After all, what right do a few elected municipal officials have to destroy the food, the USDA certified organic statusand the livelihood of those running and working an organic farm? Sadly, it is the reality facing Azure Farms in Moro, Oregon. Officials of Sherman County are forcing the farm to spray noxious pesticides on their farm or be quarantined.

But Azure Farms is fighting back. Nathan Stelzer, the farms manager, is asking for public support against the countys requirements. He went to social media for help in spreading the message about their farms plight. He also asks that people phone Lauren, the courts administrative assistant, at 541-565-3416 to voice their concern over the countys policies. Sherman County may issue a court order requiring Azure Farms to spray Roundup and other toxic pesticides on the farm by as early as May 22 or to quarantine the farm while county officials spray the pesticides on the farm. The County is also threatening to place a lien on the farm to cover the costs of the chemicals and labor to spray the farm.

The safety over Monsantos Roundup and other glyphosate-based pesticides is questionable, with studies linking it to cancer. Recent reports have ghostwritten its own so-called independent research to suggest the pesticides are safe. Meanwhile the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer, cites research linking glyphosate to non-Hodgkins lymphoma and declaring glyphosate a probable carcinogen.

According to wheat farmers in Sherman County, the weed problem has gotten progressively worse over the years, and the farmers blame Azure for not spraying its organic food crops. While it is easy for people to seek out someone to blame for the problems they face, it is a serious oversimplification of the situation to simply point the finger at the local organic farm, for a number of reasons.

First, weeds are part of a natural and healthy ecosystem. Farms and weeds like those in question (Morning Glory, Canada Thistle and Whitetop) have co-existed for centuries, if not millennia. They are found throughout North America, so how can the wheat farmers accurately identify Azure as the culprit in spreading them to the wheat farms? Second, if they are spraying their crops to keep weeds down then the pesticides should be resolving the problem. But, the reality is that the pesticides are CAUSING super-weeds in the same way that antibiotics are linked to the development of super bugs.

Pesticides like Roundup have been used in increasing amounts in an effort to combat weeds that the pesticides were supposed to eradicate. According to a study released in February 2016, and published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Sciences Europe, 18.9 billion pounds (8.6 billion kilograms) of glyphosate have been used globally to date. Additionally, the use of the herbicide has risen almost 15-fold since Roundup Ready genetically-engineered crops were introduced in 1996.

Third, the farmers insist that they dont cause chemicals to drift onto the organic farm so they dont want weed seeds from the organic farm on their territory. The reality about pesticides is that they drift in the air and in ground water, so this claim by the wheat farmers is simply not founded in fact. Fourth, forcing the organic farm to spray chemicals on their produce destroys their organic farm status and business and its related jobs, which total $6 million annually in payroll. I doubt that any chemical-based wheat farmers would want to be shut down, but this is exactly what they are trying to force on Azure by insisting that the farm spray noxious chemicals on its soil and crops. And, it is unlawful to destroy anothers livelihood when that livelihood isnt breaking any laws. Since when is growing food in the same way it has been grown for thousands of years a crime? Frankly, it seems completely tyrannical than the countys wheat farmers and municipal authorities think they have the right to force the farm to destroy its pristine soil and organic status.

Please sign my petition asking Sherman County to stop forcing Azure Farms to spray Roundup and other noxious pesticides on their organic farmland.

Related:Dont Believe in Herbal Medicine? 10 Things to Change Your MindThe 5 Best Herbs to Soothe Your NervesShould You Actually Starve a Fever?

Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is the publisher of the free e-news Worlds Healthiest News, president of PureFood BC, and an international best-selling and 20-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty & Cooking.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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County Officials Are Forcing This Organic Farm to Spray Roundup on Food Crops - Care2.com