Take Action: NOSB Committee Proposes Misleading and Damaging Standards for "Organic" Fish Farms

The National Organic Standards Board had proposed "organic standards for net pens and fish feed" for farm-raised fish, and is accepting comments on these two proposals until Monday, November 3rd. Click here to take action.

The development of U.S. organic standards for aquaculture could potentially help alleviate and reverse the environmental and human health impacts associated with currently used harmful industrial aquaculture methods. In order to realize these benefits, however, any organic aquaculture standards must be stringent, and reflect a primary commitment to developing low impact and sustainable production methods.

Unfortunately, the latest round of the development of Organic Aquaculture standards -- NOSB Livestock Committee Proposed Organic Aquaculture Standards for Net Pens and Fish Feed -- does not comply with organic principles. CFS opposes both proposals because, if approved, they will fatally undercut any future organic aquaculture standard.

If there is to be a meaningful USDA organic standard for aquaculture, our regulators need to face the reality that some types of fish farming are simply not possible to be made organic because they require environmentally damaging activities. Farming large predatory fish like salmon in open water net pens will lead to escapes and harm to our oceans' wild fish stocks and biodiversity. Allowing the use of wild-caught fish to feed "organic" fish is unlawful and misleading to the public, and will also harm our oceans by further depleting forage fisheries.

Tell the NOSB to Say No to "Organic" Net Pen Farming and the Use of Wild-Caught Feed! Click here to take action.

Genetically Engineered (GE) Papayas

The US Department of Agriculture is accepting public comments between now and November 3, 2008 on a petition that would allow commercial growing and marketing of the first genetically engineered (GE) papaya trees on mainland US soil. If approved, this would remove all regulatory oversight of this GE variety by USDA of a virus-resistant papaya tree known as the Ring Spot Virus Resistant Papaya.

The USDA admits that this GE papaya will contaminate both organic and conventional non-genetically engineered papaya groves if it is approved. GE papaya pollen carried by wind, bees and other insects will contaminate the papaya groves of organic and conventional growers.

For more information and to take action, please visit the Center for Food Safety's current 'Oppose GE Papayas!' campaign at www.ga3.org.

Access to Pasture

The National Organic Program (NOP) issued a proposed rule regarding access to pasture for ruminants today, with a 60-day comment period that ends December 23rd. The way things currently stand, meat sold as organic has to have access to pasture, but through a loophole they don't actually have to be raised on a open pasture.

We are in full support of the draft rule as it ensures organically produced livestock have appropriate access to pasture. We appreciate the detail that NOP has put into this to avoid confusion and varied interpretation, and encourage USDA to move forward with final rule and enforcement.


To see the proposed Rule click here (will download as a PDF). If you'd like to comment on the proposed rule click here!

10 Things the Food Industry Doesn't Want You to Know

Probably not too illuminating to a lot of our customers since most of them are savvy to the "food" industry's tricks, but a good read in any case. "10 Things the Food Industry Doesn't Want You to Know" by Adam Voiland, in the US News and World Report. Two nutrition experts argue that you can't take marketing campaigns at face value. Click here to read.

From Pale Green to Forest Green - How green are you?

The New York Times has an interesting article "Completely Unplugged, Fully Green" about the lengths that some go to conserve. Click here to read!

The Politics of Food

Michael Pollan writes an open letter in the "Food Issue" of New York Times Magazine to the next "Farmer in Chief" addressing what he thinks the next president can and should do to remake the way we grow and eat our food.
Click here to read more!

Go Co-op!

The National Cooperative Grocers Association (to which we belong) Made a fun little short video on co-op's and the importance of going local. Check it out!

Vote with your Change!

This year we decided to let our shoppers choose who is going to receive our CCF grants. In other words, YOU can decide who gets our grants! It's easy, just come into the store, in the bulletin board area (to the right as you enter) you'll see 5 plastic boxes with descriptions of each deserving non-profit organization. Simply add your spare change (or dollars) to the organization you think should get our grant. The money we collect will go towards building the CCF grant. Voting will end at 10am Wednesday, October 15th. The two organizations that have the most money will receive our grant on October 19th at our Annual Meeting.
The organizations in the running for the grants are:

Westminster School Endowment Group
Westside Children's Center
reDiscover
Upward Bound House
Surfrider of Malibu and West LA