Off Target — Major Retailer Accused of Organic Improprieties State and Federal Complaints Allege Mislabeling

MINNEAPOLIS, MN: A public interest group that focuses on food and agriculture, The Cornucopia Institute, announced this week that it had filed formal complaints with the USDA’s organic program, and Wisconsin and Minnesota officials, alleging that Target Corporation has misled consumers into thinking some conventional food items it sells are organic. The complaints are the… Read more »

Organic Grower Inspires Beet Lawsuit

‘Everything I said to my fellow seedsmen, the judge has now agreed with’ Capital Press By Mitch Lies PHILOMATH, Ore. — Frank Morton said he was told he should sue the USDA if he didn’t like Roundup Ready sugar beet seed being produced in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. “I was literally told three times that if… Read more »

Fresh, Unprocessed Apple Cider Available in Wisconsin: Unique Seasonal Treat Survives Controversy

CORNUCOPIA, WI – Enjoying fresh apple cider is a wonderful fall tradition in Wisconsin. But lately, some individuals have noticed that fresh cider seemed absent from farmer’s markets and farm stands around the state. After some Wisconsin food safety inspectors misinterpreted state laws as prohibiting the sale of raw apple cider at farmers markets, many… Read more »

National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Could Harm Local, Family-scale and Organic Growers

Corporate Agribusiness Proposes Regulating Itself Instead of Stricter Governmental Food Safety Oversight CORNUCOPIA, WI: USDA hearings begin this week on a proposal that would authorize the development of production and handling regulations for a long list of fresh vegetables, primarily leafy greens. The first of seven national hearings starts Tuesday, September 22 in Monterey, California,… Read more »

New National Organic Program Director Hired

Since founding The Cornucopia Institute in 2004, one of our prime messages has been that the USDA’s National Organic Program needed new competent leadership with deep experience in the organic community. We have been highly critical of the past leadership and its lack of understanding of organics and reluctance to stand for integrity and ethics… Read more »

Largest Organic Factory Farm Operator Once Again Accused of Illegal Activity

Family Dairy Farmers Appeal to Obama Administration for Swift Enforcement WASHINGTON, DC: Aurora Dairy, based in Boulder, Colorado, the nation’s largest organic dairy producer, is once again facing allegations of improprieties. Aurora had previously been found in “willful” violation of multiple federal organic standards by USDA investigators in 2007. This week an organic industry watchdog,… Read more »

Dean Foods/Horizon’s Organic Factory Dairies in New Mexico

Staff at The Cornucopia Institute had previously learned, through a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, that Dean Foods, owner of the Horizon Organic dairy label, was leasing an organic dairy in New Mexico. Then, in 2008, as the industry began to suffer from a surplus of milk, driving down prices for family farmers, we learned… Read more »

Raw Almond Lawsuit and Fundraising Incentive

The lawsuit seeking repeal of the controversial raw almond pasteurization mandate is continuing. Cornucopia is helping the farmers fighting the almond mandate and actively fundraising for the legal effort. Currently a legal appeal is being readied that will likely be filed in the next month. You can help, too, and if you do, we can… Read more »

Make Selection of Key National Organic Advisors Transparent

CORNUCOPIA, WI — The US Department of Agriculture should publicly release the names of applicants for its expert advisory panel on organic food and agriculture practices, according to a farm policy group.  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is expected to announce the appointment for five open slots on the 15-member National Organic Standards Board sometime during… Read more »