Weekly Top 5: Organic News You Need to Know #32

1. Whole Foods’ Price Drops Are Attracting Its Usual Demographic

In the midst of an Amazon and Whole Foods merger, Whole Foods is still attracting its typical consumer demographic even with its recently lowered prices. These price cuts have the potential to entice customers on a smaller budget over the long term, but for now, Whole Foods still appeals to the usual higher-income shopper.

Read more here.

2. Interested in improving organic practices? Discover the researcher in you!

Do you have an innovative idea for an organic project that could help fight pests, insects, or other ways to increase the health of organic soils? The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has over 27 years’ experience advancing organic agriculture through scientific research at the farm level, and is currently looking for qualified applicants to partner with.

OFRF selects priority research areas based on direct feedback they receive directly from farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and reflect the top areas where investment in research will make a real difference in helping organic farmers and ranchers.

Read more here. 

3. Screening of Evolution of Organic film Features Tonya Antle

The Women in Film Luncheon returns to the Sunset Center stage on Saturday, October 21 from 11:30am - 2:00pm and features keynote speaker Tonya Antle, recognized as one of the most accomplished and philanthropic women in agriculture. Following the luncheon, there will be a screening of Evolution of Organic, the story of organic past present and future directed by Mark Kitchell. 

Learn more here. 

4. Organic Industry Shifts Away from USDA

With the National Organic Program's chief Miles McEvoy preparing to retire at the end of September, growing concerns about import fraud and the delay by USDA of a slew of pending standards, organic producers are bracing for a future of regulatory unknowns. And they were already pretty frustrated. Earlier this month, for the first time in the industry's history, it sued the federal government over the delay in implementing a long-sought organic animal-welfare standard.

Read more.

5. Organic farming boosts beneficial fungi in the soil

In a recent study, scientists from Sweden investigated the effect of organic and conventional agricultural practices on AMF in soils from fields that grow grains using organic and conventional management techniques, as well as pastures, and fallow fields. Pastures had the highest AMF diversity. Results also suggested that management type has an important effect on AMF soil communities.

"Good nutrition creates health in all areas of our existence. All parts are interconnected."

- T. Collin Campbell