5@5: Task force forms to fight fraud in organic | Beauty supplements go mainstream

Organic Trade Association establishes task force to combat organic label fraud

You may have read recent reports that millions of pounds of imported, non-organic corn and soybeans was fraudulently being sold as organic. In response to the controversy, the Organic Trade Association has organized a task force to establish a list of best practices for imported organic products, to lobby for the USDA to have broader enforcement powers in the next farm bill, and to push Congress for better technology to trace organic products. Read more at Organic Authority...

Why the beauty industry is betting big on supplements

A new wave of supplements for hair, skin and nails is moving mainstream, thanks in part to the growing awareness of the belly-beauty connection and, yes, millennials concerned with treating their bodies right. “Ingestible beauty” products account for nearly one-third of Free People’s in-store and online sales. Unilever Ventures recently invested in hair supplement Nutrafol. And Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop introduced curated vitamin packets earlier this spring. Read more at Business of Fashion…

Vertical farming gets real: Bowery Farming raises $20M for its ‘post-organic’ warehouse farm

GV (formerly Google Ventures) joined General Catalyst and GGV Capital in a new financing round for a “tech company that is thinking about the future of food.” Those are the words of the cofounder and CEO of Bowery Farming, which relies on software, robotics and LED lighting to grow leafy greens with less water than traditional agriculture and no pesticides. Read more at Forbes…

How Burlap & Barrel is disrupting the spice supply chain

Burlap & Barrel operates a single-origin spice e-commerce platform aimed at connecting artisan farmers with restaurants and artisanal food and beverage manufacturers. Its model focuses on environmental sustainability and improving the welfare of smallholder spice farms. Read more at Food Tech Connect...

Women are flocking to wellness because modern medicine still doesn’t take them seriously

The wellness industry is booming, and for good reason. Yoga, acupuncture, meditation and smoothies meet a need for many women seeking personalized and compassionate care for their unique health challenges. Read more at Quartz…