The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

As the organic industry booms, grower challenges and seed needs loom large

Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) are proud to announce the release of the National Organic Research Agenda (NORA) and State of Organic Seed (SOS). The two reports, published every five years, examine organic farming challenges in the U.S., identify research needs, and assess the organic seed needs of producers. 2020 organic sales surpassed $56 […]

USDA accepting applications to help cover costs of organic, transitioning producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) and Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) are two initiatives that help producers and handlers cover the cost of organic certification, along with other related expenses. Applications for OTECP and OCCSP are both due October 31, 2022. OTECP builds on support offered through OCCSP to […]

Private label provides greater access to organic and healthy foods and beverages as consumers emerge from the pandemic

With two years of a global health crisis under their belts, consumers are seeking to bolster their health with better-for-you foods and beverages, made more accessible through private label offerings. The Hartman Group’s latest report, Organic 2022: Then, Now, Next, finds that this trend is not playing out evenly across the population, with differences driven not just […]

One in three Americans exposed to 2,4-D pesticide—with children at high risk

A study from George Washington University researchers found one in three people in the U.S., of 14,395 surveyed, showed evidence of exposure to a pesticide linked to cancer and reproductive problems. 2,4-D was developed in the 1940s, gaining popularity as a weedkiller and producer of pristine green lawns. It was also an ingredient in Agent Orange, used […]

The poison in our daily bread: Study finds high levels of weedkiller in common supermarket foods

The results of the most comprehensive glyphosate testing of food products ever conducted in the U.S. were recently released by The Detox Project, in a detailed report that shows the true levels of weedkiller contamination in essential foods sold by some of the top grocery stores in the country. The world’s most used weedkiller, glyphosate, was discovered […]