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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: organic

organic stories: 15 news summaries

(Newser) - A neurotic fixation on eating only healthy food is the latest eating disorder trend, reports the Guardian. Orthorexia nervosa affects both men and women. Othorexics are so obsessed with "pure" foods that they can become malnourished, say experts. They tend to be extremely proud of their "virtuous" behavior,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
food • anorexia • organic • eating disorder • healthy eating • orthorexia • fixation

'Organic' Foods May Not Be as Pure as You Think

USDA's label increasingly meaningless as agri-business pushes in

Jul 3, 09 8:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Demand for organic food has boomed into a $23 billion-a-year industry, but consumers who often pay twice as much for food with the coveted label aren't always getting what they expect. The criteria for obtaining a "USDA Organic" certification have been relaxed in recent years, with ostensibly organic products... More »

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organic food • organic • USDA • Department of Agriculture • organic farming • women's issues


 The New 
 Gourmet 
 Greens: 
 Weeds 

Experts tout health benefits; consumers pay top dollar

May 27, 09 11:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - One man’s weeds are another man’s delicacy. The bane of American gardeners has a new home on gourmet dinner plates, the Wall Street Journal reports. “These are as good a yuppie green as you can get,” said one buyer who paid $9 a pound for dandelion... More »

MORE ABOUT:
locally grown movement • organic • gourmet • weed • Jay-ZTV

 How to Shop, and Save, Green

Yes, things are pricier, but there are steps that go easy on wallet and planet

Aug 9, 08 11:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - Want to green your grocery list while keeping more green in your wallet? Grist lists a few ways to buy eco-cheap:
  • Make a list: Buying only what you need keeps costs and waste down.
  • Avoid GMOs: Genetically modified crops reduce agricultural biodiversity and raise serious health questions.
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
food • environment • organic • groceries • buy local

product reviews

 How to Keep Bugs, DEET Away

Keep the bugs from biting without the toxins

Aug 7, 08 7:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - Looking to keep the mosquitos away but not crazy about slathering yourself in a chemical such as DEET? Grist slapped on five DEET-free alternatives, with varying results:
  1. All Terrain Herbal Armor: This spray might be eco-friendly, but a medicine smell and filmy skin coating make that $4.99 better
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
organic • eco friendliness • eucalyptus • DEET • insect repellent • toxins

Opinion

 Organic Food is Overhyped 

Old-fashioned agribusiness has its perks

Jun 10, 08 1:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - Don’t believe the hype about organic food, writes Abigail Haddad in the American. While foodies and environmentalists may croon over produce grown locally or on small farms, the truth is that small farms aren’t very efficient, locally grown produce doesn’t help the environment, and organic food... More »

MORE ABOUT:
agriculture • organic food • organic • agricultural economy • buy local

 Why Organic Tomatoes
Are Better for You

Researchers probe antioxidant-enhanced tomatoes

May 31, 08 6:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - Some organically grown tomatoes appear to have higher levels of potent antioxidants, and the reason may be in the fertilizer, NPR reports. Researchers at UC Davis running tests on levels of the antioxidants, known as flavonoids, found 79%-97% higher flavonoid levels in the organic tomatoes. More »

MORE ABOUT:
agriculture • organic food • research • organic • tomatoes • flavonoids • University of California Davis

Shoppers Give Up Organics
as Food Prices Soar

Groceries high, organic even higher

May 9, 08 3:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - With a gallon of organic milk costing a whopping $7 and a conventional gallon going for $2.99, cash-strapped shoppers are skipping organic groceries. That means the $19 billion industry, which has ballooned 150% since 2001, may now be shrinking, Newsweek reports. “I miss it terribly,” said one... More »

MORE ABOUT:
organic food • ethanol • Whole Foods • organic • groceries • grocery stores • Wal-Mart • pesticide

Pesticides Linked to Parkinson's

Risk is greater to home gardeners than via  exposure at work

Mar 30, 08 2:18 PM CDT
(Newser) - People exposed to pesticides ran a 1.6 times higher risk of developing the neurological disease Parkinson’s, reports a new study of 600 participants. "Recreational pesticide use in the home and garden was more of a source of exposure than occupational use,” says one researcher. Experts now... More »

MORE ABOUT:
health • Parkinson's disease • brain • organic • neurological disorder • chemical • health research • pesticide

Toasting the Holidays, the Green Way

Sales of organic spirits, beers, wines on the rise despite high prices

Dec 20, 07 5:05 PM CST
(Newser) - This holiday season, you can drink responsibly, at least when it comes to the environment. Organic spirits, beers, and wines are the new growth sector of the industry, as consumers are increasingly on the look-out for green alternatives, MSNBC reports. But while an organic pint may not contain chemical preservatives... More »

MORE ABOUT:
alcohol • beer • organic • vodka • tequila • green business

The Easy Way to Eat Organic

Oct 24, 07 11:41 AM CDT
(Newser) - Switching to organic food doesn't have to upend your family's eating habits or strain your wallet. In the New York Times, Dr. Alan Greene, author of Raising Baby Green, suggests starting with these five easy foods:
  1. Milk
  2. Potatoes
  3. Peanut butter
More »

MORE ABOUT:
organic food • Whole Foods • diet • list • organic

Greenies Bank on Worm Poop

All organic fertilizers changing the marketplace

Sep 22, 07 4:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - One company wanting to "make millions while saving the world" is banking on worm poop, using it for eco-friendly fertilizer—though chemical compost still clogs the market, CNN reports. Greenies are boosting the organic fertilizer market by 10% per year, but most homeowners have "failed" the "environmentally... More »

MORE ABOUT:
environmentalism • organic • fertilizer • poop

Wal-Mart Chokes On
Organic Food

Farmers say the company miscalculated demand, manipulated supply

Apr 12, 07 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Wal-Mart customers aren't buying organic food, and the farmers who stepped up production to supply the giant discounter are the big losers. A year ago Wal-Mart ballyhooed an aggressive push into organic foods, saying they would offer 400 items at low cost. The company placed massive initial orders, farmers say... More »

MORE ABOUT:
food • organic food • consumer • organic • farmer • Wal-Mart

British Brides
Go Green

Eco-chic couples walk
to the church to exchange vows

Apr 9, 07 3:14 PM CDT
(Newser) - British couples are choosing eco-friendly weddings, making recycled  dresses, locally grown flowers, and organic food increasingly the rage, reports Reuters. Those who go green stress it doesn't mean the ceremony has to be hippie-esque. "Green weddings are about eco-chic, not lentils and hessian," said wedding planner Ruth Culver. More »

MORE ABOUT:
environment • recycling • environmentalism • marriage • organic • wedding

Don't Call
Them Chefs  

Culinary careers
outside the kitchen
are charming more
and more foodies

Apr 4, 07 12:53 PM CDT
(Newser) - Culinary school degrees are suddenly leading to careers outside the kitchen, reports the LA Times. In our food-obsessed culture, beer sommeliers, cheese affineurs (aging experts) culinary philanthropists and even food consultants for historical films are increasingly finding outlets for their unique talents. Specialists say their jobs beat working in restaurants,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
food • organic food • culinary school • cooking • chef • organic • cook • culture

15 Stories


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