is one of those words that gets used so much you might just forget what it really means…. simple and healthful and close to nature, “an organic lifestyle.” And recycling? To use again in the original form or with minimal alteration: So that’s it! Core values on going green. Reusing what it close to nature with minimal alteration. Seems that’s what Recycling.com and OrganicAuthority.com are doing with a new partnership they’ve created. An online resource that provides a wide range of information while educating the public about the benefits of buying and choosing organic produce, meats, and products, while promoting sustainable living and an organic lifestyle. From Los Angeles
As the solar and renewable energy industry continues its growth, theorganic food market in the US has also been one of the fastest growing industries. According to RNCOSa leading market research and information firm: During 2000-2008, the average annual growth of the industry ranged between 16%-21%. In 2009, the industry successfully endured economic slowdown effects and posted positive year on year growth rate, which was well ahead of total food sales growth in 2009. With the government’s monetary and regulatory support and increasing acceptance of organic food in the country, the industry is expected to grow 13% during 2010-2014.
Increasing health awareness, environment protection, food safety, and animal welfare are fuelling the growth of the industry. The demand for organic products and natural produce is growing rapidly thus, making a niche market for the food and beverages industry. As the world’s largest economy the US provides a fertile environment for the organic food industry to grow and prosper. With California leading the organic food movement other states such as Wyoming, Texas, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and South Dakota have shown tremendous market potentials for investment. Not only in urban areas but in rural parts of the country as well, consumers are showing phenomenal interest in bothorganic farming and organic food consumption.
“US Organic Food Market Analysis” is a comprehensive report and objective analysis of organic food market potentials in the US. The report provides historical, current, and future projected market performance of all prominent segments including fruit & vegetables, beverages, dairy, packaged foods, bread & grains.
It also provides insight on emerging market trends along with regulatory initiatives, and industry outlook. Additionally, the report facilitates information/statistics on organic farm land infrastructure, consumer behavior analysis, supply chain mechanisms and an overview of prominent industry players.
“With the sustainable, organic, grass-fed beef revolution well underway, we believe it’s high time for the same quality meats to make their way from the dinner plate to the pet bowl,” said Melissa McGinnis founder of Original Pet Food Company. Melissa is on a mission to bring humane and sustainable agriculture practices to the $47 billion pet food industry. Pet food made from organic, grass-fed beef promotes better pet health, environmental responsibility and economic vitality. Dogs and cats are no different from humans in the fact that their bodies were not designed to process all of the artificial hormones, preservatives and additives that entered the food supply in the past century.
Organic, grass-fed beef is high in beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), shown to reduce cardiovascular disease and the growth of cancerous tumors. By eating a diet low in saturated fat and free of additives, preservatives and fillers, pets will enjoy shinier coats, healthier skin and improved digestion.
Original Pet Food Company uses only the highest quality grass-fed beef from Uruguay. Their cattle graze on the Pampas, the fertile grasslands of Uruguay and are never confined to feedlots or factory farms. The cows are never given antibiotics or growth hormones.
In addition to the numerous health benefits of grass-fed beef, there is also a positive environmental impact. More than 50% of all grain and corn grown in the U.S. is fed to livestock, adding to the buildup of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in the soil and water. This diet is harmful to the health of cows, whose stomachs are specially designed to break down the cellulose in grass, leading to disease and an epidemic of antibiotic use. Grazing cattle on Pampas grasses, by contrast, is a natural feeding method that causes none of the pollution problems associated with feedlots and factory farms (including that of waste management). By supporting farms in Uruguay, the local economy is boosted, the biodiversity of the Pampas is preserved, and sustainable farming is encouraged throughout the country.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe announced its new Organic Overnight Spa Package for the fall this year. Intended to attract guests that live within driving distance of the mid-mountain resort in Northstar-at-Tahoe near Truckee, California, the package includes overnight accommodations and one of the resort’s most popular spa treatments. “It is a great way for guests to relax with a spa treatment and also experience a getaway to the first luxury resort to be built in Lake Tahoe,” said Allen Highfield, General Manager.
“The Organics Spa treatments have been our most popular services during our debut season at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Tahoe,” said Adam Estrella, Spa Manager. “Our guests seem to like that we use organic products in our services.” The Organic Overnight Spa Package includes one night’s accommodations on Sunday – Thursday only through December 9, 2010. Also included is the choice of a 50-minute Organic Facial or Organic Massage in The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Tahoe. The treatment choice features the all organic Eminence line of products and is included within the $299 per night room rate. Overnight valet parking is also included. For more information contact The Organic Overnight Spa Package.
byElvira Ackermann:According to the latest IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Associations) report, Italy is the major grower of organic grapes in Europe.
As a matter of fact, the country of “la dolce vita” boasts 34.000 hectares (84.015 acres) of land dedicated to organic wine growing. Italy is followed by France with 19.000 hectares (46.950 acres) and Spain with 16.000 hectares (39.537 acres). They represent the three major growers of organic grapes in Europe. Germany, being the fourth producer of the old continent, includes only 4.000 hectares (9.885 acres) of land planted with organic grapes.
Italy maintains also an excellent position in the general ranking of organic wine producing countries worldwide earning the fifth position with 1.147 hectares (2.834 acres) of organic vineyard land. The first four positions are being maintained by countries that are way larger than Italy, i.e. Australia, Argentina, China and the U.S. The above statistics show an outstanding organic grape growth in the Italian wine world thanks to an increasing market penetration of organic and biodynamic wine in Italy and Europe.
Note 1: la dolce vita = literally “the sweet life,”indicates the pleasant Italian life style including sunshine, beaches, fine wine and food, fancy cars, fashion, friendly people……
Note 2: biodynamic wine = At its most basic, the biodynamic approach to grape-growing sees the vineyard as an ecological whole: not just rows of grapevines, but the soil beneath them—an organism in its own right—and the other flora and fauna in the area, growing together interdependently.
Where biodynamics differs from other forms of organic or sustainable agriculture is in its idea that farming can be attuned to the spiritual forces of the cosmos. This might mean linking sowing and harvesting to the phases of the moon or the positions of the planets; it also might mean burying cow manure in a cow’s horn over the winter, unearthing it in the spring, diluting a minute amount of the substance in 34 liters of water, “dynamizing” it by stirring it by hand in alternating directions for an hour or so and then spraying the mixture over one’s vineyard.
The green movement is coming at us from all directions and from some unexpected sources. Googles’ investment in wind power is a sign; as is the US Department of the Interior’s plan to build a major solar power plant on public lands. Not long ago I reported a story about a 14 year old Ontario student who converted is grandfathers old Volkswagen into an electric vehicle. Even more recently there was the story of a college student from Purdue who has designed a functioningsolar motorcycle…You know he’s probably getting more dates now that he’s getting all this attention. So now from North Carolina here’s 11 year oldBirke Baehr who recently spoke a TED X conference.TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Seems Birke has been studying how Americas’ food structure is working and has some very clear ideas on how it can be transformed into a more effective and healthy system.
At 11 years old Birke has changed his goal of being a football player and has decided he wants to be a an organic farmer instead, because as he said, “I can make a greater impact on the world.” The problem as he sees it is that 70 percent of processed foods on the market today are genetically modified. The other part of that is that genetically modified foods have been proven to cause cancer in lab animals.
TEDXCHANGE – BIRKE BAEHR
Now that our agribusiness systems are being looked at differently; organic, urban and vertical farmers are providing new solutions to address healthy eating and reduction in C02 emissions. And a child shall lead them.
