Tag: Organic farming

Environment, Organic Policy and Regulations, What is Organic

Who Am I to Tell You About Organic Farming?

Melody Meyer
Dont know much about farming
Photo by Uta Scholl on Unsplash

When I tell people I make my career in organic agriculture, they assume I am a farmer. They ask me what I grow with a curious tilt of the head. Since I am in my sixth decade, they cannot imagine me tilling, hoeing, or harvesting anything but sweet peas.The truth is I know next to nothing about farming except that it takes a multitude of diverse skills, a strong constitution, and an affinity for working alone with the soil. At heart, you must be a gambler, tending the earth with no financial guarantees. The crop is either good or bad, and the market strikes just right or not.   

I have spent many a dusty hour bumping along fields and orchards with organic farmers across the rural globe. So, I do possess a few insights.

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Culinary Delights, Organic Policy and Regulations, well-being, What is Organic

Top 2021 Food Trends Include Value & Purpose

Melody Meyer
Photo by Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis on

If you’re like me, the beginning of 2021 is cause for pause and reflection. People are dying, political chaos still agitates, and we’re all searching for better ways of living. Staying healthy and well-nourished, according to our beliefs and bodily predilections, is a good place to start. 

Eating trends and diets based on transparency, nutrition, and environmental impact are all on the rise.

Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian or carnivorous meat eater – we are asking for something more basic – food with purpose.

Continue reading “Top 2021 Food Trends Include Value & Purpose” →
Social Implications in Agriculture, well-being, What is Organic

There is no Going Back – How the Pandemic is Reshaping and Regenerating Organic Events

Melody Meyer

The word “Regenerative” is a theme I shall ruminate on for a few blogs to drive the idea home.

The definition of Regeneration itself means to EVOLVE capacity – not to do better or follow certain rules. It means to make you, your business – your life – your friends – more able to do what you, they, or it seeks to do to express your essence.

It’s evident now that COVID has socially disrupted us. But it has forced us to reimagine new ways of doing things, bringing stakeholders together, expanding and Regenerating our belief systems.  

Organic conferences and events will be virtual for some time, and supporting them is crucial now more than ever. These virtual events provide the opportunity to reach more people and have a greater impact ever before! That’s Regenerative Thinking! 

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

Albert Lusk: My Friend and Pioneer in the Organic Produce World

Melody Meyer
Albert Lusk a True Organic Pioneer

My profession and personal life have been interwoven and influenced by Albert Lusk over the decades. He was driven by his passion for organic agriculture and founded Albert’s Organics in 1980 when Whole Foods had one location.

I was working at Community Foods, a Natural Food Store in Santa Cruz, in the early 1980s. When Albert began delivering organic produce from Southern CA, our store expanded its organic offerings.

He came to be a friend and a mentor, sometimes a competitor, and he married my good friend, Claris Ritter.

Over time his company became the largest certified organic wholesale distributor of organically grown fresh produce in the United States. It was purchased by United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) in 1998. A few years later, UNFI purchased my company, Source Organic. I became part of the Albert’s Organic family and carried on his legacy there.  

Albert retired and moved to Costa Rica. He was fond of hiking to a wild waterfall in Braulio Carillo National Park.

In late September, he went missing with his car as the only clue to his whereabouts near this densely forested region.

Albert loves hiking in the Mountains of Costa Rica

While the search is not over, the story of this organic pioneer can be heard from the many produce veterans who helped him build a nationwide organic produce network.

Continue reading “Albert Lusk: My Friend and Pioneer in the Organic Produce World” →
Culinary Delights, Environment, well-being, What is Organic

How My Life Became an Organic Lifestyle

Melody Meyer

andrew-welch-i5Crg4KLblY-unsplash
Photo by andrew welch on Unsplash

I was recently on the phone with one of the original leaders of Organic Valley. He pointed out that we are both steeped well—like a couple of fine teas—in organic culture and history.

We have both based our life on organic agriculture and food as a starting place of health and healing. We eat organic food because it’s healthier for us and better for the planet. We yearn to support organic farmers with our dollars and our time.

That belief system permeates outward to everything we do. From our home to our business, to the way we teach others, living an organic lifestyle is not a diet fad—it’s a mindset that becomes a way of life. Continue reading “How My Life Became an Organic Lifestyle” →