Recent Updates

Next tip: Plan for the month, not just the week. By planning meals as far out as possible, you can curb your costs by finding multiple ways to incorporate #organic spices, oils, nuts, dried beans, flour/grain, frozen produce and other ingredients many times over the month.

Tip # 2 for making #organic more affordable: Buy in season, then store for the off season. Organic produce is more affordable while in season, and holds its full nutritional benefits when frozen or stored for enjoying when not in season. Freeze your berries in the summer for delicious organic smoothies in the off season :-)

We're sharing 7 tips for making #organic more affordable. Tip # 1 - Buy in BULK! Head to the bulk section of your grocery store or coop and load up on organic pantry staples such as rice, pasta, quinoa, beans, lentils, flours, and nuts.

Last week, legislation was introduced in D.C. that would prohibit mandatory GMO labeling. Food Policy Action has created a petition to Congress that was introduced by Top Chef Judge Tom Colicchio asking Congress NOT to prohibit GMO labeling:

http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/tell-congress-don-t-prohibit-gmo-labeling

So far the petition has gotten over 140,000 signatures. We encourage you to sign on and demand your right to know. Also, remember to CHOOSE #ORGANIC. No GMOs. No antibiotics. No Pesticides. + so much much #RightToKnow Only Organic


Tell Congress: Don't prohibit GMO labeling
www.credomobilize.com
A war on your right to know what’s in your food is coming straight to your kitchen table -- courtesy of Monsanto and the Koch Brothers. New legislation introduced by Representative Mike Pompeo – whose #1 political contributor is the Koch Brothers -- aims to prevent labeling of genetically engineered…

7 great ways to buy #organic food cheap! What other tips do you know about? Share in the comments!


7 Ways to Buy Organic Food on the Cheap
eatlocalgrown.com
Why is Organic food so Expensive! (hint: It's not.) Here's some great tips on how to save money on Organic Food!

Check out this great life hack for chopping cherry tomatoes on Huff Post! Be sure to choose #organic tomatoes. They are 50% higher in Vitamin C than conventional, and 139% higher total phenolic content. Source: The Organic Center


WATCH: You Are Probably Cutting Tomatoes All Wrong
www.huffingtonpost.com
You'll be face palming in no time.

Do you support mandatory labeling of GMO's in our food supply? OTA does. And we are proud to have offices in Vermont -- where the VT Senate has passed a mandatory GMO labeling bill. "The bill, approved 28-2 by the Senate, has already passed the Vermont House of Representatives. It now goes back to the House to see if members will approve changes made by the Senate. The law is set to take effect July 1, 2016." #Organic = #nonGMO and we have the right to know! http://tinyurl.com/qxcy47g

#Organic yields outperform conventional in years of drought.

For more information: http://rodaleinstitute.org/our-work/farming-systems-trial/


Timeline Photos
Happy Wednesday! Did you know that #Organic farming is more resilient to long, dry seasons?

(source: Rodale Institute)

Check out this news video on #organic in sunny Florida for news on how to get MORE organic for less.
http://tinyurl.com/k8k8apy


Tips for buying organic
www.orlandosentinel.com
Cost is a key reason more consumers don't fill their carts with organic food. Although it does cost more than conventional food, prices are dropping, said Laura Batcha, executive director for the Organic Trade Association.

How much do you know about #organic?! Prove it! Take this quiz from @OnlyOrganic and you are entered to win an organic gift basket. Let us know how you do. http://www.onlyorganic.org/quiz-2


How much do you know about organic? | Only Organic
www.onlyorganic.org
Test your knowledge about organic food production and certification and enter to win a gift basket of our favorite organic snacks and treats!

Spring is in the air! Even in Vermont ;-) Are you planting an #organic garden this season?

Have you heard about the historic wins for #organic in the Farm Bill? If not, check out this recently published article and learn all about it.


'Historic Wins' for Organic Industry in New Farm Bill | Food Safety News
www.foodsafetynews.com
‘Historic Wins’ for Organic Industry in New Farm Bill By Cookson Beecher | April 2, 2014“Like being thrown under the bus” was how organic farmers and others in the industry described their fate a little more than a year ago when Congress failed to agree on a new farm bill and instead extended the 20...

Check out this article on just how different #organic food is from its conventionally-grown counterparts. What do you think?


Can organic farming save us from overexposure to pesticides?
www.foxnews.com
Organic produce is unlike its conventionally-grown counterpart.

Check out this great blog post by Oh So Delicioso on the benefits of choosing #organic and what she learned at Expo West during our media brunch with The Organic Center. Awesome piece!


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Check out this collaboration to grow the next generation of #organic farmers!


Where will Future Organic Farmers of America come from?
organicmattersblog.com
In my previous reflections on small and big organic, I neglected to mention that agricultural trends in general are not promising for small or large farmers. The USDA preliminary agricultural censu...

The "Organic Living" insert in today's Washington Post explores all aspects of the #organic lifestyle. From food to farming, gardening, fashion and health & beauty--it's official--Organic is NOT just a passing trend. Read the issue's foreword from OTA's Executive Director, Laura Batcha: "If you are seeking products produced without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides, antibiotics, and genetic engineering, the USDA Organic label is the one to choose." - See more at: http://www.organiclivinginfo.com/The-Organic-Choice-More-Than-A-Label#sthash.U6jB6ZrO.dpuf


Timeline Photos
Organic living, is it just a fad or a truly transformative lifestyle change?
Explore the benefits of #organic farming, gardening, fashion, everyday products and the people behind them in our newest #OrganicLiving issue out today! http://bit.ly/1cxD9Fo

Check out this piece on Organic and Non-GMO from NPR. What do you think? Does the Non-GMO label blur the line between organic and non-organic? It's important to remember that Organic = Non-GMO...Plus so much more! #NoPesticides #NoAntibiotics #NoGMOs #OnlyOrganic


Why The 'Non-GMO' Label Is Organic's Frenemy
www.npr.org
Non-genetically modified farming is not organic. It's a whole lot cheaper and essentially uses conventional farming techniques. But some consumers think they're the same thing.

OTA is on its way to Natural Products Expo West! Will we see you there? Stop by Booth #2510 to hear about what the trade association and The Organic Center have going on. Sign up for new e-newsletters, enter to win an iPad mini, and test your #organic knowledge. See you there :-)

The Organic Center's response to the Slate article "Organic Shmorganic" has been getting some attention. What are your thoughts on the issue?


Organics’ Evolutionary Eruption - On Our Minds - Supermarket Chain |Grocery Chain | Grocery...
www.progressivegrocer.com
"Organic Shmorganic.” So blared the headline of a Jan. 29 story on Slate.com by Melinda Wenner Moyer, who shared a controversial view that organic produce is wildly overrated, in a near 3,000-word story that deconstructed the debate about whether it’s worth buying organic produce for children becaus...

Does your #organic choice make you hip and trendy? Or, is it a lifestyle?


Timeline Photos
Organic (non-chemical and non-GMO) food is here to stay, that much is true!

P.S. Find out what may be the best way to save money on organic food (according to one university study) in this article: http://althealthworks.com/1858/university-study-uncovers-the-best-way-to-save-money-on-organic-food-over-80-on-average/