Americans seek Fair Trade Certified produce; imports jump 26%
Fair Trade USA reports its biggest year yet for its floral and produce category. Fair Trade Certified produce from Mexico was also a big driver of growth last year. Read more at 3BL Media...
'GMO-free' is a boon for companies chasing 'health halo' profits
Chipotle didn't just remove GMOs from the food it serves—it's using its stance as a marketing opportunity. And some are worried that consumers mistake GMO free for healthy. Read more at NPR...
Minnesota cost-share program makes organic certification affordable
Under the Minnesota Organic Cost Share Program, organic operators can apply for a rebate of up to 75 percent of the cost of their organic certification-related expenses. Read more at Ag Week...
Berkeley soda tax does a slow fizzle
In many cases, the tax, which took effect in March, isn't actually affecting how much consumers pay for soda. Read more at Futurity...
$8.2M organic egg farm being built in west Michigan
Konos Inc., a distributor of Vande Bunte Eggs, is building an organic egg farm that will house some 480,000 hens in west Michigan's Allegan County. Read more at Detroit Free Press...