The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

Gleaning: honored tradition revives to connect surplus food with hungry people

The gathering of harvest leftovers, once a protected right of the poor, is being resurrected in COVID-19 times. The pandemic has generated huge amounts of food waste, produce targeted for food service clients that farmers cannot sell. Hunger is rising with unemployment, while farms are hurting from lost markets. From New Jersey to Florida to […]

Will our small farms survive the pandemic?

Before COVID-19, the locavore, farm-to-table movement was thriving. But without restaurant markets, forced into retail sales, many small farmers are in trouble. A survey by Blue Hill Farms’ chef Dan Barber discovered that one-third of 500 farmers were in danger of closing. “COVID has exposed [the] weakness of [the short, direct food chain],” he said. […]

Latest research shows that sustainability is surviving COVID-19

Consumers buying more or as many organic products as they did prior to pandemic Products carrying a sustainability claim, including organic, have continued growing during the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining a 17% market share during the first six months of 2020, according to research by IRI® and NYU Center for Sustainable Business. More than half of […]

How is COVID-19 impacting organic farmers and businesses?

By Laetitia Benador  When COVID-19 struck, farmers were already facing significant challenges. Low prices combined with rising production costs, labor shortages, and climate change impacts resulted in 58 percent of California’s farms operating with net losses in 2017. Today, organic farmers and businesses are working around the clock to adjust to new conditions. CCOF compiled this […]

Pandemic inspires healthier, organic food choices

As Americans have more time to cook during lockdown, and are concerned about protecting against the coronavirus, more dollars are pouring into organic food purchases. Organic food and beverages surged 25% for the 17-week period ending June 27 (Nielsen data). Organic meat, seafood, frozen items, and snack sales stoked the trend, with consumers grabbing Annie’s […]