Every Wednesday from noon to dusk, a piece of the park, Lake Ella, is transformed into an organic food market called the Growers Market at Lake Ella. Started as an initiative in the community by Florida A&M Universitys (FAMU) School of Agriculture and Food Sciences and their FAMU statewide Small Farm program, the Growers Market at Lake Ella has managed to stay afloat for the last 13 years.

According to Jennifer Taylor, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of Small Farm Programs at the FAMU s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, the Growers Market at Lake Ella was a FAMU initiative.

We were having a series of workshops about organic farming, organic agriculture, and what it was about. The benefits of organic farming and organic integrated management, all of these different kind of strategies that support organic farming systems, said Dr. Taylor.

The development for the Growers Market at Lake Ella, didnt stop at a meeting table.

They came to me and said, Well Jennifer we actually need a different kind of market, can you help us develop a market? continued Dr. Taylor.

According to Dr. Taylor, there are a total of four markets in Tallahassee, but what makes the Growers Market at Lake Ella so unique is it is the only organic methods market, where only organic farmers are able to sell produce.

The Growers Market at Lake Ella features many of farmers from surrounding counties who go through strategic planning processes to thoroughly execute a Wednesday at the market.

According to Annette Layton, owner and farmer of Little Eden Heirloom Farm in Crawford, Fla., preparing their produce for sell, is impossible to do at the last minute.

It really starts months in advance. Its going to take two to three months for this to harvest. Basically its an everyday thing, Layton said.

According to David Newman, farmer of Ripe City Urban Farm in Tallahassee, Fla., his Wednesdays begin with early morning preparation.

Wake up fairly early, harvest everything the same day, package it in some kind of bag. Whatever units, I sell each particular item and then put that in the cooler then put it in the truck. Then prepare all of the marketing stuff. It is pretty routine now, Newman explained.

To the average person, farming may seem like a heavy cross to bear, but to farmers like David Newman and Annette Layton, farming equals steady income and food sustainability.

It is literally a full-time job. This is the only job we have right now. Every now and then Ill do some art, Layton said

I got passionate about growing food in a healthy and sustainable way. This is my form or major income, I also get into real estate on the side, explained Newman.

At the Growers Market at Lake Ella organic food seekers get the opportunity to meet the farmers, without a third party, who nurtured and grew their food. For many of the produce buyers, attending the Growers Market at Lake Ella every Wednesday is more than just buying produce and going home, but also building relationships with the people in the community.

According to Bennett Hoffman, Little Eden Heirloom Farms frequently visiting customer, Little Eden Heirloom Farm is what brings him back to the Growers Market at Lake Ella.

They have great stuff, the people are nice. Thats why I like to come to the market because I like to know what I am getting and who I am getting it from, Hoffman explained.

The diverse love for organic food is what the Growers Market at Lake Ella used as a great tactic to bring the community together.

According to Dr. Taylor, for the last 13 years after searching for a place to host the market, the Tallahassee community has welcomed the Growers Market with open arms.

I searched several places around town that would be a great place to have a market. Somewhere where the community needs to come and see and supportand we got that mix here [Lake Ella] and the people support us."

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FAMU's organic food market at Lake Ella brings unity to the community - Famuan

Are pizza delivery chains trying to appeal to a more health-conscious consumer?

Papa Johns is trying to live up to its "Better Ingredients, Better Pizza," slogan by offering organic vegetable toppings at about 35 locations near their headquarters in Louisville, Ky.

The organic offerings are part of a pilot program launched over the past month that the chain intends to roll out nationwide.

Noting customers' changing attitudes about what's considered "healthy," chief ingredient officer Sean Muldoon and his team say they wanted to see how customers would respond to having organic options on the menu.

Our customers want to know where their food comes from and how it is produced, said Muldoon in a press release. At Papa Johns, we are constantly looking at ways to meet the needs of our customers whether its through our clean label initiative or testing organic produce.

5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PAPA JOHN'S

To get the pilot program started, the pizza chain-- founded in 1983 by John Schnatter-- partnered with Green BEAN Delivery, a family owned company, to source Roma tomatoes, green peppers, yellow onions and mushrooms from certified organic farms across the country in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Oregon, California and Indiana.

Matt Ewer, the CEO of GREEN Bean, says he's looking forward to expanding the program and he's been working with his employees to connect with more organic farmers across the country to improve the supply chain for future ingredient acquisition.

"Papa John's is showing great leadership by stepping out into the organic marketplace and testing the quality and viability of the supply chain," Ewer told the Courier Journal."They are a major influence in creating this positive change in our food system."

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According to the USDA, organic food accounts for just 4 percent of all U.S. food sales. But Ewer and Muldoon say about 13 percent of produce that is currently grown is certified organic. That number is expected to be around 20 percent in just three years.

Papa Johns customers in Lexington have responded positively to the new offerings, says Muldoon, and added that the organic toppings taste just like traditionally grown veggies used to top the pizzas of yesteryear,according to Courier Journal.

Papa Johns is the first national pizza delivery chain to announce the removal of preservatives BHA and BHT, MSG, cellulose and partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors and synthetic colors and high fructose corn syrup.

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Papa John's testing organic toppings in Kentucky - Fox News

The National Organic Program was established almost two decades ago by the Agricultural Marketing Service branch of the United States Department of Agriculture. The program was given the difficult task of creating a regulatory framework that would govern the principles of organic food production, but the organic certification program is complicated and, frankly, not well understood.

Click here to view the25 Foods That You Should Always Buy Organic Slideshow

Shoppers are often given the short-hand version of these principles, and as a result, typically assume organic foods are cleaner, more nutritious, and more environmentally sustainable than their conventionally-raised counterparts. While this is true to a degree, there is a lot of misinformation promoted by the food industry in order to convince customers to pay the high premium that comes with organic foods. A comprehensive meta-study conducted by Stanford University, which included the analysis of 237 different studies comparing nutrient levels and bacterial, fungal, or pesticide contamination of different fruits and vegetables, found little difference between organic and conventional foods.

Although organic foods might not be any healthier, theyre definitely cleaner but how do we know this? Well, the government tells us.

Every year, the USDA Pesticide Data Program releases a report outlining the pesticide residue on popular produce. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) takes it upon themselves to analyze the dense report and produce a Dirty Dozen List documenting which conventionally raised foods contain the highest concentration of chemical residue.

On top of the list are some surprising names who wouldve thought spinach is one of the dirtiest food items out there? So if you want to avoid chemical residues on your foods you should always buy the organic version of these 25 foods.

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25 Foods That You Should Always Buy Organic - The Daily Meal - The Daily Meal

Feng Mao Biotechnology Organic Food CO.,LTD. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Almond Drinking ... US Recall News (press release) Feng Mao Biotechnology Organic Food CO. of R.O.C is recalling Almond Drinking Powder in 600 g cans, because it may contain undeclared peanuts. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening ... and more »

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Feng Mao Biotechnology Organic Food CO.,LTD. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Almond Drinking ... - US Recall News (press release)

Now with even better better ingredients. Photo: Paul Rivera/CC/flickr

The better ingredients used to make Papa Johns better pizza will finally include a couple of organic ones for people in Lexington, Kentuckys delivery range, at least. Thats where the chain says its launched a pilot program intended to build upon its commitment to BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA. So what does this exciting new menu initiative mean for customers in that area? Organic versions of four popular Papa Johns toppings Roma tomatoes, green peppers, yellow onions, and mushrooms.

To make this switch, Papa Johns says its partnered with Green Bean Delivery, a service that delivers all-natural groceries, to source produce from organic farms around the country. The dough, sauce, cheese, and any meat so, 98 percent of the pizza will continue to contain conventional ingredients for the time being. Chief ingredient officer Sean Muldoon tells Max Goldberg, of the organic-food blog Living Maxwell, that creating an entirely organic pizza would take some time, but, hey, never say never!

In a separate statement about the rollout, Muldoon says that testing organic produce is a natural progression as Papa Johns takes pride in our position of having the cleanest label in the pizza industry, which one cant help but ascribe to the fact that customers keep telling Muldoon, and everybody else at the company, that they want to know where their food comes from and how it is produced. Papa Johns hasnt always been super helpful in this regard it made life pretty difficult for a journalist back in 2013, when she tried to see if Papa Johns ingredients were objectively better than the competitions. Also, Pizza Hut released a pizza with some organic toppings in 2008, but theres no reason Papa Johns cant still consider this a good baby step.

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Light and refreshing and good enough to make you forget all about the carbonated white-wine nightmares of the 80s.

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Papa John's New 'Organic' Ingredients Are at Least Morally Superior - Grub Street

BALTIMORE, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Tessemae's Fresh Food Company, a leader in the fresh salad dressing and condiment category, is looking forward to an exciting year as it transforms into a fresh food company. A new brand refresh will kick off the company's expansion into the organic produce market.

Tessemae's is disrupting the produce category with its innovation and will continue to rely on its use of clean and organic ingredients as a differentiator. Their product portfolio will be expanding this year to include a new line of creamy salad dressings, a line of organic condiments, salad toppers, single serve and family style salad kits, veggie trays, and dips.

"People are tired of eating science projects.They want clean, fresh, meal solutions. Tessemae's is here to enable that clean eating for everyone, everywhere," saidGreg Vetter, CEO of Tessemae's.

The new brand look, created with the consumer in mind, is clean and flavor forward. The hand-dipped wax they are perhaps best known for has been replaced in favor of an easy-to-open color coordinated shrink seal. The condiment line features fun, playful imagery that is sure to connect with consumers. The new packaging can be found on shelves now. The company will be re-launching their website, Tessemaes.com, in April with a new look and improved user experience.

In January, Tessemae's launched single serve salad kits exclusive to Kroger and Kroger banner stores but will now be expanding to other retailers in the near future. The salad kits are a delicious grab and go meal solution featuring organic grilled chicken, salad greens, Tessemae's dressing, and a salad topper to add flavor and crunch. The salad kit is available in four flavor varieties: Spinach Bacon Ranch, Power Kale Caesar, Sweet Kale Crunch, and Sesame Ginger Greens.

"The most important thing to us is how a product tastes, and how it makes us feel. It all connects back to our mission of simplifying food to amplify life. That's what drives our innovation," said Kristen Dittami, EVP of Research and Development.

About Tessemae's Fresh Food CompanyTessemae's is an organic fresh food company that makes products with real, whole, source food ingredients. The Vetter brothers, Greg, Brian, and Matt, launched the brand in 2009 at their local Whole Foods Market in Annapolis, Maryland, using a simple salad dressing recipe created and used by their mom throughout their childhood. Tessemae's commitment to healthy eating and living is the core of their mission. Provide simple, yet delicious food to consumers made with real ingredients. Available in Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Safeway, Target, The Fresh Market, WalMart, and Earthfare retailers across the country, Tessemae's products are creating a new standard in the product department and raising consumer awareness on the importance of consuming real, clean ingredients. For more information please visit http://www.tessemaes.com.

Contact: Shawn McLaughlinshawn@tessemaes.com

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Tessemae's Enters into the Organic Produce Category with a Fresh ... - Yahoo Finance

In this case, its all about quantity. Not enough people are walking through the front doors of Whole Foods Market anymore.

When the supermarket chain went public over two decades ago, it experienced growth driven largely by growing interest in organic foods. In short order, the Austin, Texas-based grocer became a darling of upper-middle class shoppers, earning a reputation for being expensive along the way.

It was inevitable that Whole Foods success would change the grocery market, where chains often engage in aggressive discounting when battling each other for customer foot traffic. Over the years, consumer demand drove more chainsincluding places such as Kroger and Walmartto include organic options, and the supply chains found ways to accommodate. Fast forward to 2017 and almost all grocery stores across the US have an organic food section with lower prices that what shoppers will find in most of Whole Foods more than 430 locations.

Consumers reacted as one might expect. Average sales growth at Whole Foods Market locations open for more than one year declined.

Luckily for Whole Foods, some investors havent lost faith. Edward Kelly, an analyst with Credit Suisse, wrote in a report this week that he had hopes for the grocery chain, especially as news this week broke that Jana Partners, a group of activist investors, has built up an 8.8% stake in the company. Jana has said it wants to talk with Whole Foods management about its corporate structure and brand development, among other things. The idea is that a shakeup could wind up spurring some positive changes.

We believe [Whole Foods Market] has superior brand value but has arguably been mismanaged as the company failed to adapt to the evolving food retail landscape, Kelly wrote. Good brands dont underperform forever.

Still others are more skeptical. UBS analyst Michael Lasser wrote this week that Whole Foods new line of millennial-driven 365 by Whole Foods Market-branded stores may wind up causing more harm than good. The company started that chain to attract value-driven shoppers. Even if Whole Foods becomes more price competitive with competing brands, the presence of 365-brand locations may wind up cannibalizing some of the sales that would otherwise go back to the flagship stores.

These challenges arent likely to abate soon, Lasser wrote.

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Charted: Whole Foods' organic problemshoppers naturally prefer cheaper options - Quartz

Dive Brief:

While Danonemay be the global leader in yogurt, it has been struggling to improve annual sales growth after disappointing performance from its Activiabrand.Since Danone first announced it would acquire the fast-growing organic foods maker WhiteWave for $12.5 billion last year, analysts predicted the purchase would give it a premier position in soy and plant-based products popular with American consumers.

The merger was allowed to proceed following Danone'srecent antitrust deal with the U.S. Department of Justice, which required the company to sell its Stonyfield organic yogurt brand.Danoneexpects the acquisition to raise its full year like-for-like sales growth by an extra 0.5% to 1%and boost run-rate operating profits to $300 million by 2020. Improving the company's dairy division has been a top priority for executives at Danone.

The WhiteWavepurchase comes as consumers embracethe plant-based and dairy-free lifestyle one that is conscious of environmental, ethical, and health concerns. There are a significant number of consumers who cant eat dairy. More than 40 million Americans are lactose intolerant. But many others are looking to dairy alternatives. The purchase, which is Danones largest in a decade, will improve the companys product line with brands including Horizon Organic milk, Wallaby Organic yogurt and Earthbound Farm packaged salad, which WhiteWave says are the top sellers in their categories. If the trend of moving toward plants and away from dairy continues, Danone's acquisition viewed by some analysts as expensive could prove to be a bargain.

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Danone completes acquisition of organic-foods producer WhiteWave - Food Dive

LIV - Liverpool 's new independent healthy living department store will open its doors tomorrow.

The new organic and natural food market, caf and health and beauty destination has 10,000 sq ft market area and 50 seat restaurant.

In the heart of the citys thriving independent food and drink quarter, LIV aims to celebrate the best that Bold Street has to offer and the ECHO were invited for an exclusive look inside before opening day.

Exclusive first look inside Bold Street's LIV organic food market

The LIV concept is being launched by Knowsley-based Healthy Food Supplies. Inside, the market area is a must for foodies, with bespoke individual sectors, where customers are encouraged to wander round and ask the friendly experts for advice.

The team have been hard at work sourcing the finest fresh, local and seasonal produce, with chilled, fresh and frozen sections.

The beautiful eatery is the perfect place to relax and people-watch, or catch up with friends, enjoying views onto Bold Street.

The menu offers something for everyone, including the best delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes, with meat dishes too, as well as a strong awareness of dietary requirements, such as gluten and dairy free options.

In a dedicated health and beauty area there will be a first-rate range of vegan cosmetics, brushes and skincare, catering for a burgeoning sector of the beauty industry.

LIVs Ashleigh Coleman told the ECHO: The response has been fantastic. Since we announced we were opening weve had such amazing feedback. Bold Street is a great location for independent businesses, particularly in the food and drink sector, it just seems the ideal place for us to be.

There is real demand for fresh and seasonal foods, and the growing vegetarian and vegan market means its the perfect time and place for a healthy living department store like LIV to open in the heart of Liverpool. We cant wait to welcome our first customers in through the doors.

Other stand-out elements in LIVs food and drink offer includes a specialist herb and spice selection where keen cooks can help themselves from dispensers, fill up packaging, weigh and print off a price label.

Ashleigh added: Well have fresh fruit and vegetables, and on-the-shelf products like pastas and sauces, plus a cheese and deli counter again supporting local producers and an in-store bakery.

Stepping into the Art Deco grandeur of the iconic site, built for the gas board as Radiant House, customers will be greeted by a large feature wall artwork, celebrating Liverpool's cityscape and all its world famous sights.

Healthy Food Supplies has chosen Liverpool as its first LIV location, and Ashleigh sais the response to the initial announcement gave them confidence that customers are keen to see an organic, natural food market in the city.

Health and lifestyle have become such a big issue and people are appreciating them much more, so we hoped to get a positive reaction, but it went wild as soon as we first revealed our plan.

LIV isnt just about healthy food and natural beauty products, we want to develop a community aspect too which I think are all a part of that lifestyle.

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Exclusive first look inside Bold Street's LIV organic food market - Liverpool Echo

Papa John's has launched an organic produce pilot program in Lexington.(Photo: Courtesy of Papa John's)

A bin of fresh, organic produce from Green BEAN Delivery.(Photo: Courtesy of Green BEAN Delivery)

A Green BEAN Delivery associate makes a delivery of fresh, organic produce.(Photo: Courtesy of Green BEAN Delivery)

Better ingredients means organic ingredients in a new test taking place at Papa John's shops in Lexington.

For the past month, the Louisville-based chain has offered organic vegetable toppings at about 35 locations in the nearby city as part of a pilot program that's eventually intended to be rolled out nationwide.

The company's customers have been increasingly eating organic products for some time, and an annual growth in organic produce production over the past two decades shows the taste for healthier options isn't going away, chief ingredient officer Sean Muldoon said.

So last year, during an annual strategic planning process, Muldoon's department decided to see how some customers would respond to getting organic ingredients atop their pizzas.

"With the rest of our better ingredients position, we wanted to be the first in the pizza industry looking at this," Muldoon said Tuesday. "It's more than a trend, it's something that will continue to grow. We wanted to put a foot in the water by testing in Lexington."

To launch the program, Papa John's has partnered with Green BEAN Delivery to source Roma tomatoes, green peppers, yellow onions and mushrooms from certified organic farms in seven states, including Kentucky and Indiana.

Green BEAN Delivery is a family owned company that operates organic farms in Indiana and Ohio and that offers home delivery of fresh, organic produce in cities around the Midwest, including Louisville and Lexington.

Muldoon said Green BEAN CEO Matt Ewer and other employees have been working with Papa John's to make connections with certified organic farmers and will continue to do so as the program expands.

"I've been impressed with Matt and his vision around certified organic produce and his network of farmers," Muldoon said. "This is a complicated and challenging thing. ... If you think about produce growing cycles, we needed a partner who knew farmers in places like California, Florida, Arizona and Washington. We needed someone who could help us manage that cycle throughout the year."

Ewer and Muldoon said about 13 percent of produce currently grown is certified as organic, meaning no unnatural pesticides, fertilizers or other items have touched it.

By 2020, that number is expected to reach 20 percent, they said, proving the demand for organic produce isn't a trend.

"As the industry's grown, it's exciting to see a company such as Papa John's getting involved with supporting organic food, especially organic produce," Ewer said, adding that the business can have a lasting effecton the industry's supply chain. "... Even when you're eating a convenient product like Papa John's, it's exciting to see positive things come out of that."

So far, Muldoon said customers in Lexington have responded well to the use of organic ingredients, which have not changed the overall flavor of their pizzas and have not added extra cost.

There's no doubt the organic items cost more than traditional produce, Muldoon said, but Papa John's has decided to absorb the cost as part of its mission to provide better ingredients at an affordable price.

The next step for the company now is to continue monitoring the feedback and to plan additional programs in other cities, possibly including Louisville, Muldoon said.

"This is a very long-term initiative for us," Muldoon said. "It is going to take some time to read the tests, get the consumer feedback and, on the supply chain, work with Green BEAN Delivery to work with farmers directly," to purchase enough produce needed to serve organic items through the year.

The company, of course, thinks the investment is worth it. But, "it's one of the more complicated solutions that I've had to deal with," Muldoon said.

Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at 502-582-4646 or bloosemore@courier-journal.com.

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Papa John's testing organic toppings in Lexington - The Courier-Journal