Loss of genetic diversity makes the food supply even more vulnerable to pests and disease

Audubon at Home: "A mere 10 to 15 species of plants and 8 species of livestock now account for 90 percent of the world's food production. This loss of genetic diversity makes the food supply even more vulnerable to pests and disease. "

I'm working at better understanding the issue of the organic vs "regular" food supply. This statement hit home for me...What are we as a species doing? Not thinking ahead, that seems painfully obvious!

U.S. organic products retail sales are expected to top $21 billion by 2007

All Things Organic� - North America's Only All Organic Conference and Trade Show:

"U.S. sales of organic food and nonfood products during 2003 totaled approximately $10.8 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association�s 2004 Manufacturer Survey released in May 2004. According to survey results, sales of organic foods were approximately $10.38 billion in 2003, up 20.4 percent from the previous year.


Meanwhile, 'non-food' organic products, such as personal care products, nutritional supplements, organic fiber, household cleaners, flowers and pet food, grew by 19.8 percent, to reach $440 million in sales.

U.S. organic food sales have grown between 17 and 21 percent each year since 1997, to nearly triple in sales, while total U.S. food sales over this time period grew in the range of only 2 to 4 percent a year. According to findings from the Organic Trade Association�s 2004 Manufacturer Survey, organic food sales now represent approximately 2 percent of U.S. food sales.

U.S. organic products retail sales are expected to top $21 billion by 2007, based on growth projections from the Organic Trade Association�s 2004 Manufacturer Survey.

Sixty-six percent of U.S. consumers report they use organic products at least occasionally, according to The Hartman Group�s report, Organic Food & Beverage Trends 2004: Lifestyles, Language and Category Adoption released in August 2004. More than 40 percent of those consumers (or 27 percent of the total population) report using organic products regularly. "

Eating out organic, a new challenge for natural food connoisseurs

CNN.com In-Depth Specials - Eating out organic, a new challenge for natural food connoisseurs:

"Many equate organic with vegetarian, but that is far too limited a definition, according to chef Nora Pouillon, owner of Restaurant Nora in Washington D.C. The well-known establishment with a four-star Mobil rating is the only one in the United States with organic certification.
'I think some people might think it is a vegetarian restaurant,' Pouillon says.

'You know, misinformation is the biggest thing. People really don't understand what organic means. Many feel that organic means vegetarian food -- tasteless, flavorless food that is not very good. The advantage to this is that everybody is very happily surprised.' "

The Rise Of Organic Food - Forbes.com

The Rise Of Organic Food - Forbes.com: "Sales of organic food products in the United States have soared to nearly $14 billion from less than $1 billion in the last 14 years, and are expected to rise to $17 billion in the next two years. Whether motivated by food safety scares, health issues or diet concerns, consumers have begun to look for alternative products. "

It would be great if all school kids had the same choice as they do here:

Hellenic News of America: "While fried chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers still reign supreme in most cafeterias, a small but growing number of schools are turning to organic food as a way to improve children's health and fight obesity."

Ugh! This is so disgusting!

Sewage sludge legal to use as fertilizer on crops: "It's an outrage: the EPA says farmers can spread human waste sludge on their crops, regardless of what's in the sludge."

This blew my mind! I use orange zest in recipes alot...I just bought some organic veggie wash from Vermont Soap Works. I wonder if it removes this dye?

Looking for organic vitamins? Grocery store foods are fast becoming a poor source of nutrition:

"Grocery stores, it seems, put far more emphasis on visual appearance than nutritional value. This isn't surprising, since consumers typically select produce based almost entirely on appearance. Oranges from Florida, for example, are frequently dipped in a red dye that gives them a deeper, more saturated orange color preferred by consumers. The only problem is that this orange dye has been banned by the FDA for use in foods due to its proven cancer-causing ability. But the Florida orange industry gets away with using the dye by claiming it's only used outside the orange, not inside. With that strange caveat, the FDA allows its use. "

I said to my husband, "organic gas". His reply? "I've got some of that." Too funny, lol!!! Anyhoo, here's the story. Whaddaya think?

California To Sell Organic Gas: "Organic products have become big business for many companies, but California will be the first state to produce and offer organic gasoline for sale.
by George Wolfe
SAN FRANCISCO � California is known for many alternative things that cause the rolling of eyes, but its sponsorship of an organic gasoline program is actually turning heads."