Organic Archives -

Environment, well-being, What is Organic

Can Gardening Really Improve Your Health?

May 16, 2022May 17, 2022 Melody Meyer

photo of woman holding watering can — Health and gardening go hand in hand.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

When I was young, we ate from our backyard. Instead of grass, the rich alluvial soils had been coaxed into an oasis of fruits and veggies. It was a tremendous way to grow up, next door to my grandparent’s perennial rhubarb and grape arbors that defined the garden’s edge.

I found the very act of rooting around in the humus, on hands and knees, planting and churning microbes, brought me close to my roots—to my family and food.

I didn’t know at the time that the very act of poking seeds into moist fingerprints and nurturing this plant kingdom held benefits beyond our daily meals.

Tending a garden, no matter how minuscule, is terrific for your health—in body and spirit.

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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

October 16, 2020October 18, 2020 Melody Meyer

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.

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

Six Days and Seven Nights – Eating Organic Makes a Big Difference

August 11, 2020 Melody Meyer

boston-public-library-lZ46G2r98ek-unsplash — Photo by Boston Public Library on Unsplash

I began eating organic food back in the 1980s before Federal Regulations defined the category. Pesticides originated as chemicals used in warfare, and I intuitively felt that ingesting food grown with them just couldn’t be right.

It’s true that sometimes I fudge a bit. If my local store doesn’t have organic onions (which is rare these days), and I need one for a recipe, I’ll buy a conventional one rather than go to another store.

After hearing about a new study, I will rethink my recipe. This research shows that when people eat organic food for one week, their levels of glyphosate drop dramatically! Continue reading “Six Days and Seven Nights – Eating Organic Makes a Big Difference” →

Culinary Delights, Travel, What is Organic

How I Learned to Eat to Live

July 29, 2020 Melody Meyer

My grandfather was a man who cherished every morsel; he ate slowly and with purpose. As a child, I remember he was always the last to finish—and we did not leave the table until he was done.

The midday meal was the most substantial and reverently honored. We sat and let him have the last indulgence. Comprised of garden vegetables, fresh or preserved, small animals, chickens, roots and bitter greens, my grandparents harvested and fermented many things.

Since sheltering in place, I have been examining how I eat and remembering the ways of my grandfather and wonder…

Do I eat to live, or do I live to eat? Continue reading “How I Learned to Eat to Live” →

Culinary Delights, well-being, What is Organic

Grant Lundberg On Caring for Family, Customers and the Community During the Pandemic

July 13, 2020July 13, 2020 Melody Meyer

Since 1937, the Lundbergs have grown healthy, great-tasting rice while stewarding the soil, air, water, and wildlife as carefully as their crops. Lundberg Family Farms, led by the family’s third generation, uses sustainable farming practices and 100% renewable energy to craft wholesome rice, rice cakes, rice chips, risottos, quinoa, and more. All while protecting and improving the planet for future generations.

Before the pandemic, they experienced steady growth thanks to their efforts to optimize the retail distribution of their fastest-selling items.

After shelter-in-place orders were issued, consumers began purchasing staples for home-cooked meals. This resulted in unprecedented demand for their packaged rice, with year-over-year growth never seen before by the company.

Grant Lundberg has been the CEO of Lundberg Family Farms since 1998. He is the grandson of Albert and Frances Lundberg. They moved from Nebraska in 1937 after experiencing the ravaging effects of poor soil management during the dust bowl years.

I was able to speak with Grant about his experience, the importance of organic and what the future may hold. Continue reading “Grant Lundberg On Caring for Family, Customers and the Community During the Pandemic” →