(NaturalNews – J. D. Heyes) If you are a fan of the 1990s hit comedy series Seinfeld, perhaps you remember the episode in which Jerry and his friends began to suspect that the frozen yogurt sold in a store that Kramer has invested money in was responsible for the comedian’s and Elaine’s sudden weight gain. Jerry and Elaine have a sample of the alleged “non-fat yogurt” tested, and sure enough, it’s loaded with calories. It’s a scandal that goes all the way to the office of the Mayor-elect, Rudy Giuliani.

Well, fast forward a couple of decades since that episode first aired in 1993, and it appears as though some brands of yogurt still are not the healthy breakfast or snack choice they are made out to be. In fact, new findings show that many of the brands have much more sugar in them than some junk foods that you’d never consider eating, The Huffington Post reports.

According to the news site, the American Heart Association recommends that men consume no more than 36 grams of sugar a day, and women no more than 20 grams. If you eat, say, just one Hostess Twinkie cake, that will make a huge dent in the recommended daily sugar max; the cakes pack in 19 grams of sugar each.

There are better options

“A Twinkie is not worth it, not just because of the caloric content–150 calories is adequate for a snack–but because it lacks fiber, which will provide satiety over a period of time and because it is loaded with sugar, which will cause you to crash and become tired 15 minutes after you eat a Twinkie,” Tracy Lockwood, a registered dietitian at F-Factor Nutrition, told Time. “You can choose so many other options, such as a handful of almonds or an apple and two table spoons of peanut butter, that will keep you full and will provide you with protein and fiber.”

Well, as it turns out, many of the top-selling yogurts have much more sugar content than a Twinkie.

Part of the reason for the high sugar content is because it occurs naturally in yogurt; however, the amount of naturally occurring sugar varies dramatically depending on the kind. In an interview with HuffPo, Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN, CNS, said that low-fat yogurt, for example, has a reputation for being notoriously high in sugar. Other experts agreed, and suggested alternatives:

The first 17 grams of sugar per serving, in lowfat varieties, is naturally occurring lactose. In original yogurt, it’s common to see anywhere between 12 and 15 grams of natural sugar, according to Heather Bauer, R.D., CDN. That’s why Bauer recommends going Greek. Greek yogurt, she said, has as little as 6 grams in plain flavors.

What really boosts sugar content, however, is what folks tend to put into plain yogurt. Fruit — and especially the high-syrupy kind that is put into store-bought yogurts — is one of the most common causes of increased sugar. Also, once you begin tossing in candied nuts or, say, sweetened granola, you will quickly find that your concoction contains far more sugar than that found in a Twinkie.

“If you’re going to add toppings, always stick to a plain flavor,” Bauer said.

Would-be yogurt eaters will say that one of the big reasons why they don’t care for plain yogurt is its bitter flavor. So, to make it more palatable to a wider group of people, just about all of the big brands — think Dannon and Yoplait — offer selections of yogurt containing fruits and sometimes even dessert-flavored choices.

And these sweet additions are usually what makes yogurts contain more sugar than a highly processed piece of yellow, creme-filled spongecake.

Some of the worst offenders:

— Yoplait Original Strawberry

— Dannon Fruit on the Bottom Blueberry

— Stoneyfield Smooth and Creamy Lowfat French Vanilla

— Brown Cow Nonfat Vanilla

— Activia Blueberry Probiotic Yogurt

Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com
http://www.imdb.com
http://healthland.time.com
http://science.naturalnews.com

(NaturalPapa – Derek Markham) Dirty laundry happens. And then washing clothes happens, usually quite wastefully, without a thought for the overall impact of this common chore. Whether you’re trying to transition to having a lower environmental footprint, attempting to rely less on the grid, or just want to go greener in the laundry room, there are a variety of simple and low-tech methods for washing clothes in a more sustainable manner.

When my family and I were experimenting with living in a tiny house, we spent six years learning how to do things in a simpler and more sustainable manner, sometimes out of choice, and sometimes out of necessity. And like most families, especially those that use cloth diapers for their baby, washing clothes seemed like a never-ending chore. Going to the laundromat every couple of days wasn’t really optimal for us, except in the middle of winter when it was too cold to wash clothes outside, so without our own washing machine, we had to get a little creative. Some of the ways we dealt with laundry weren’t so much about washing clothes, but about needing to wash clothes less often, and to use less energy and water to do so.

We’ve since moved on into a house with our own washing machine, but many of these eco-friendly laundry tactics have stuck with us over the years.

1. Wear clothes longer between washing: This is kind of a no-brainer, and probably doesn’t apply to socks and underwear (but your mileage may vary), but only washing the clothes that are noticeably dirty or smelly is a great way to cut down on the amount and frequency of laundry that needs to get done. Unless your job leaves your clothes dirty at the end of the day, chances are you can wear pants, shirts, sweaters, skirts, etc., at least twice (if not more) before washing them. Personally, I also try to buy pants in colors that don’t easily show dirt or wear, and I choose to purchase longer-wearing items instead of always going for the bargain clothes. For me, that means that I tend to go for the heavier weight pants, such as those made by Carhartt or another workwear brand, and to buy them in dark colors. Obviously this isn’t optimal if your job has a strict dress code or requires wearing white pants…

2. Wash by hand: We began washing clothes by hand out of necessity, as we didn’t have a washing machine, and while it takes more time and physical energy to get it done, it also had the benefit of making us very aware of how much laundry we were generating each week. There a number of low-tech tools for washing clothes by hand, but we found that a laundry plunger, such as this one from Lehman’s, was effective, affordable, and long-lasting. We used five-gallon plastic buckets (which I was able to get for free from the local college’s dining services) to wash and rinse in, and we were learned that if we started washing the least-dirty clothes first, we were able to wash multiple loads in the same water, and then do the same with the rinse water. After we were finished with one bucket of dirty water, we used it to water trees and to keep our compost sufficiently moist. If you’re looking for another human-powered laundry solution, this pedal-powered version looks intriguing.

3. Use a clothes line: The sun and wind are very effective at drying clothes throughout the year (it even works in the winter, unless we hit long periods of below-freezing temperatures or snow and rain), and when drying clothes outside wasn’t an option, we used clothes racks to dry them inside. We didn’t ever buy or build a clothes wringer, as we lived in a dry sunny region, but that could be an effective method of speeding up the drying process, especially in more humid locations. Depending on the climate where you live, using an outside clothes line may not always be the best choice, but either a homemade or a purpose-built clothes rack can do the trick.

4. Wash clothes while showering: This is an old backpacking and traveling trick which can enable you to get clean clothes while you clean your body. Either step into the shower fully clothed and get them wet under the showerhead, or remove them first and put them in the bottom of the shower with you. If you use a gentle all-purpose soap such as Dr. Bronner’s, there’s no need for a separate laundry soap, and the soap from your body, in combination with the scrubbing action of your feet on your clothes, can effectively wash your clothes in almost the same amount of water that a shower alone uses.

5. Use concentrated and biodegradable laundry soap: When we were washing clothes by hand and using the resulting greywater for plants, we chose to use a brand that was specifically designed for greywater systems (Oasis), but there are certainly other greywater-friendly options on the market. We still always buy a concentrated and eco-friendly laundry soap, even after getting a washing machine. And for those that want to get started with using greywater for the landscape, re-routing your washing machine discharge to a mulched greywater basin can be an appropriate project (check your local regulations, or proceed at your own risk, as many municipalities are very strict about greywater projects).

6. Avoid using chlorine bleach: We’ve managed to do without chlorine bleach for washing clothes for many years, and I believe there isn’t a strong case for using it (again, unless you are required to wear bright white clothes). There are options for avoiding the use of bleach in the laundry, including using non-chlorine laundry whiteners, but we’ve found that the sun is the most effective and eco-friendly bleaching method, and that drying clothes on the line was sufficient for our purposes (although we do live in a very sunny region of the southwest, and your location may not be optimal for that).

7. Only wash full loads: This is another simple tactic that should be second nature to use these days, but isn’t as common as it ought to be. Doing small loads of laundry on the same settings as a full load is just wasteful, and by waiting for a full load to accumulate before washing it, we can optimize our laundry habits. If we’ve only got one item to wash, then washing by hand may be a better choice.

8. Only use cold water: Even after getting a washing machine, I left the hot water supply unhooked, and we’ve only used cold water to wash our clothes for many years now. They get just as clean, and by not having to heat the wash water, our energy consumption (and energy costs) are much lower. In the event that we do use a laundromat (when traveling, for example), we still choose the cold water wash.

9. Use a laundromat’s commercial-sized washing machine: Using a laundromat’s large commercial washing machine may be more efficient in terms of water use, and can let you get away with one big load instead of multiple smaller loads of laundry. Obviously this depends on the age and efficiency of the washing machines at the laundromat, but many times the front-loading washers use a lot less water to get the same job done as the standard top-loaders in many homes.

10. Skip the dryer sheets: Dryer sheets are kind of a mystery to me, as I’m not sure why people still choose to buy and use them. Perhaps it’s a matter of marketing, or perhaps we may believe that unless something comes out of the laundry with a scent on it, it isn’t truly clean, but I feel fortunate to have not bought into that. Not only are dryer sheets an additional item that must be manufactured (and then disposed of), they may actually leave undesirable residues on our clothes, which are then in direct contact with our skin.

11. Purchase a more efficient front-loading washing machine: This item is on my list of essential home upgrades to save up for, and is a relatively simple method for more washing clothes more sustainably. Front-loading washers can get clothes just as clean, but use much less water to do so. And if we choose a model that is also rated higher in energy-efficiency, we can also reduce the amount of electricity we use for laundry.

The weekly chore of washing clothes can be done with a lower environmental impact, whether you own a washing machine or not, and greening our laundry process can be an effective piece of an overall personal sustainability initiative.

WASHINGTON, August 2, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator Anne Alonzo announced today that USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory now lists 8,268 markets, an increase of 76 percent since 2008. The data reflects continued demand and growth of farmers markets in every region of the country. Alonzo also announced that AMS is developing three new local food directories that will expand USDA’s support for local and regional foods by providing easy access to the most current information about the local food market.

Alonzo made the announcements at the Dane County Farmers Market in Madison, Wisconsin, the country’s largest producer-only market, where she kicked off the 15^th annual “National Farmers Market Week”, from August 3 through 9, 2014.

“The National Farmers Market Directory numbers reflect the continued importance of farmers markets to American agriculture. Since its inception, the directory has proven to be a valuable tool for accessing up-to-date information about local farmers markets,” Alonzo said. “Farmers markets play an extremely important role for both farmers and consumers. They bring urban and rural communities together while creating economic growth and increasing access to fresh, healthy foods.”

The USDA National Farmers Market Directory, available at farmersmarkets.usda.gov, provides information about U.S. farmers market locations, directions, operating times, product offerings, and much more. The data is collected via voluntary self-reporting by operating farmers market managers and is searchable by zip code, product mix, and other criteria. The National Farmers Market Directory receives over 2 million hits annually.<

In addition to USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory, AMS is adding:

• USDA’s National Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Enterprise Directory
  A CSA is a farm or network/association of multiple farms that offer consumers regular deliveries of locally-grown farm products during one or more harvest season(s) on a subscription or membership basis.
• USDA’s National Food Hub Directory
  A Food Hub is a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products to multiple buyers from multiple producers, primarily local and regional producers, to strengthen the ability of these producers to satisfy local and regional wholesale, retail, and institutional demand.
• USDA’s National On-Farm Market Directory
  An On-Farm Market is a farm market managed by a single farm operator that sells agricultural and/or horticultural products directly to consumers from a location on their farm property or on property adjacent to that farm.

USDA invites local food business owners who fall within these categories to list their operational details in the new directories www.usdalocalfooddirectories.com. These new directories will be available online early in 2015, giving potential customers, business partners, and community planners easy, one-stop access to the most current information about different sources of local foods.

2014 Directory Highlights

According to USDA’s 2014 National Farmers Market Directory, the states with the most farmers markets reported are California (764 markets), New York (638 markets), Michigan (339 markets), Ohio (311 markets), Illinois (309 markets), Massachusetts (306 markets), Pennsylvania (297 markets), Wisconsin (295 markets), Virginia (249 markets), and Missouri (245 markets). All geographic regions saw increases in their market listings, with the most growth in the South. The 10 states with the biggest increases in the numbers of farmers markets include Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Arkansas, North Carolina, Montana, Florida and Nebraska.  Five of these states – Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina – are part of USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity, where USDA has increased investment in rural communities through intensive outreach and stronger partnerships.

Farmers market development is a cornerstone of USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates the Department’s policy, resources, and outreach efforts related to local and regional food systems.  Secretary Vilsack has identified strengthening local food systems as one of the four pillars of USDA’s commitment to rural economic development.

USDA Office of Communications

(NaturalNews – Zach C. Miller) The risks of flavor enhancing food additive MSG (monosodium glutamate) are well known to many NaturalNews readers. MSG should be avoided, considering the fact that it is a dangerous excitotoxin that kills brain cells in the hypothalamus, promotes obesity and liver disease, and is linked to seizures, migraines, ADD/ADHD and heart palpitations. Unfortunately, MSG is hidden in many foods and products, which makes it difficult to avoid even for informed buyers. MSG is difficult to locate on ingredient labels because it goes by names other than “monosodium glutamate.” Worse still, it is shockingly hidden in foods you would never expect, such as dairy products.

Hidden MSG in dairy products

Unfortunately, the pasteurization process used in conventional dairy products actually creates free glutamic acid (MSG). The heat of pasteurization breaks down milk protein which results in the creation of free glutamic acid. This creation of MSG can occur from anything that breaks down protein in a food or product. This effect in exacerbated in “ultra-pasteurized” products due to even higher temperatures. And as you might expect, you’ll see no mention of MSG or free glutamic acid on the ingredient label. Any of the these dairy products may contain MSG: fat-free milk, powdered milk, “ultra-pasteurized” anything, cottage cheese, reduced fat milk, cream or half and half, ice cream, cream cheese and yogurt. In other words, almost all conventional dairy products are suspect. And if you think you’re safe as long as you buy organic dairy, think again; even organic may contain MSG.

Foods and consumer products that potentially contain hidden MSG

In addition to being hidden in conventional pasteurized dairy, MSG is unfortunately and shockingly hidden in tons of products one would never expect. Some products and food containing hidden MSG are:

processed foods
dietary supplements
cosmetics
personal care products
pharmaceuticals
pet and animal food and feed
conventional produce wax
pesticides and herbicides
fertilizers and plant growth enhancers
soaps, shampoo, hair conditioners
cosmetics
protein powders, shakes, drinks and bars
restaurant food (even when claimed to be MSG-free)
beverages
candy
chewing gum
infant formulas, foods
kosher food

MSG by any other name

MSG is found in may food ingredient additives. You can scan you favorite foods for these to find out if you’re unwittingly and unknowingly eating MSG. These are hidden sources of MSG which lurk in dozens of food products:

autolyzed yeast extract
hydrolyzed corn gluten
hydrolyzed pea protein
textured protein
autolyzed plant protein
yeast extract
calcium caseinate
sodium caseinate
protein fortified anything
enzyme modified anything
gelatin
disodium inosinate
disodium guanylate
xanthum gum
natural flavor
barley malt
malt extract
maltodextrin
carrageenan
soy protein isolate
soy protein concentrate
whey protein isolate
whey protein concentrate
protease enzymes
citric acid.

As you can see, MSG shockingly hides almost everywhere and in everything. However, it is better to be informed about this dangerous neurotoxin than not be so that you can reduce your exposure and intake of it.

Sources for this article include:
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/II.WhereIsMSG.html
http://www.rense.com/general92/hidename.html
http://philosophers-stone.co.uk

(NaturalNews – Mike Bundrant) History’s largest mass poisoning of a human population has occurred in Bangladesh. Because of it, 35 million people have been exposed to lethal levels of arsenic. Mortality rates are estimated at 13 per 1000, which means that this poisoning has ended as many at 455,000 lives.

It happened simply enough. In the late 1960s and 1970s, UNICEF and the World Bank, concerned that surface water in the area was causing too many cases of fatal diarrhea, funded the drilling of new wells. These deeper wells provided an abundance of fresh water to the booming population of Bangladesh and West Bengal.

There was one tragic oversight that sabotaged what might have been a monumental humanitarian achievement: They didn’t test the new wells for heavy metal content.

The negligence is hard to fathom, yet it pales in comparison to the global irresponsibility and conscious wrong doing that goes on every single day in the world of big food manufacturers. And this is why Mike Adam’s work and new line of heavy metal cleansing supplements is essential.

Exposure to heavy metals in food, air and water is perhaps the most underrated toxicity issue of our time. The consequences of chronic exposure cannot be underestimated. The damage caused by exposure moves well beyond physical health. The mind is poisoned as well.

Imagine: you may be unwittingly ingesting food and water that makes it impossible to achieve a state of lasting happiness and mental well-being, regardless of how psychologically educated you are.

This is the reality of heavy metal exposure and toxicity. What follows is evidence provided by research and case studies that demonstrates how aluminum, copper, lead, mercury, cesium, cadmium and arsenic contribute to the chronic poisoning of your mind.

Aluminum

According to the New York University Langone Medical Center, symptoms of aluminum toxicity can include serious mental health problems, including:

• Confusion
• Slurred speech or speech problems
• Nervous system problems that may cause involuntary tics

There is also some concern that aluminum toxicity can lead to degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Several studies have linked the conditions to overexposure to aluminum, including studies from the University of California, University School of Medicine in Belgrade, and the School of Studies in Zoology at Jiwaji University in India.

Natural health practitioners believe that aluminum collects in the thyroid, liver, lungs and brain. It is believed that overexposure to aluminum can lead to a number of symptoms, including confusion, cognitive impairment and memory loss. As a result, aluminum cleanses and approaches such as aluminum-abstinence therapy are common.

Luckily, these approaches are often met with incredible success. Aluminum-abstinence therapy has become particularly popular in the treatment of Alzheimer’s patients. Many nursing homes and long-term care clinics have seen some excellent results with this therapy.

Copper

According to the National Institute of Health, overexposure to copper can cause a number of physical symptoms. Symptoms of copper toxicity that may be considered mental health issues include chills, convulsions, a metallic taste in the mouth and weakness.

Doctor Lawrence Wilson has also written extensively on what he calls copper toxicity syndrome. This condition is believed to cause a number of mental health symptoms, including:

• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Depression
• “Spaciness”
• Detachment
• Learning disorders
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Alzheimer’s disease

Lead

Lead is a well-known and -researched neurotoxin that has been scientifically associated with major depression and anxiety disorders. It seems inescapable that, if the lead content in your blood is elevated, you will suffer with cognitive disorders and mood disturbance.

The following symptoms have been linked to lead exposure:

• Decreased learning and memory
• Lowered IQ
• Decreased verbal ability
• Impaired speech and hearing
• Hyperactivity
• ADHD
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Headaches
• Encephalopathy

Mercury

The CDC reports that exposure to gaseous metallic mercury over a long period of time may cause irritability, sleep disturbances, excessive shyness, coordination problems, tremors, memory problems and mood swings.

Natural health practitioners have long argued that exposure to mercury contained in childhood vaccinations and in the environment is one of the major causes of conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorders.

These include symptoms such as:

• Lack of communication/connection with others
• Increased activity
• Difficulty concentrating
• Delayed speech
• Reduced cognitive ability
• Reduced appetite
• Sensitivity to environmental stimulation (light, sounds, smells)
• Repetitive behaviors

Cesium

While it is believed to be unusual for a person to be exposed to toxic amounts of cesium through natural exposure, the CDC lists decreased mental ability and an increase or decrease in activity as symptoms of cesium toxicity.

Many natural health practitioners feel that exposure to cesium through food or drink could be a likely cause of disorders such as ADHD, difficulty concentrating and seizures.

Cadmium

The New York University Department of Medicine lists no mental health symptoms associated with cadmium exposure and toxicity. However, because many authors consider cadmium to be associated with heavier metals such as zinc and mercury, it is believed to cause similar symptoms as those associated with heavy metal toxicity, such as:

• Anxiety and irritability
• Difficulty concentrating, or “brain fog”
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Memory loss or forgetfulness

Arsenic

Arsenic poisoning can be deadly if left untreated. Exposure to toxic levels can occur in a number of instances, including the consumption of contaminated foods and beverages. Living in industrial areas can also increase rates of exposure, and arsenic may be found in contaminated drinking water as well. Arsenic poisoning can result in a number of obvious mental health symptoms, including:

• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Headaches
• Convulsions
• Night blindness

Arsenic poisoning can progress rapidly if left untreated, and unusual symptoms should be treated immediately.

The most sinister aspect of chronic heavy metal exposure and toxicity is that it is impossible to detect as it is happening. You can’t know for sure unless you get tested. The good news is that tests are available for those who become aware.

Moreover, Mike Adam’s new line of supplements is designed and scientifically proven to eradicate lurking heavy metals in your food as you digest them. They should be an indispensable part of any conscious natural health regimen.

Sources for this article include:
http://www.med.nyu.edu
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov [PDF]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://drlwilson.com
http://www.nlm.nih.gov
http://emedicine.medscape.com
http://emergency.cdc.gov
http://emergency.cdc.gov
http://drhyman.com
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.toxicwatersolution.com
http://medicine.med.nyu.edu
http://www.livescience.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
http://emedicine.medscape.com
http://science.naturalnews.com
http://science.naturalnews.com

(NaturalNews – Julie Wilson) What happens when large, powerful corporations violate the law and are immune from prosecution or accountability? They usually become repeat offenders, and in this situation, Wal-Mart, the culprit, is no exception.

About seven years ago, the big box store was accused of “cheapening the value of the organic label by sourcing products from industrial-scale factory farms and developing countries, including China,” according to a report by The Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy research group that acts as an organic industry watchdog.

Around that time, Wal-Mart also partnered with Horizon Organic, which is owned by dairy giant Dean Foods, and became the largest retailer of organic milk. Wal-Mart then used Aurora Organic Dairy, located in Aurora, Colorado, to package their own private-label organic milk.

Organic watchdog groups bust Wal-Mart for violating USDA food standards in 2005 

In 2005, The Cornucopia Institute blew the whistle on the company’s operations, alleging that it was violating USDA organic rules by confining more than 4,000 dairy cows to their cages, instead of letting them graze freely, as required by federal organic standards.

Understanding that organic consumers are label checkers who genuinely care about the quality of food, and how animals are treated, Wal-Mart deceptively marketed their products to depict happy cows, grazing on lush green pastures, with some campaigns even using graphics of small family farms.

The truth is that the dairy cows used to produce Wal-Mart’s “organic” milk were living short, stressful lives in filthy industrial facilities, exactly the type of environments which organic consumers seek to avoid.

The watchdog’s investigation found that Aurora Organic Dairy “willfully” violated 14 tenets of USDA organic standards and was caught labeling “natural” food as organic.

Despite the findings, Wal-Mart was not prosecuted but agreed to remove fraudulent signage and was allowed to continue operating without being fine a cent.

Now, the big box giant is back at it, preparing to introduce a new line of organic products that the company promises will “drive down organic food prices,” marketing them as 25 percent cheaper than the organic food currently on shelves.

This time, Wal-Mart isn’t revealing the source for their organic products and is instead using a private-label supplier and marketing products under the Wild Oats brand, a former natural foods grocery chain temporarily owned by Whole Foods in 2009 before an antitrust rule forced the company to divest its holdings.

Whole Foods then sold Wild Oats’ licensee rights to Luberski Inc., another food distributor, in 2010. Wild Oats’ physical locations were “parceled out” to buyers like Trader Joe’s and Kroger, Gelsons, according to an LA Times report.

However, Wild Oats made a comeback due to a generous donation from American venture capitalist Ronald Burkle, co-founder and managing partner of The Yucaipa Companies, LLC, a firm specializing in helping underperforming businesses.

Burkle reportedly intends to revamp the company by offering catering and take-out food services, home delivery and phone-in orders.

When Wild Oats CEO Tom Casey was asked how their partnership with Wal-Mart intended to deliver organic products, including pasta and cookies, more cheaply, his reply was, “Bigger can be better,” as paraphrased by NPR.

Considering Wal-Mart’s past with organic food, some experts aren’t convinced.

Michael Pollan, author of The Food Movement, Rising, said in an interview with the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he’s concerned that the expansion of “Big Organic” will lower food quality, weaken standards and hurt small family farms.

Organic food costs more, because it’s more expensive to produce, “and paying farmers a fair price has always been part of the deal,” said the Cornucopia Institute.

Will Wal-Mart tweak its business model in a way that allows them to offer organic foods without premium prices, while still adhering to organic federal standards?

Perhaps, but past behavior is usually a good indicator of future behavior, and Wal-Mart’s track record does little to assure skeptics.

Additional sources:
http://www.cornucopia.org
http://www.cornucopia.org
http://www.npr.org
http://rimcountrygazette.blogspot.com
http://articles.latimes.com
http://science.naturalnews.com

(NaturalNews – Julie Wilson) Martha Boneta, operator of a small family farm in Paris, Virginia, achieved success not only for her business but also for small farmers and property owners across the state when the “Boneta Bill” finally became law on July 2.

Despite efforts from local and state government officials, including Fauquier Zoning Administrator Kimberley Johnson, who accused Boneta of violating zoning ordinances, HB-268 passed, which protects traditional farming and agricultural practices against over-regulation on the county level.

Liberty Farm is a small, working 64-acre farm located about an hour outside of Washington D.C. that offers fresh seasonal organic vegetables, fresh and dried herbs, honey and honeybee products, eggs, chicken, duck, turkey, emu, hand-made soaps and sheep wool crafts.

The controversy began in 2012 after a neighbor reported Boneta’s farm and its on-farm store as a “nuisance” following a birthday party that she held for eight 10-year old girls, which led to Fauquier County putting her out of business.

Johnson, the county zoning board administrator, accused Boneta of selling fresh fruit, vegetables, beverages and homemade handicrafts out of her on-site farm store, an action he says violated “modified zoning rules.”

The Star Exponent reports that, under the state’s Right to Farm law, agricultural operations are supposed to be protected against “nuisance law suits, and prevent local governments from using zoning laws to restrict standard farming practices, even if these practices bother adjacent property owners.”

According to Boneta, her zoning administrator went on her Facebook page and saw a birthday party picture of little girls on her farm, and an advertisement that she posted for pumpkin carving in her pumpkin patch. Boneta says she was found in violation of engaging in traditional activities that farmers have engaged in “since forever.”

The consequences for Liberty Farm’s alleged violation carried a penalty of $15,000 per day in fines “based on amendments made to the county’s zoning ordinance,” reported The American Spectator.

Despite maintaining that her retail farm business license was “grandfathered” into any changes made by the county, Boneta was also forced to stop selling vegetables that she had harvested. To prevent the food from being wasted, she donated it to local charities.

Boneta’s story gained national media attention, prompting farmers to stage peaceful “pitchfork protests” outside of the Board of Zoning Appeals building in support of her farm and state property rights.

The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), of which Boneta is a member, offered her legal aid during her struggle.

In the 2013 session of the General Assembly, Rep. Scott Lingamfelter helped bring justice to Boneta and protect other farmers from similar abuse by spearheading legislation that would strengthen Virginia’s Right to Farm Act.

The “Boneta Bill” passed the House by an “overwhelming margin,” but was killed in a Senate committee. However, grassroots organizations and Boneta’s supporters didn’t give up, but instead returned to the General Assembly in 2014 and “won wide bipartisan approval for legislation protecting the rights of family farmers.”

Backed by the Virginia Farm Bureau and signed into law by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, customary activities at agricultural operations are now protected from local governments unless substantial impacts on public welfare can be proven.

The bill also prohibits localities from requiring special-use permits for farmers wanting to host farm-related activities.

“I am grateful to all the Virginians and legislators from across the Commonwealth who rallied for non-partisan legislation that provides economic opportunity for small family farmers, access to consumers and allows the great traditions of farming in Virginia to flourish,” said Boneta.

“It is gratifying to see the hard work of Virginians, working together across party lines, rewarded by a law that enables family farms to prosper as our Founding Fathers intended.”

Additional sources:
http://theroanokestar.com
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org
http://spectator.org
http://www.dailyprogress.com
http://lis.virginia.gov
http://lis.virginia.gov
http://science.naturalnews.com