| Food
firm favors antiobiotic-free poultry,
cage-free eggs, rBST-free milk
Food-service innovator Bon Appetit Management Company
has made commitments to purchase cage-free eggs and
antibiotic-free turkey and significant amounts of local
and regional foods for its 190 cafes in 26 states. Cage-free
eggs will be phased in to the sites in the next 12 months,
with the eventual goal of having all eggs from uncaged
birds.
Bon Appetit, which serves 55 million meals a year,
made its move on antibiotic-free turkey meat based on
its existing policy for chicken, with the goal of reducing
antibiotic use in poultry. All of its cafes served 100
percent locally grown foods from within 150 miles of
the serving point on an Eat Local Challenge day last
fall.
To secure rBST-free milk in the upper Midwest, the
company revived a plant in Bismark, North Dakota, that
had been closed for two years. Great Plains Dairy Partners,
LLC, took over the dairy and revived its Deja Moo brand,
thanks to Bon Appetit’s contract to buy its milk
for its regional school and corporate food service accounts.
www.bamco.com/PressRoom/press-pre-101005.htm
National
Farmers Union persists to launch $4 million project
featuring family farm life, an experienced chef and
food with a story.
There were set-backs along the way and there are logistical
hurdles to work out, but sometime this spring groups
of farmers across the country will begin marketing their
crops, livestock and value-added products directly to
an upscale eatery in the nation’s capitol.
The business’s buyers are starting with Farmers
Union members to source their pantry. Larry Breech,
president of the Pennsylvania Farmers Union, told NewFarm.org
that he is optimistic that his members will have excellent
marketing opportunities at Agraria, being the easternmost
NFU state chapter. He says demand is strong for farmer-food
themed restaurants that deliver on top quality with
style.
www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2005/12/19/story2.html
Consumer Reports
cites organic produce benefits
by crop, type of food and marketplace venue
In its February 2006 issue, Consumer Reports® magazine
outlines the best bargains in organic food. It says
new studies show that by eating organic food, “you
can greatly reduce your exposure to chemicals found
in conventionally produced foods.” The coverage
considers the “dirty dozen” crops where
USDA figures show the highest levels of pesticide residue
as clearly worth the average 50 percent premium.
The magazine says benefits in meat and dairy are clear,
but premiums are higher, while buying organic seafood
and health care products are not recommended because
organic standards are vague. Shoppers are given a list
of ways to cut costs, including “go local”
and in season at farmers’ markets, join a Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm operation and use internet
guides for price comparisons. Full story by subscription.
www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/organic-products-206/overview.htm
Short US organic
food supply, strong demand
creates incentives for increasing imports
A London-based food industry source cites short supply
in the US dairy and orange juice markets as major contributors
to a huge organic food trade gap: $1.5 billion in imports
to the US, and only $150 million in exports. Unless
more US farmers begin the organic conversion process
and work at securing markets at home, processors and
marketers will turn overseas, according to the Dec.
19, 2005 story by Organic Monitor.
/www.organicmonitor.com/r1512.htm
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