Category:Cornucopia News

After hearing from scores of concerned organic stakeholders about his scheduled show with Mischa Popoff, radio host Michael Olson of the syndicated show Food Chain Radio asked Mark Kastel to join Popoff in the interest of providing balance. The result was an impromptu debate challenging Popoff’s credibility and his scheme for replacing certification with wholesale… Read more »

Beware Corporate Agribusiness in Sheep’s Farmers’ Clothing Recently, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced that they are forming a “Farmer Advisory Council.” This comes at a time when the OTA has received widespread, sharp criticism from organic farmers and ranchers and the organizations that represent them. The OTA is a trade/lobby group representing, primarily, processors,… Read more »

[Note:  The Cornucopia Institute is one of 125 organizations supporting this initiative] At stake are many important issues, including funding for the historic Outreach and Assistance Program for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers.  Without passage of the UDALL (NM) amendment #1055, funding for the next five years will be slashed in half!  Call your Senators… Read more »

The decision by the USDA to approve deregulation of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa has been upheld by the federal Ninth District Circuit Court.  The Cornucopia Institute was one of the plaintiffs in the legal challenge brought by the Center for Food Safety. Alfalfa, grown on over 21 million acres, is worth $8 billion per year… Read more »

Announcing the Winners of the “Beyond Consumer” Word Contest What do you call the folks who stand with farmers and choose organic, local, authentic foods? Who care about economic justice for farmers, humane animal welfare standards, and good environmental stewardship? “Consumer” just doesn’t cut it so we put the question to Cornucopia’s 55,000 enewsletter subscribers. … Read more »

Dr. Phil Howard updates his popular infographic on the organic food industry The latest version of Who Owns Organics has been released by Dr. Phil Howard, an Assistant Professor at Michigan State.  Dr. Howard teaches in the University’s Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies program.  The latest update now includes the top 100 food processors… Read more »

Wisconsin Farmer Vernon Hershberger Faces Jail for Feeding Community Trial of Vernon Hershberger set for May 20-24 in Baraboo, WI Customers and Other Supporters to Attend Court with Farmer Food rights activists from around North America will meet in Baraboo, WI at the Sauk County Courthouse May 20th – 24th to support Wisconsin dairy farmer… Read more »

Shareholders of Abbott Laboratories voted April 26 on whether the company should adopt a non-GMO policy for its products, which include one of the nation’s leading infant formula brands, Similac. In the week prior to the vote, The Cornucopia Institute initiated a petition drive, in support of As You Sow, the shareholder activism group that… Read more »

Chinese Organic Food Scrutinized at Congressional Hearing Washington, D.C. – The House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats gathered information today regarding concerns being raised about imports of food from China that are entering the U.S. “We don’t trust, for good reason, the Chinese to supply ingredients for our dog… Read more »

Pamela Coleman Farm Policy Analyst Farmers recognize the advantages of plastic mulches: thin sheets of black plastic warm the soil, enhance crop growth, and suppress weeds. Although these are commonly used by many farmers, they are non-biodegradable, so they must be removed and discarded at the end of each growing season. At their Fall 2012… Read more »