This Organic Food Thing

Posted on July 17, 2011 by quest

The town of Hardwick, Vt., has been celebrated as the scene of a local food revival. In recent years, lots of small farms have started up nearby. Tom Stearns, president of a local organic seed company called High Mowing Seeds, says there are more organic farms per capita within 10 miles of Hardwick than anywhere else in the world. There’s also a thriving local grocery co-op; a busy farmer’s market; even a classy restaurant — Claire’s — where almost anything you eat grew or grazed on land nearby.

But it was Ben Hewitt, as much as anyone, who really put Hardwick and its local food scene on the map. He’s a writer and a back-to-the-land activist himself. He lives on 40 acres near Cabot, down the road from Hardwick, with his wife, their two home-schooled children, and an assortment of pigs, cows and a very friendly dog named Daisy.

Hewitt saw what was happening in Hardwick, and it struck him as unusual, even odd. “Here’s this town: Unemployment rate 40 percent higher than the Vermont state average; median income 25 percent lower; and then there was this thing happening around so-called sustainable ag and local food!” Hewitt says. So Hewitt wrote a book about Hardwick: The Town That Food Saved. Source: NPR By Dan Charles - Listen Here

BMW Launches i Series Electric Cars

US To Become The World’s Largest Solar Market

Posted on June 17, 2011 by quest

The U.S. solar energy industry continued to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy in Q1 2011 according to the U.S. Solar Market InsightTM: Q1 2011 released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research. In total, cumulative grid-connected solar electric installations have reached more than 2.85 gigawatts (GW), enough to power nearly 600,000 U.S. homes. In the first quarter of 2011, the United States installed 252 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected photovoltaics (PV) or 66 percent year-over-year growth over Q1 2010 installations. Two major factors drove this growth: falling solar energy equipment costs and a rush to take advantage of the Section 1603 Treasury program that was expected to expire in 2010 (the program was eventually extended through the end of 2011). All three PV market sectors (residential, commercial and utility) continued to grow, with commercial installations showing the strongest gains.

“On the whole, the U.S. is currently the PV industry’s most attractive and stable growth market,” said Shayle Kann, Managing Director of Solar at GTM Research. “This is reflected in our report’s quarterly market data and in the comments from global suppliers, distributors, and developers, all of whom see the U.S. positioned to nearly double its global market share in 2011 and support a greater diversity of installation types than has been previously seen in any leading demand center.” Geographically, the market was concentrated in a few key states. In Q1 2010, the top seven states comprised 82 percent of total installations, but that figure grew to 88 percent in Q1 2011, implying that established, leading markets gained an even larger share. The pace of installations grew more than 50 percent in 11 of the 21 states analyzed in the report.

Price declines were also an important factor in the Q1 2011 solar expansion, as technology costs fell and the industry matured further, capitalizing on greater economies of scale and streamlined project development and installation. Domestic PV module production in Q1 2011 amounted to 348 MW, a 31 percent increase over Q1 2010. “With analysts predicting the U.S. to become the world’s largest solar market within the next few years, manufacturers are increasingly looking to the U.S. to site their facilities,” said Tom Kimbis, SEIA Vice-President of Strategy and External Affairs. “They are finding significant value in manufacturing close to their expected source of demand. This strong demand continues to make solar one of the fastest growing industries in the United States and a source of thousands of good jobs from manufacturing and installation to engineering and sales.”

GO ORGANIC

Solar Power to Brew Coffee in Virginia

Posted on December 30, 2010 by quest

The Dominion Foundation, has awarded a $30,000 grant to Virginia Highlands Community College for the development of “Wolf Grounds,” an on-campus, student-run coffee shop. The non-profit business will involve 100 percent organically grown and recyclable products, local suppliers, Energy Star appliances, and both solar hot-water heating and solar photovoltaic technologies. The coffee shop project will serve as a student learning tool. “Dominion’s grant will allow our students to experience first-hand the process of opening and operating a business within the security of college supervision,” said Virginia Highlands President Ron Proffitt. “This is an outstanding opportunity for our students, and we are grateful to Dominion for their support of the college, our students and this project.”

Besides providing experience to business students in running a self-sustaining business, the project also will provide a hands-on learning opportunity to students in solar energy system design, equipment installation, and system maintenance and repair. “Dominion is excited about supporting this hands-on learning project and particularly because of its emphasis on energy conservation, efficiency and alternative energy generation,” said Preston Sloane, station director for the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center. The power station is being built in nearby Wise County, about 30 miles from the campus, by Dominion Virginia Power, a subsidiary of Dominion Resources.

The coffee shop, which is scheduled to open in April, will be managed by the campus organization Students in Free Enterprise. Roughly half the students involved in the project’s development will continue their involvement in the shop’s operation. For example, information technology students will continue to maintain the shop’s Web page and produce brochures, marketing students will promote the business and accounting students will manage the books. Dominion is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,600 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation’s largest natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 13 states. The Dominion Foundation is its’ philanthropic arm.

GO ORGANIC

USDA Seeding Organic Producers

Posted on December 21, 2010 by quest

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced USDA will provide funding to help organic producers and those transitioning to organic production implement resource conservation practices on their agricultural operations. “Increasing consumer demand for organically grown foods is providing new opportunities for small and mid-size farmers to prosper and stay competitive in today’s economy,” Merrigan said. “The 2008 Farm Bill calls for this assistance, and we want to help these farmers protect the natural resources on their land and create conditions that help foster organic production.”
Fiscal year (FY) 2011 marks the third year of USDA’s Organic Initiative, and up to $50 million is available this year for producers to plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns in ways that are consistent with organic production. For example, organic producers may use the funding to plant cover crops, establish integrated pest management plans, or implement nutrient management systems consistent with organic certification standards.

Eligible producers include those certified through USDA’s National Organic Program, those transitioning to certified organic production, and those who meet organic standards but are exempt from certification because their gross annual organic sales are less than $5,000. In FY 2010, NRCS obligated nearly $24 million through the Organic Initiative to help producers implement conservation practices.

ORGANIC FARMING

GREEN CAREERS

Recycling organically

Posted on November 11, 2010 by quest

Organic

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

VANCOUVER: ECO FASHION

America fertile ground for organic food

Posted on November 3, 2010 by quest

As the solar and renewable energy industry continues its growth, the organic food market in the US has also been one of the fastest growing industries. According to RNCOS a 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 both organic 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.