Baby food maker raises $3.1 million in Series A round

Once Upon a Farm, maker of cold-pressed, organic baby food, will use investment money from Cambridge Companies SPG, Seed 2 Growth Fund and Harbinger Ventures to expand into more regions and stores. The company was founded in 2015. Read more at NBC San Diego...

Organic animal welfare rules delayed, giving opponents hope

Rules that have been in the works for years that would strengthen animal welfare standards for livestock used for USDA certified organic products have been delayed. They were released in the final days of the Obama administration, but implementation has been pushed back to May by the new administration's regulatory freeze, so that they can be examined. Read more at KBIA...

The quinoa genome could help scientists get it out of the health food aisle

Scientists recently sequenced the genome of quinoa, and they plan to figure out how to apply some of its appealing qualities—like its salt tolerance—to other crops like rice and barley. They also plant to breed quinoa so it's easier to grow on modern farms. Read more at Popular Science...

Reckitt finalizes deal to buy Mead Johnson for $16.6 billion

Baby food maker Mead Johnson Nutrition has sold to Reckitt, the maker of Lysol cleaners and Mucinex cold medicine, which says the deal will almost double the size of its consumer health business and expand its developing market presence. Read more at Reuters...

Seattle duo hopes to sell organic beef to S.D. 'steakholders'

Crowd Cow is a company that sells shares of organic, grass-fed beef, one steer at a time, online. The Seattle-based founders are hoping to grow their customer base into new states. Read more at Rapid City Journal...