Today, organic farming is booming, but just a few years ago — as many of us remember — there were much fewer opportunities to buy organic. What you might not be aware of are the opportunities, or lack thereof, that were available to growers themselves: Otto Kramm, today of Earthbound Farm in Salinas, California, worked for years as a conventional grower, relying on pesticides and chemicals in order to raise his crops.

“I always loved to grow things as a child,” he says. “It must have been the fact of life. The soil is the womb, we add the seed, nurture its growth, bring it to maturity into the world. I just love the Circle of Life in Farming.” Otto’s all-natural farming philosophy was not the one that governed his work. While he kept an organic garden at home to feed his family, he never knew what chemicals were making their way home with him, into the house where he raised his children, which is why when he was offered the opportunity to grow organically for Earthbound farm, he jumped at the chance.

In this new environment, nearly everything changed. Now Otto is “farming 100% organic day in and day out.”

“Everything we do starts with soil — its what organic farming is all about,” Otto explains. “Good healthy soil adds nutrients and flavors to crops which cannot be duplicated in growing media or hydroponics.”

Organic farming is all about getting to know your region and growing conditions, not just the soil, but every element that can affect the crops. Organic growing takes a lot of know-how, with no simple solution to any problem. “Here in California, water is a big issue, so ensuring adequate water for the future is critical,” Otto says. “Then there’s also the challenges of farming in densely populated areas and, honestly, having enough people to get the work done, especially in organic farming which is more labor intensive than conventional farming.”

As a result of all of the changes that organic growing has brought to his career, today Otto works much more closely with Mother Nature. But organic growing has also brought him closer to his consumers. “Here at Earthbound Farm, what we decide to plant and grow is driven by customer and consumer demand,” he says. “We work closely with our customers to plan our farming schedules.”

He encourages consumers to get involved in making their food choices by going straight to the source. “It’s worth your time to learn about who’s producing your food,” he says. “Trust the farms/companies/brands you have researched. I know from experience that Earthbound Farm’s standards in food safety and organic integrity are exceptionally high.”

It’s clear that Otto believes in his company and what he’s growing, which is reassuring to consumers considering produce from Earthbound Farms. Currently, Earthbound Farms’ baby greens, romaine, kale, chard, broccoli, cauliflower and broccolette are in season. The latter is a cross between broccoli and gai lan.

“I love my broccolette!” says Otto. “To prepare, I just place in a shallow baking pan, brush with olive oil and bake at 425 for about 15-20 minutes. This will caramelize the vegetables and turn them a little bit dark, but it really brings out the sweetness of the broccolette. Then I top with a little fresh ground pepper and sea salt — I think sea salt really brings out the best flavors in vegetables.” In this case, it’s a good idea to trust the expert.

Organic Authority would like to thank Otto Kramm and all of the sustainable, organic farmers and chefs whose work is providing healthy food for us all to eat. We honor you as being conscious stewards of our planet. And, we are thrilled to have you participating in our Earth Day event!

Images: Earthbound Farms

The post Earth Day Profile: Otto Kramm, A Happy Convert to Organic Farming appeared first on Organic Authority.

Since 1988, Organic Valley has transformed American farmland by helping to create a demand for organic food including dairy, eggs and meat products from small-scale, family-sized farms. A lifelong farmer and organic advocate, George Siemon founded Organic Valley using his unique combination of having one hand in the soil while seeing the big picture. This has helped propel the more than 1,700 family-owned farmers now part of the Organic Valley co-operative into leading the campaign to establish effective national standards for organic certification, and transforming the organic food industry. We caught up with George on the heels of winning the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) 4^th annual “Growing Green Award,” given for his efforts in making our food system healthier and more sustainable.

Laura Klein: How does it feel to win the NRDC’s 2012 Growing Green Award?

George Siemon: It was highly rewarding because it wasn’t just about us winning; it was about them [the NRDC] recognizing the importance of food, and it is really exciting to see how excited they are about organic farming and the whole sector of food. Certainly Organic Valley is a pretty amazing story and deserved it, but I am just one part of the wheel.

LK: What inspired you to become an organic farmer? Why not just go conventional like the majority of America?

GS: I was a back-to-the-lander in the ’70s. I was a naturalist, a boy scout, bird watcher. It was just natural once I found out about organic farming. It’s so much more in tune with my roots and so I said “heck yeah that is who I am.”

LK: How does changing what America eats change the way our food system works?

GS: We’ve allowed ourselves to get into this diet that is so dominated by a couple of commodities [corn and soy]. It’s a huge change, and if you can, imagine what it would be like if we had a really diverisified diet instead. Isn’t that what we’re working towards? Agriculture defines food choices and it’s why organic has done so well. Our conventional food system today is a broken one that favors the chemical industry, so that’s why organic is such an important choice.

LK: Is certified organic food a safer food supply source than conventional food?

GS: Organic food prevents all the risks that are out there. If chemicals have a risk, you’re avoiding that by eating organic food. Organic food is a production act, and can’t really make a safety claim; we live in an impure world after all, but on a precautionary principle, yes, it’s a safer food. And it’s definitely a healthier food.

LK: What does sustainability mean to Organic Valley?

GS: Well, it’s our core mission. It’s more than some maintenance thing. It’s a philosophy that’s prospering and blossoming, and getting better with continued improvement all of the time. It always has to be more positive and more than just hanging on; it’s got to be getting better all the time.

LK: Part of Organic Valley’s mission is to save family farms across the country through organic agriculture. How do you inspire conventional family farms to convert to organic farming and join the co-op?

GS: It’s a constant work of outreach. We put a lot of education out there. Our biggest emissaries are the neighbors—someone who has already converted their land that’s often the biggest spokesperson for organic. There are a lot of ways a farmer can come to organic, but we have to have the resources to be able to back them up and help with the process because they’re not just transitioning their crops, they’re transitioning the way they treat their animals, and that’s a really big deal.

LK: Why is animal welfare a top priority for OV?

GS: It is, naturally. It is also a top priority for the consumer. Even before we had standards, organic farmers had a foundation that the more they care for the soil, the more they care for the animals. We have developed our own internal standards and our own audits.

LK: Is organic worth the extra money?

GS: I’m very prejudiced, of course, so the answer is yes, but it’s yes for good reason. It’s yes because of the quality of the food; it’s yes because of the potential health benefits; it’s yes because of avoiding the environmental issues that surround chemical culture. There are so many angles to it. The big debate though: Is it safer and more nutritious? We can debate that stuff all day long, there are studies on both sides. It’s really a lifestyle choice. 

LK: Is the development of GMOs (genetically modified organisms), food and biotechnology a safe road for America and countries in Africa to go down?

GS: Genetically manipulated food is a simple profit-making venture, and giving over the ownership of our seeds to corporations is a very big threat to sustainability. Biotech has only delivered crops that need more chemicals. It only serves the chemical seed industry. At the end of the day, if we really want to breed for nutrition, let’s put some effort into it. Natural breeding gets excellent results. But they’re not really doing that. The money is in the chemicals. It is all rhetoric to promote corporate grip and control, not about feeding the developing world.

LK: How do you deal with a conventional farm next to an organic farm and crop drift?

GS: We’ve always been as friendly as we can be. Those farms are our future organic farmers. Our co-op is dependent on interacting with conventional agriculture. The more and more that I see children being born with lifelong health issues because of chemicals, the more I have to say that it’s different, that child didn’t have a choice. That’s a pretty serious responsibility. That combined with how much it is serving the corporate interests makes it much harder for me to talk about choice. We’re all getting duped by the chemical and biotechnology companies. 

LK: What can Americans do to demand the labeling of genetically modified foods?

GS: The big thing we’re doing is supporting the Right To Know petition and petitioning the FDA to label genetically modified foods. Basically the logic is simple: biotechnology is here, it’s not going away. Can you at least label it so people can make a choice? There is just too much money and influence involved for it to be a fair conversation. Which makes me really proud of the Right to Know movement. Yes, it may not succeed, but it has certainly woken people up. Why shouldn’t a consumer know what’s going on?

LK: Why did you launch “Grassmilk?” (And what’s the difference between milk that comes from cows that eat grass vs. corn, soybeans or other supplemental grains commonly fed to dairy and beef cattle?)

GS: The cows are fed no grains whatsoever. We make sure that our farmers take care of each animal so they can produce enough milk. We have a program to help the producers take care of their animals and produce a milk the consumers want as well. There has been a real anti-corn and soybean movement from the consumer, and so we are responding to the consumer. We want to make sure we aren’t doing anything that isn’t healthy for the animals.

LK: Conventional medicine tells us to stay away from trans fats. Why should we care about having CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) in our diet?

GS: The bottom line is that as we’ve gone toward industrial agriculture, we’ve lost some of these important elements and understandings about health–and particularly fats– like how to balance the omega 6s to 3s. We are constantly striving to produce quality products that have them and help our customers understand the benefits.

LK: Thanks, George! So great chatting with you! Is there anything else you can share with our readers about yourself or Organic Valley?

GS: Thank you! I guess the big thing about the organic lifestyle is that it is much bigger than food. I was just in Europe and they have a movement over there called “post materialist.”  I smiled about it, because we certainly have taken it to the max–this artificial lifestyle we’ve been driven to through advertising and all that. But there is a big awakening happening out there. There are more gardens than ever. We are seeing a quiet but real movement here, and organic foods is proving to be a real mainstay in that. And being an organic co-op, we are eager to be a part of that. We’re in it for the long haul.

Want to cook delicious, organic, whole food recipes? Visit OrganicAuthority.com.

Images: Organic Valley

The post Organic Food Legend: Organic Valley’s CEO George Siemon appeared first on Organic Authority.

Just like you nourish your body with organic food, your skin deserves care with organic beauty products. Many non-organic beauty products on the market today include an astonishing amount of scary chemicals. From parabens (chemicals linked to cancer) to formaldehyde to petroleum waxes, an ordinary lotion can contain quite the toxic mixture. Certified-organic skincare products cleanse, tone, exfoliate and moisturize your skin without using any of these noxious artificial chemicals or additives. That’s not all, though. Here are a few more reasons to choose organic beauty products for naturally beautiful skin.

They’re better for your skin—and your health

What goes on your skin eventually goes in your body. If you slather chemical-filled soaps, lotions and creams over your skin, your body absorbs those toxins. That means common artificial chemicals in conventional beauty products, like phthalates, parabens, petroleum waxes and others, go straight into your body. Yuck! Even worse, many of the chemicals in beauty products have never been tested, so any potential health problems they can cause are virtually unknown.

Your skin will thank you for choosing USDA-certified organic beauty products. These products will only include organic ingredients that meet the same growing standards as organic food. That means no ingredients grown with chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Feed your skin—and body—the good stuff!

They don’t contain synthetic fragrances

When you see the term “fragrance” on a beauty product label, take a wild guess as to what it means. Just about anything can make up fragrance, even hundreds of different chemicals. Deemed a trade secret, the FDA doesn’t require companies to disclose the ingredients in their fragrances, even though many common ingredients in fragrances include chemicals linked to cancer and other health concerns.

As far as your skin goes, these unspecified “fragrances” can cause irritation and even trigger allergic reactions. Plus, unknown chemicals can mess with your skin’s natural pH levels. If your skin just feels off, it might be because of the products you’re using.

You won’t find “fragrance” listed on organic beauty products labels—so long as the product is USDA-certified organic. Instead, each ingredient that makes up the fragrance will be listed individually. Whether that ingredient is an extract or an essential oil, you’ll know exactly what components are creating that lovely scent.

They work better!

Certified-organic beauty products work better simply because they are made with superior ingredients. It’s like cooking. A great dish probably doesn’t include artificial flavors or fake, processed foods. Instead, it’s likely made of pure, fresh and simple ingredients. Beauty products work the same way. Better ingredients mean better results. Those with sensitive skin can especially benefit from organic beauty products that contain high quality ingredients that won’t aggravate or worsen skin.

They won’t harm the environment

This one isn’t specifically for your skin, but we know you eco-conscious beauties will understand that it’s too important to ignore. It’s often easy to forget about the environmental impact of beauty products. Just one bottle can bring up a lot of uncomfortable eco-questions. Is the packaging recyclable? What about the ingredients in the product? Were they grown with synthetic chemicals and fertilizers? What happens when those chemicals go down the drain? What’s that doing to our water supply and the local ecosystems? Multiple these questions by all of your skincare products.

When you use organic beauty products, you can help minimize your environmental impact. First, you won’t have to worry about chemicals going down the drain because there won’t be any in the bottle. You can also look for organic beauty brands that obtain their ingredients from Fair Trade sources or from local farms and suppliers. And, be sure to check out companies that package their products in glass or biodegradable packaging.

Follow Kirsten on Twitter @kirsten_hudson, Google+ and Pinterest.

image: Tudor-rose

The post Why Your Skin Deserves Organic Beauty Products appeared first on Organic Authority.

In many cases, organic food does cost more than the conventional options. But the benefits of organic food for you, your family, the farmers and our environment, make it not only a worthwhile expense, but also a true investment into our future.

Need more reasons to make sure you’re getting all the benefits of organic food? Check out some of these latest stories in the news:

1. Pollinators love Organics: We know that pesticides and herbicides are detrimental to our pollinator friends, especially honey bees. And now, new data published in the journal Animal Conservation finds that pollinators actually prefer organically grown flowers. The insect-flower interactions were significantly and consistently higher in organic vineyards than they were on conventional vineyards.

2. Organic Food Reduces Pesticide Exposure: Sure, this sounds like old news—one of the original arguments for the organic movement in the first place. But new research published in a recent issue of the journal Environmental Research found that the benefits of organic food reduce pesticide exposure in just one week. Study participants who ate at a diet that was at least 80 percent organic for a 7-day period reduced their pesticide metabolite levels by as much as 96 percent!

3. Everyone Benefits from Organic Food: Certain “synergistic effects” exist in organic food that have a benefit far beyond your own plate, found researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Conventional foods just don’t measure up to the phenolic compounds and lower pesticide levels in organics, the researchers discovered.

4. Organic Tomatoes Have More Antioxidants: Recent research published in the IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science found that the antioxidant levels in organic tomatoes were higher than samples of conventional tomatoes.

 5. Can Organic Soil Stop Global Warming? Climate Change, Global Warming…whatever you call it, know this: organic soil may help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 40 percent and sequester as much as 71 percent of carbon, finds a report from the Rodale Institute.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Related on Organic Authority

‘Power Grabs’ at the National Organic Standards Board Meeting Threaten the Future of Organic Food

Are Organic Food Buyers Being Duped? New Study Says Yes, Big Time

Walmart Goes Wild with Cheap, Processed Organic Food

Image: Chiot’s Run

The post 5 (More) Reasons the Benefits of Organic Food are So Incredible appeared first on Organic Authority.