M&S Create Organic Beef Group

"The Chitty Food Group, major supplier of Organic beef to M&S, has set up a new producer group in conjunction with M&S, dedicated to bringing the best in organic beef to Marks and Spencer's consumers.

"Marks and Spencer knows its customers expect the best quality organic beef," says David Price, Chitty Food Group's Sales and Marketing Director. "To achieve this, we plan to unite the country's best organic beef farmers in a group committed to excellence. We have already built a nucleus of producers dedicated to the organic philosophy and determined to produce the best beef on the market."

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Corporate Organics

"The popularity of organic foods has skyrocketed during the last decade, but not everyone is happy with the spinoff effects of this increased demand.

Food activist Irena Knezevic is concerned about how the organic path has strayed from its sustainability-oriented origins, with major corporations now reaping the economic benefits of the trend.

At Congress 2007, the PhD candidate from Toronto said Canada's new organic label, which Ottawa says will identify products that meet Canadian standards for organic foods, will only perpetuate current food production problems.

Large-scale corporate organic food growers contribute to an unsustainable food production system, a system facing dire environmental and social justice implications, she said, noting major organic brands in North America are owned by the likes of Kraft, Coca-Cola and ConAgra."

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It's funny how when corporations get involved things start to go to hell. More corruption and what not. This is most evident with Wal-Mart and Horizon Organics. I guess it's always best to rely on the little guys because at least they're honest.

Hain Celestial Looks into Personal Care

"In a bid to establish its presence in the global natural and organics market Hain Celestial has announced it will make three further acquisitions in the UK within the next three years.

Predominately associated with the food industry, market research analysts Organic Monitor has predicted that the company will branch out and purchase one or more natural personal care companies."

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Man, Hain Celestial is really expanding. I wonder what they'll do next?

For Parmesan Lovers

"Although many people are convinced that older Parmigiano Reggiano is better, there's a limit to this elegant cheese's useful life. I discovered this fact at a Slow Food guided tasting in Italy several years ago, when the 4-year-old cheese failed to deliver the range of flavors that I had found in the younger wheels.

You can conduct your own tasting experiment with the recently introduced Bio Hombre Parmigiano Reggiano, a USDA-certified organic cheese from a large organic farm near Modena. Whole Foods is carrying 36-month-old wheels; Lucca Delicatessen in San Francisco has 24-month-old wheels. Buy a chunk of both and see what you think."

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I love parmesan, but I haven't had the time to look for an organic hunk of it. Note to self: start looking. (I bet it costs a fortune)

Spell Spelt

"A NEW flour mill, producing the only commercially grown organic spelt crop in the UK – one of the oldest grains in the world – will be officially opened this month.

The mill, at Sharpham Park, near Glastonbury, Somerset, is already in full production, having received funding towards a barn conversion and specialist machinery through the South West of England Regional Development Agency.

Its products are sold online as part of the Sharpham Park brand and it has already reached Harvey Nicols in London who are serving a ‘Sharpham Park pearled spelt risotto’ in their restaurant."

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Glastonbury Festival Has Top Names, Organic Food

"The Who, The Killers and The Arctic Monkeys will be the headlining acts of this year's Glastonbury festival, it was confirmed today. Other big names among the 200 plus performers include Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Paul Weller and Kasabian.

..Festival-goers this year will be asked to sign up to the 'I Count' climate change campaign, which details 16 steps to reduce your carbon imprint. There will be carbon neutral showers, recycled toilet paper and organic food at the festival."

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Maybe this will get young people to think about what they are doing to themselves and the earth? Who knows how influential festivals and musicians like this really are.

Hain Celestial Group Buys into Asian Market

"The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. ("Hain Celestial") (Nasdaq:HAIN), a leading natural and organic food and personal care products company, today completed its previously announced additional investments in Yeo Hiap Seng Limited and its subsidiary ("YHS"), a Singapore-based natural food and beverage company listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

"With a strong foothold in the Asian marketplace through our alliance with YHS, we look to expand the natural and organic product offerings of our Hain Celestial brands and through co-branding with Yeo's," said Irwin Simon."

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