Top 5 for Nov. 28: Organic news to help you grow

USDA expands market information for organic produce

The USDA is expanding organic market news coverage for farmers markets in Pennsylvania, Iowa, New York and California, as well as organic dairy specialty crops and and dairy produce.

In 2024, AMS Market News, through partnerships with state departments of agriculture and universities, expanded the collection and distribution of price and production cost information for organic agricultural products with organic milk, cattle, fertilizer and farmers markets recently added and expanded coverage of organic grain and feedstuffs to be added in the coming year, the USDA said. Learn more at The Packer...

Edible Garden receives USDA grants to support organic certification R&D

Edible Garden has received grants from the USDA Organic Certification Program administered by the Farm Service Agency to support organic certification research and development at its two facilities. These funds are designated to reimburse organic producers and handlers with financial assistance to reduce the costs associated with organic certification, as well as processing/handling certifications. Get the scoop at Produce Grower...

USDA comes out swinging on organic enforcement

Farmers, food processors and importers who were expecting a soft rollout of the USDA’s Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule might want to think again. Since the March 19 implementation of the rule, the agency has uncovered several incidents of fraud in the organic marketplace, particularly involving imports, and is prosecuting offenders. Read about it on FarmProgress…

Related:Burroughs Family Farms brings regenerative almond snacks, olive oils to retail

USDA Announces Funding for Organic at Schools, Small Farmers Expected to Benefit

Getting organic into schools is an absolute imperative, and if it can be done while also benefitting small organic farmers, even better. With both of these objectives in mind, Jenny Lester Moffitt, the USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, was recently in Vermont at Miller Farm, where she announce that the USDA’s Organic Dairy Product Promotion program will be allocating $15 million to expand access to organic dairy products in educational institutions and youth programs. Get the details at Organic Insider...

Georgia woman sues in response to E. coli outbreak linked to carrots

A Georgia woman has sued in response to the E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots. Melinda Pratt says she was hospitalized for three days with an E. coli infection that she contracted after she ate carrots from Grimmway Farms. Read about this first lawsuit at NBCNews.com.

Related:2024 Organic Grower Summit packed with education, connections and the latest agtech