Category:Cornucopia News

Consumers and Farmers Join Together to Promote Organic Integrity Many media outlets, from the New York Times to the blogosphere, have tracked what has been dubbed the “corporate takeover” of organic farming. One of the hottest controversies in this rapidly growing $20 billion industry has been giant factory farms milking thousands of cows each in… Read more »

The USDA has scheduled four listening sessions to gather input on its newly proposed organic livestock/pasture rule. The sessions are scheduled for: Tuesday, December 2 1:30-4:30 p.m. Organic Valley Family of Farms Headquarters One Organic Way LaFarge, WI 54639 Thursday, December 4 1:30-4:30 p.m. California State University – Chico University Farm Pavillion 311 Nicholas C…. Read more »

CORNUCOPIA, WI — After eight years of intense scrutiny and criticism the USDA has published a proposed amendment to the federal organic regulations intended to address abuses by “factory farms,” milking thousands of cows each and masquerading as organic. The heated controversy pitted the country’s 1700-1800 families who produce organic milk, and their loyal customers,… Read more »

Corporate Takeover Threatens Farmers, Mission Cornucopia, WI – Groups representing organic farmers and their customers are calling on consumers to help save the organic industry by exclusively patronizing dairies, and other brands, that uphold the spirit and letter of the federal organic law. They claim the acquisition of major brands by corporate agribusiness, and their… Read more »

Farm Policy Group Says Almond Board Withholding Key Research The Cornucopia Institute Cornucopia, WI – The Cornucopia Institute has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Almond Board of California seeking public documents justifying the merits of the almond pasteurization rule and the science supporting it…. Read more »

Testimony given before USDA’s Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee The Cornucopia Institute Carlea Arnold, Research Associate Good morning. My name is Caralea Arnold. I work for farmers. I’m not a lobbyist. I am a staff member with The Cornucopia Institute, based in Cornucopia, Wisconsin. I grew up on a certified organic farm in upstate… Read more »

Our members have asked that we encourage visitors to our newly upgraded web page to consider supporting the mission and work of The Cornucopia Institute. Your donation will help our research, investigations, and project work on behalf of sustainable and organic family farmers.

Lawsuit Would Halt Treatment of Almonds with Toxic Fumigant or Steam Heat WASHINGTON, D.C. A group of fifteen American almond growers and wholesale nut handlers filed a lawsuit in the Washington, D.C. federal court on Tuesday, September 9 seeking to repeal a controversial USDA-mandated treatment program for California-grown raw almonds. The almond farmers and handlers… Read more »

Radiation Treatment Lowers Nutrition and Raises Spoilage Issues The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on August 22, published a new federal regulation permitting “but not requiring” the use of ionizing irradiation for the control of food-borne pathogens and extension of shelf life in fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach. In plain English this means that… Read more »

7200-Cow Dairy No Longer Part of Cooperative’s Plan The Cornucopia Institute La Farge, WI — After weeks of controversy in the dairy community, Organic Valley’s Board of Directors has reaffirmed the decision to end its controversial milk purchasing arrangement with a 7200-head, industrial-scale dairy in Texas. The producer-owned co-op, renowned for helping build the booming… Read more »