Month: October 2018

Culinary Delights, What is Organic

A Case for Eating Organic Food – My Grandmother Would Agree

Melody Meyer

agriculture-basket-beets-533360

My grandmother was born in 1889 and lived to the ripe old age 92. She died of natural causes and had no cancer in her bones. For most of her life, the food she ate was essentially organic. For it was only after WWII, around 1945, that we began applying chemicals used in war to our fields and furrows.

Could her all-organic diet have contributed to her long and healthy life?

A new study suggests that just may be the case. Continue reading “A Case for Eating Organic Food – My Grandmother Would Agree” →

Environment, Social Implications in Agriculture, What is Organic

Give a Fork These Midterms – Remember to Vote with your Plate

Melody Meyer

cook-366875_1920For the most part, I try to stay away from political commentary. You can get a daily dose of partisan profanity on Twitter, Fox and CNN. Every day a new scandal soars –another outrage makes our heads shake.

What we don’t hear much about is the state of our plate. As we enter the voting booths these midterm elections, it’s time we take a look at how our current elected officials value good food and agriculture.   Continue reading “Give a Fork These Midterms – Remember to Vote with your Plate” →

What is Organic

Why a Lapsed Farm Bill puts Organic at Risk

Melody Meyer

tractor-1-1386670It’s Congress’ job to pass a Farm Bill (FB) about every four years. It’s the second largest piece of spending that Congress is tasked with; the 2014 FB is projected to spend $489 billion.

The Farm Bill determines what food is grown, how it’s grown, and who gets access to healthy food and nutrition in the US.

This, in turn, affects the health of our topsoil, the quality of our water, and the prosperity of those who grow our food.

Congress failed to come to an agreement on a new Farm Bill, and the current one expired on September 30th.

Continue reading “Why a Lapsed Farm Bill puts Organic at Risk” →

Organic Policy and Regulations, Social Implications in Agriculture, What is Organic

Who Will Fund the Challenges Facing Organic Today?

Melody Meyer

Rain on plant

The political winds are against us. We are in an era of stagnating and dwindling regulatory oversight by the current administration.

Organic seems to be floundering in its own juices.

Trump’s USDA withdrew the final animal welfare rule that consumers and legitimate producers all agreed upon for over decade.

The administration meddled with the NOSB’s work plan, withdrawing work on Aquaculture, Apiculture and Pet Food. There will be no regulations to advance organic in these areas in the near future.

They killed the idea of a check-off that would have raised much-needed funds to bolster our still adolescent industry.

This is indeed an unfriendly crew cutting and slashing rules and opportunities that organic wants. Continue reading “Who Will Fund the Challenges Facing Organic Today?” →