Consumers Say Organic Signals ‘Quality’
Surveys show organic produce continues to grow despite pricing concerns, with organics appealing across demographics not only as a premium product but as a core driver of loyalty in the produce aisle.
Organic Rice Offers Greater Biodiversity Support than Chemical-Intensive Paddies, Study Documents
A study published in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment finds organic rice paddies in the Mediterranean region have greater ecosystem biodiversity, including increased presence of aquatic microorganisms and insects, than their chemical-intensive counterparts. While not a “cradle-to-grave” or holistic analysis of organic vs. chemical-intensive agriculture (see a similar example in previous Daily News here), the authors note that there is an increase in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) associated with compost use, which replaces synthetic fertilizers. Typically, compost builds biological life in the soil and contributes to a drawing down (or sequestering) of atmospheric carbon. As EPA notes, “[C]omposting lowers greenhouse gases by improving carbon sequestration in the soil and by preventing methane emissions through aerobic decomposition, as methane-producing microbes are not active in the presence of oxygen.”
MAHA Report Moves Further Away From Restricting Pesticides
The final recommendations from the MAHA Commission align more with the agricultural industry’s goals than the MAHA movement’s asks.
Edacious and Regenerative Organic Alliance Enter Collaboration to Measure Nutritional Impact of Regenerative Organic Certified® Agriculture
Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) have announced a new partnership that establishes a collaborative framework to measure and better understand the relationship between Regenerative Organic Certified® crops and human health.
Dole’s commitment to organics to be on display at OTA’s Organic Week
Dole Food Co. is participating in Organic Week 2025, taking place Sept. 15–17 in Washington, DC, and hosted by the Organic Trade Association. As an event sponsor and one of the few produce supply companies in attendance, Dole will underscore its long-standing leadership in the organic category and reaffirm its commitment to sustainability and the continued growth of the U.S. organic produce market.
