New Report Says "Organic" Fertilizers Contained Synthetic Chemicals

"Some California farmers poured tons of fertilizer on their organic crops for years, not knowing the supposedly organic fertilizer was spiked with a synthetic chemical, the Sacramento Bee reveals in an investigation.
The additive, ammonium sulfate, is commonly used in non-organic farming. But organic growers eschew such additives -- marketing and pricing their produce accordingly.

Unbeknownst to the farmers, the fertilizer made from chicken feathers and fish also had a dose of ammonium sulfate.

The state ultimately discovered the problem in 2004, but failed to tell organic farmers that what they had been using for years was not organic, the Bee says."

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Organic Troubles in China

"ON a farm in Songjiang District, not a single machine sound can be heard instead you can hear buffalo, goats and chickens.

The chickens hang around among figs and goats chewing vegetable leaves in the sheepfold. It could be a traditional farm, except that the orderly lined vinyl houses tell a different story. This is a modern organic farm in suburban Shanghai.

Organic produce has become widely embraced as an increasing number of people care more about the quality, rather than the quantity, of food they eat. The organic trend has already swept Europe and it is now making inroads in China.

About 52.2 percent of Chinese consumers have accepted the idea of organic food and some have already eaten organic produce, according to the 2008 Biofach China International Organic Trade Fair and Conference. There are now more than 2,500 organic food producers across the country, Biofach says."

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Abundant Harvest Organics Donates Extra Food to Charity

"The Saturday before Christmas, a large refrigerated truck pulled into College of the Canyons to deliver its usual weekly supply of farmed produce, although this time it carried an extra load for local families in need.

Abundant Harvest Organics donated all the extra food to the Santa Clarita Child and Family Center, which in turn distributed it to local families that partake in the non-profit’s services.

The delivery came just in time for the holidays. "

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RNCOS Issues Organic Food Market Report

"RNCOS has recently added a new Market Research Report titled, "Emerging Organic Food Markets" to its report gallery. The report provides extensive and exhaustive research on the growing market for organic food and beverages all around the world. It defines the organic food market in various countries of the world and gives thorough insight into market trends and market segments, creating an industry overview for organic food and beverages market. In the report analysis of organic food market is done on the basis of its development level of the market, i.e. matured market and developing market.

The global organic food market is growing rapidly, with the growth rate of about 19% in 2007. Increasing health and environmental awareness among consumers is the major reason for the stupendous growth in the market. Demand for organic food is concentrated in North America and Europe, these two regions contributed around 96% of global revenues in 2007. Exceptionally high growth rates have tightened the supply in almost every sector of the market and this is creating opportunity for the organic food exporters."

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