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To: Organic Issues <organic@lists.iatp.org>
From: news@organicTS.com
Date: 2002-01-18 07:00:45
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This is the Organic Newsline from organicTS.com It is a weekly newsletter,
avalaible for a small subscription charge from THE organic industry portal
site on the Web, Organic Trade Services at http://www.organicTS.com.

We also provide news feeds, an on-line market for certified organic
products, an organic directory, links, dicussion, information and more.

Neil Butler
Organic Trade Services

ORGANIC NEWSLINE

Weekly International News from Organic Trade Services, www.organicts.com/,
THE organic industry portal on the Web.

Vol 3 Issue 2, 15 January 2002

INTRODUCTION

Please also pass any, general news, events, product announcements, staff
announcements etc that could be included in this service through to us using
news@organicTS.com

For currency conversion use: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

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CONTENTS

GENERAL NEWS

EUROPE
Amendment To EC Organic Regulation 2092/91 Now Available
France: Organic Cheese Production To Propel French Organic Dairy Revenues
Germany: Organic Fish On The Agenda
UK: SA Against UKAS Assuming UKROFS Role
Germany: Organic Supermarkets In Fashion
Spain: 76 % Increase In Organic Farmer Numbers In Andalusia In 2001
EU Organic Seed Regime After 2004
Germany: Specialized Organic Information System For NRW
UK: Britain Has Been Officially Declared Free Of Foot-And-Mouth
UK: Theoretical Risk Of BSE In Sheep

WORLD
Canada: Standards Council Accredits First Organic Certification Body
USA: Aquatic Animal Products Dropped From New NOP Rules
USA: Prioritizing Product Development
Canada: Organic Egg Producers File Lawsuit Egg Marketing Board
Canada: Sask Organic Farmers File Lawsuit Against Monsanto And Aventis

GM ISSUES
Italy: Minister Confirms Zero Tolerance For GM Seeds
UK: Unilever Chief Calls For 'Third Way' On GM Crops
Croatia Set To Ban GM Food Production
Suspect USA GE Crop Planting Claims

COMPANIES AND PRODUCTS

Italy: Conapi Extends Its Production Range
Switzerland: Retailers Report Good Results For Organics
UK: Iceland Results Stay Frozen
UK: OMSCO Signs Point To Organic Farms
Germany: Upl„nder Bauernmolkerei Producing 15 Million Kg Organic Milk
UK: Lord Melchett Joins PR Firm That Advised Monsanto
Germany: G„a In 2002: The Highest Quality Standards
Ireland: EGM Of IOFGA Abandoned
UK: Stop The Chop - New Guide To Buying Wood Without Wrecking Forests
UK: J Sainsbury 'Winning Market Share From Tesco'
USA/UK Horizon In Strategic Agreement With Dairy Crest In The U.K.
USA: New Organic Yogurt Smoothies - First Single Serve
USA: Boston Restaurateur Is Serving Healthy Portions
USA/UK: Tesco Uses US As Stepping Stone To The World Of Home Shopping
Australia: Hervey Bay Gains New Organic Food Processing Plant
USA: Organic Wheat Growers' Co-Op Boosts Income
Canada: Brecon Foods Introduces Aged Unpasteurized White 100% Organic
Cheddar

EVENTS

UK: 25-27 January 14TH Soil Association National Conference
Canada: 25-27 Jan. Organic Conference & Trade Show At The University Of
Guelph
UK: 3 Feb. HDRA's National Potato Day 2002
Germany: 14-17 Feb 2002: Biofach 2002
USA: 7 - 10 March. Natural Products Expo West
UK: 7 - 8 Apr Natural Products Europe 2002
Italy: 26 - 28 Apr. International Organic Olive Oil Contest - Biol 2002
Netherlands: June 12-13. Natural Products Expo Europe
Japan: 9-11 October. Health Ingredients Japan 2002

CORRESPONDENCE

Gunnar Rundgren Keynotes At Organic Fair, Guelph, Canada
Canada: Certifier/Regulator/Trade Meeting At Guelph

CLASSIFIEDS

FEATURES

Canada: Organic Food Industry Report
Report: 2001 Regional Organic Seminar Organic Farming, The Emerging Industry
For Africa
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GENERAL NEWS

AMENDMENT TO EC ORGANIC REGULATION 2092/91 NOW AVAILABLE

The Commission Regulation (EC)No 2491/2001 of 19 December 2001 amending
Council Regulation (EEC)No 2092/91 is now available as a downloadable .pdf
file www.organicTS.com/downloads/EC24912001.pdf

In the new document Annex III to Regulation (EEC)No 2092/91 is replaced by
the text in the Annex to this Regulation. Annex III concerns the "Minimum
Inspection Requirements And Precautionary Measures Under The Inspection
Scheme Referred To In Articles 8 And 9"

The Commission's preamble to the amendment includes:

(1)Organic production of agricultural products has developed significantly
in recent years. In many cases organic production is not anymore limited to
local productions and local trade but, on the contrary, involves very often
several operators and operations, such as import, transport, storage and
packaging.
(2)Annex III to Regulation (EEC)No 2092/91 lays down minimum inspection
requirements and precautionary measures under the inspection scheme referred
to in Articles 8 and 9 of that Regulation.
(3)Annex III already comprises provisions for the main operators and
different stages involved in the organic production of agricultural
products. However, in order to ensure the traceability of organic
agricultural products throughout the different stages of the trade chain,
and finally the compliance of these products with the provisions laid down
in Regulation (EEC)No 2092/91 in the light of recent developments, it is
necessary to adapt the provisions set out in Annex III.
(4)It is necessary that Member States complete the measures set out in Annex
III to ensure that consumers are given guarantees that the products have
been produced in accordance with Regulation (EEC)No 2092/91.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 60th day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .

FRANCE: ORGANIC CHEESE PRODUCTION TO PROPEL FRENCH ORGANIC DAIRY REVENUES
14 January, www.organicmonitor.com

London - The French market for organic dairy products is to show accelerated
growth in the coming years as dairies raise production levels.

According to the latest strategic research by Organic Monitor, French
organic dairy revenues expanded by 35.7 percent in 2001. High growth was
reported last year due to consumer demand for organic foods being elevated
by the BSE crisis.

Strong growth is to continue as more organic milk becomes available to
French dairies that are increasing production volumes for the major
retailers. Revenues are forecast to approach ? (euro) 400 million in 2004
making it the third largest market in the EU.

Market growth has been constrained for a number of years by organic milk
shortages. Over a third of the organic milk used by French dairies was
imported in 2000 and although the portion of imports is declining, domestic
volumes are not projected to meet market requirements until 2003.

Organic Monitor expects the organic cheese market to show the highest growth
in the coming years. The segment is the second largest in the French organic
dairy sector, accounting for over 20 percent of revenues in 2001. Most
organic cheese production is on a small-scale by regional producers and
insufficient volumes have prevented wider availability in the retailers. As
more organic milk becomes available, production levels are to rise
considerably to cater for the growing demand from the retail sector and the
export market. The organic cheese market is projected to expand almost
four-fold over the forecast period.

The study found that the organic milk market is the most developed in the
organic dairy sector. Organic milk was first introduced in the hypermarkets
& supermarkets in 1996 and is now available in most of the large retailers.
Organic milk sales accounted for 3 percent of French milk sales in 2001 with
Lactalis dominating the branded segment.

About Organic Monitor
Organic Monitor provides strategic research & consulting on the
international organic food industry. Consultants continuously monitor the
organic food industry for market trends & developments. Visit us at
www.organicmonitor.com
This strategic report is the latest in a series of strategic reports on the
organic dairy products market.

Research Publication: #1301-43 The French Market for Organic Dairy Products
Publication Date: January 2002

For further information, please contact: Mr. Domenico Caviglia, Organic
Monitor. Tel: (44) 020 8567 0788, Fax: (44) 020 8567 7164, Email:
dcaviglia@organicmonitor.com

GERMANY: ORGANIC FISH ON THE AGENDA
11 January

If German consumers keep a sharp eye on goods in their supermarkets carrying
the new organic logo they should notice that there are no fish. On the
German market there are bio-salmon, bio carp and Bio trout produced under
Naturland directives in certified facilities, but the EC organic regulations
do not yet recognise aquacultural products so the German organic logo, which
is based on the regulation, may not glitter on bio-fish.

This must change, says German nature protection group Deutsche
Naturschutzring (DNR). Recently DNR secretary general Helmut R”scheisen
asked consumer's minister Renate K�nast to put organic pisciculture into the
EC regulation not later than in 2003.

If German organic groups had their way, the EU would simply adopt the
directives of Naturland for organic production of salmons, trout, carp,
mussels and shrimps. For example for years the tough Naturland requirements
for fish food represented an insoluble hurdle for the production of organic
trout. There was simply no manufacturer who could supply the quality and was
ready to be involved in the niche market. This problem was only resolved two
years ago.

At the end of 2000 Naturland certified the first organic trout producer.
Rameil in Merlenbach bei Lindlar now produces about 50 metric tonnes of
organic trout annually. Production manager Michael Rameil is very satisfied
with the conversion to organic. He has no problem selling his production
despite prices 40 to 100 per cent higher than conventional trout products.
Nevertheless, he considers it a disadvantage not to be allowed to decorate
his products with the new organic logo as supermarket chains would find it a
problem,

So far organic fish sales are insignificant. According to Naturland Europe
wide sales are around 4,000 metric tons of salmon, 400 metric tons of carp,
100 metric tons of mussels and 200 metric tons of trout. By comparison in
Germany alone about 50 000 metric tons of trout from conventional production
are consumed annually.

UK: SA AGAINST UKAS ASSUMING UKROFS ROLE
14 January

In response to The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs'
recommendations for the future of UKROFS (The UK Register of Organic Food
Standards), Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association said:

"We strongly disapprove of the recommendation that UKROFS' role is taken
over by UKAS (UK Accreditation Service). This body is a general
accreditation organisation without specialist knowledge of organic standards
which are highly technical. Organic inspections require a thorough
understanding of organic principles, and the control of organic inspections
requires an equally thorough understanding. Furthermore, UKAS is already
very stretched.

"The harmonisation of the procedure for setting organic standards is vital
and we are concerned that the creation of an advisory non-departmental
public body will not be able to take on this role effectively. The Soil
Association's eight standards advisory committees have been very effective
for a number of years in making recommendations and creating new standards
and we see no need for this to change.

"One of our greatest concerns has been overlooked by DEFRA - the need to
regulate the number of certification bodies operating in the UK. There are
now ten organisations that are approved to carry out monitoring and
certification of organic producers and processors. We believe that this is
very confusing for consumers, who are faced with an array of logos when
buying organic goods.

"The risk of the dilution of organic standards must also be tackled: Soil
Association Certification Limited is the only certification body to exceed
some of the standards laid down under EU law as implemented by UKROFS.
Increased marketplace competition may lead to cost-cutting and the
undermining of organic values.

"The criteria for the selection of organic certifiers should include that
the body specialises in organic certification, has an institutional
understanding of the core principles and values of organic agriculture, and
has a not-for-profit organisational structure."

The Soil Association will be responding to DEFRA's consultation.

Notes:

Areas where Soil Association standards exceed those demanded by the EU or
UKROFS include:

ú Under EU law, non-organically born and reared pigs can be sold as organic.
The Soil Association standards state that pork must come from pigs that are
born to a sow managed organically from mating and raised organically
thereafter.

ú UKROFS states that up to 3,000 laying hens can be kept in one flock. The
Soil Association will only consider flocks of up to 2,000 birds. Other
certification bodies only require that the ground between batches is rested
for two months: under Soil Association standards, nine months must be
allowed to ensure that the risk of disease is minimised.

ú We insist that six miles are maintained between GM sites and organic
farms. No distance is stipulated by UKROFS.

GERMANY: ORGANIC SUPERMARKETS IN FASHION
11 January

A multicoloured baby product offer is on display in the organic supermarket
Bio Company in the Berlin district Friedrichshain. It reflects a trend in
Germany with the opening of more and more bio-supermarkets.

The shops will be much bigger according to the federal health food
association Bundesverbandes Naturkost. Nationwide more and more shops with
more than 250 square meters of surface will be opening, said Elke R”der of
Naturkost, the federal association for the production and distribution of
natural goods, shortly before beginning of the green week in Berlin and
these outlets would generate 750,000 to 5 million Euros turnover.

At present there are more than 100 bio-supermarkets. However, most whole
food shops are smaller with 120 to 250 square meters of sales area. The
centres for the new, bigger bio-supermarkets in 2001 were Munich and Berlin
with seven new shops each and Hamburg with three.

The health food retail trade will achieve lower growth in 2002 after sales
growth of more than 20 per cent last year according to Naturkost estimates,
which are predicting about 10 per cent.

SPAIN: 76 % INCREASE IN ORGANIC FARMER NUMBERS IN ANDALUSIA IN 2001
8 January

Latest figures from the Andalusian Committee of Organic Farming (CAAE) show
organic producer numbers increased 76 per cent to 3,637 in Andalusia last
year, while the organically managed land area rose 67 per cent.

Within Andalusia the area in hectares dedicated to organic production
includes C¢rdoba with 26,856, followed by Granada, with 16,032; Almeria,
with 15,483; Huelva, with 11,933; Malaga, with 10,143; Seville, with 8,247;
Cadiz, with 7,921 and Jaen with 6,486.

Olives are the principal crop of the region with 31,458 hectares, 30.51 per
cent of the total organic area, followed by non-citrus fruits with 13,840
hectares.

Francisco Casero, president of the CAAE commenting on the significant growth
in organic production over the last 10 years, attributed it to the
"determination and professionalism" of the sector, which has assumed its
responsibilities in the development of a productive system whose principal
aim is the production of safe, quality food for consumers

EU ORGANIC SEED REGIME AFTER 2004
Issue January 2002 Newsletter On Organic Seeds And Plant Breeding

In Brussels meeting rounds started in November last year on how to handle
possibilities of granting derogation for non-organic seeds and transplants
after 1st Jan. 2004. Delegates from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
Italy, Nether-lands, Sweden, United Kingdom discussed a proposal from the EU
commission. From the private sector two IFOAM-experts were invited.

After the 31st of December 2003 according to EU Regulation 2092/91 the use
of organic seed and vegetative reproductive material will be mandatory.
However, after that there might be still some derogations granted but only
under restrictive conditions. Due to Article 6, 3b the commission is granted
the opportunity to develop their own procedures without having a council
decision. The aim of this first EU consultation round was to discuss and to
define the conditions of a future Organic Seed Regime.

A first internal concept paper prepared by the commission propose a
procedure based on Art. 6, 3b which might be applied. But there are further
possibilities. The main ideas of this paper are the following:
In each member state a database should be utilised, either by the competent
authority in the Member State or by a private body designated by the Member
State.
A seed producer or dealer should demonstrate that:
- the organic seed is certified organic
- the variety concerned is appropriate,
- and the delivery of such material is ensured.
The following derogations for not using seeds available on the data bases
are proposed, if the user can demonstrate to the inspection body or
competent authority that:
- there is no appropriate variety registered in the date base
- or appropriate varieties but the holder of the registration cannot deliver
it in the area of the user,
- the respective material has a much too high price
- the variety is no more available or cannot deliver the material at the
holding of the user.
Decisions on the subject are not made by the meeting group but only by
article-14 committee. In January a new round will take place on the 23rd.
For those from the above mentioned countries able to contact their delegate
at the ministry it will be good to give a sign to promote as much as
possible the use of organic multiplied seed!
(by Louise Luttikholt)

GERMANY: SPECIALIZED ORGANIC INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR NRW
11/01/2002

To celebrate Green Week in Berlin Minister of Agriculture B„rbel H”hn has
switched on the on the North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) "specialized information
system for organic farming" internet site ('Fachinformationssystem
™kologischer Landbau.')

The ministry's internet site and data bank is targeted at farmers, bakeries,
butcher's shops and large-scale catering establishments and distributors and
has been promoted with a budget of around 110,000 Euros. It has been
developed by the Forschungsinstitut f�r biologischen Landbau (FiBL) in
Berlin and Stiftung ™kologie und Landbau (S™L) in Bath D�rkheim.

Minister B„rbel H”hn said: 'organic farming uses modern management tools and
requires a high level of knowledge passed through complex networks. To
expand these networks we have for the first time gathered over 1,200 pages
of fundamental, specialized information on this agricultural system."

Website: http://www.oekolandbau.de/nrw

UK: BRITAIN HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DECLARED FREE OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH
15 January

Britain has been officially declared free of foot-and-mouth almost 11 months
after the first case of the disease was found, in a decision farmers say
gives new hope for the industry's future. The outbreak has cost UK farming
more than œ2bn

It will still be several weeks before restrictions on livestock farmers can
be lifted - and perhaps months before Britain can trade fully with the rest
of the world but the National Farmers' Union said the lifting of
restrictions would remove a "long, dark shadow" from the countryside after
11 months of hell.

Foot-and-mouth facts
Confirmed cases: 2,030
Cattle slaughtered: 595,000
Sheep slaughtered: 3,306,000
Pigs slaughtered: 142,000
Other animals slaughtered: 4,000
Total animals slaughtered: 4,047,000
Countryside Agency puts cost to UK farming at up to œ2.4bn
Cost to tourism estimated at between œ2bn and œ3bn

Many farmers are critical of the government's handling the foot-and-mouth
crisis and say far more should have been done to stop the disease spreading.
The cost to farming - leaving aside any damage to tourism - stands at more
than œ2bn.

UK: THEORETICAL RISK OF BSE IN SHEEP
9 January, Food Standards Agency

The science journal Nature has published research (10 January issue)
exploring the risks to human health if BSE was present in the national sheep
flock.

Neil Ferguson and colleagues from Imperial College, London, estimated the
human health risk from possible BSE infection of the British sheep flock.
The Food Standards Agency, which commissioned the research, issued the
following statement: 'We do not know whether BSE entered the sheep flock in
the past and, if it did, whether it is in sheep today. Given this
uncertainty, the Agency has been proactive in examining whether further
precautionary measures may be appropriate in addition to those currently in
place.

'Research by Imperial College, and published in Nature today (10 January
2002), was commissioned by the FSA and contributes to current thinking about
the theoretical risk of BSE in sheep. This study does not show if BSE has
entered the sheep flock. It is based on limited data and uses a wide range
of assumptions. Allowing for the uncertainties it indicates how the
theoretical risks might be further reduced.

'This research, alongside other research, will inform a report from an FSA
stakeholder group that will be issued for consultation.

'The FSA's position is that the risk of BSE in sheep remains theoretical and
the Agency is not advising against the consumption of lamb. The Board of the
Agency will discuss in public whether further risk reduction measures should
be introduced.'

Current risk reduction measures to remove specified risk materials (SRM) are
designed to prevent those parts of the sheep that could carry the most
infectivity from entering the food chain. Current SRM controls in force
across the EU are:

- Removal of spleen in sheep 6-12 months
- Removal of skull, brain, eyes, tonsils, spleen, spinal cord from sheep
over 12 months.

The Food Standards Agency held an open stakeholder meeting on this issue in
London on 18 December 2001. A report will be issued for consultation from a
representative stakeholder group on BSE in sheep. SEAC will be advising the
FSA on the Imperial College research.

CANADA: STANDARDS COUNCIL ACCREDITS FIRST ORGANIC CERTIFICATION BODY
10 January

Pro-Cert Canada Inc of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, became the first Canadian
certification body for organic agriculture to be accredited by the Standards
Council of Canada (SCC).

Through their accreditation as a certification body for organic products,
OCPP/Pro-Cert Canada Inc. (OC/PRO) is recognized as meeting ISO/IEC Guide
65. The scope of the accreditation includes evaluation and certification of
the processes used in organic food production, processing and handling as
well as the foodstuffs themselves.

"Accreditation is a major investment for a certification body and
demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards," said Peter Clark,
Executive Director for the Standards Council of Canada. "Accreditation in
the organic agriculture sector is important given the increasing global
consumer demand for standardized organic food products whose production
avoids the use of synthetic pesticides, irradiation and genetic
engineering."

Wally Hamm, manager of the Western division of OC/PRO stated "staff are
proud of this accomplishment; there was a lot of work and discipline
involved in becoming ISO Guide 65 compliant."

OC/PRO's qualification follows a comprehensive assessment by the Standards
Council of Canada. To become accredited and qualified, a certification body
must meet the Standards Council's criteria related to such issues as
technically competent staff, the implementation of an acceptable quality
system, proper record keeping and surveillance and inspection activities.
In addition, the certification body must be competent to ensure the products
itcertifies meet the requirements of the Canadian Standard,
CAN/CGSB-32.310-99.

OC/PRO operates through two divisions and has a staff of 25 serving a wide
range of producers and processors as outlined in their scope of
accreditation, which can be found on SCC's web site, www.scc.ca, as well as
on OC/PRO's web site, http://ocpro-certcanada.com.

The Standards Council operates several voluntary accreditation programs.
Its Certification Body Accreditation Program (CBAP) has accredited more than
20 bodies to perform certification in a variety of subject areas. The
Standards Council is the official Canadian national accreditation body of
certification bodies of organic agriculture.

For more information on the programs and service of the Standards Council of
Canada and the National Standards System, visit www.scc.ca

USA: AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS DROPPED FROM NEW NOP RULES
15 January

Last week we carried the latest "NOP Policies and News Updates," taken from
the NOP Web site. These included its policies for producers to produce and
label their products as organic for Apiculture, Greenhouse, Mushroom and
Aquatic Animal Products. However, since last week Aquatic Animal Products
have been dropped from this list as have hydroponic products.

You should see www.ams.usda.gov/nop/noppolicies.htm for the revised list.

Our thanks to Barbara Haumann, Senior Writer, Organic Trade Association for
pointing this out.

We've asked NOP why the change occurred and are awaiting a reply from them.

USA: PRIORITIZING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Jan 2002, Prepared Foods

Prepared Foods has published a summary of its R&D survey to see what
ingredients are and will be a part of the prepared food industry's
formulation priorities.

The publishers asked what ingredients would become more or less important to
companies' products within the next two years, and natural and organic
ingredients continue to peak respondents' interest.

While consumers increasingly turn towards healthier lifestyles, they often
perceive all-natural products and organic products as healthier than
products containing artificial ingredients. In addition, consumers want
authenticity and freshness in prepared foods. A "clean," all-natural label
comes across as "less-processed" to consumers.

When developing organic products, processors may find that organic
ingredients are difficult to source. "Sourcing organic ingredients was the
most time-consuming task of our entire product development process," says
Jerry Santo, director, corporate purchasing, Eatem Foods, a manufacturer of
organic food bases. "There is not an abundance of organic ingredient
manufacturers in the field, which made it a challenge to search for them."

Santo adds that value-added or further processed organic ingredients are
needed in the food industry. "Many of them are simply not available because
this is such new territory. The 'organic whole food' segment is growing in
volume and variety. But to develop organic products, we must complete the
circle-starting with fresh organic food, adding basic organic flavor
systems/processing aids and ending with organic convenience products. More
organic value-added ingredients would make work a lot easier for developers
of organic products and also speed up their output."

Full article:
http://www.preparedfoods.com/archives/2002/2002_1/0102development.htm

CANADA: ORGANIC EGG PRODUCERS HAVE FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN B.C.
AGAINST THE PROVINCE'S EGG MARKETING BOARD
10 January

Organic egg producers have filed a class action lawsuit in the B.C. Supreme
Court against the province's Egg Marketing Board. The suit asks for a
declaration that the board has no jurisdiction over organic eggs and organic
producers.

Organic producers are seeking damages, claiming the board has interfered in
their market share. The lawsuit says the marketing board has imposed
regulations and quotas without lawful jurisdiction.

It also claims the board has made damaging public statements suggesting
organic eggs are less safe than conventional eggs.

The lawsuit says the board wanted no part of the organic industry in the
early 1990s, but now wants to share the success.

CANADA: SASK ORGANIC FARMERS FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST MONSANTO AND AVENTIS
10 January

A group of organic farmers filed a class-action lawsuit last Thursday
against seed giants Monsanto and Aventis for damage they allege was caused
by genetically modified canola and to stop the introduction of genetically
modified wheat. GM wheat is currently being grown experimentally in five
provinces.

"We have lost canola as a crop in our rotations because of genetic
contamination, but we obviously cannot afford to lose wheat which is our
largest crop and largest market," said Arnold Taylor, president of the
Saskatchewan Organic Directorate.

The lawsuit by Larry Hoffman of Spalding, Sask., and Dale Beaudoin of
Maymont, Sask., was filed in Federal Court on behalf of all organic farmers
in Saskatchewan. It claims since genetically modified canola was introduced
in Canada in the mid-1990s, it has been found growing on land for which it
was never intended and few, if any, seed suppliers will certify their seeds
as organic. The farmers also say introduction of modified wheat would doom
their farms. The claimants are seeking millions in damages for what they
allege is the loss of canola as an organic crop in Saskatchewan.

Terry Zakreski, the farmers' lawyer, said he will seek a court order to stop
the introduction of modified wheat if a company tries to bring it to market
before the lawsuit is resolved.

ITALY: MINISTER CONFIRMS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR GM SEEDS
14 January

Italian agriculture minister Gianni Alemanno made he following nnouncement:
"In putting into effect government strategies regarding the quality of the
Italian agroindustrial system we propose a zero tolerance for GM seeds for
use in Italy for the next growing season, but it will be necessary to verify
current seed market availability."

"All the professional agricultural organizations," continued the minister,
"despite diverse positions on the supply options of 'traditional' seeds on
the international market, expressed their agreement on zero tolerance for
genetically modified seeds.

UK: UNILEVER CHIEF CALLS FOR 'THIRD WAY' ON GM CROPS
15 January

Unilever Chief executive Niall Fitzgerald says he wants more honesty with
consumers over GM crops.

In an address to the Sainsbury's-sponsored City Food Lecture at London's
Guildhall Mr Fitzgerald said that while the growth of organic food and the
development of sustainable agriculture offered opportunities he also
stressed there was a "third way".

He said: "I believe it is time for a fresh start on genetically-modified
organisms in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. There have been too many
understandable questions about the effects of GM crops on the environment
and people's health. I welcome these because they are the foundation of a
good debate.

He said there had been a "failure to reach the consumer" over GM crops and
that those with a vested interest needed to communicate "directly and
honestly". He said that ignoring the new science could prevent people in the
developing world reaping the benefits.

CROATIA SET TO BAN GM FOOD PRODUCTION
15 January

Croatian environment Minister Bozo Kovacevic said this week that legislation
is being drafted to ban production and limit imports of food containing
GMOs.

Kovacevic told a news conference that the Croatian government wants to
preserve national interests without looking for international confrontation,
the latter referring to lobbying from the USA. "Considering that tourism is
our strategic business and that we pride ourselves on organic farming, the
government wants to stress the fact that we offer only GMO-free products as
our comparative advantage. That is our national interest," he said.

"We will definitely ban production, but may allow imports of food
containting a small percentage of genetically manipulated ingredients. And
we want it to be labelled - that is a minimum requirement we would settle
for," Bozic said.

SUSPECT USA GE CROP PLANTING CLAIMS
8 January, www.ngin.org.uk

Last week we were told, "American farmers will shrug off European and Asian
concerns about genetically modified food and boost U.S. biotech corn
plantings by more than 13 percent this year..." [Reuters survey: US
bio-corn plantings to soar in 2002 (Reuters)
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020109/n09241677_1.html]

This emerged from a straw poll conducted by Reuters at the American Farm
Bureau Federation's annual meeting, which "found no slowdown in American
agriculture's embrace of gene-spliced corn and soybeans despite concerns
abroad about unknown risks to health and environment."

We were also told last week that the "Global GM Crop Area Continues to Grow
and Exceeds 50 Million Hectares for First Time in 2001". This arose out of
"The Annual Global Review of Commercialized Transgenic (GM) Crops, conducted
by Dr Clive James, Chairman of the ISAAA Board of Directors" (ISAAA Press
Release)

The press release, which even led to an article in the UK's Daily Mail, also
reported on the many benefits to farmers around the world and the fact that
"The number of farmers that benefited from GM crops increased from 3.5
million farmers in 2000 to 5.5 million in 2001."

But anyone who's ever wondered about the accuracy of such polls suggesting
farmers can't plant GE crops fast enough, and relating vast acreages grown
and still vaster acreages pending in the light of farmer benefits, might
like to consider the following.

1. The Reuters story was based solely on a sampe of 321 farmers at the
American Farm Bureau Federation's annual meeting - not the kind of place
you'd find many farmers with doubts about GE crops!

2. As for the credibility of what the farmers apparently told Reuters,
consider the implcations of this later Reuters piece correcting one of the
poll's findings:

"WASHINGTON - Monsanto Co. was cited as saying on Friday that an unapproved
genetically engineered soybean variety had never been sold to U.S. farmers
despite a survey of growers that indicated some 1,775 acres of the beans
were planted last year.

Kimberly Magin, Monsanto soybean director for industry affairs, who added
that the variety was still in an experimental phase, was quoted as saying,
"Bt soybeans are not commercially available and they are not being planted
in the United States." [NO BT SOYBEANS PLANTED DESPITE CLAIMS - MONSANTO
Reuters [via Agnet], January 11, 2002]

The Reuters poll also found farmers who said they intended to plant 1,515
acres of the unavailable Bt soybeans for the 2002 crop!

3. As for the Annual Global Review of Commercialized Transgenic Crops, the
author, Clive James is the Chairman of the ISAAA - an organisation largely
supported by cash from the GM industry. Donors include Aventis, Monsanto,
Novartis, and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Novartis are on the board as were Monsanto
previously. In no sense, then should the report be considered as coming from
an independent source.

4. Indeed, in many respects the report reads rather like a sales pitch for
GM crops with an especial emphasis on the extent to which GM crops have been
enthusiastically taken up and the apparent benefits.

But these turn out to be based largely on producer estimates. How much these
estimates may be worth can be readily gauged by contrasting producer
estimates with more objective assessments.

For instance, the 1998 Annual Global Review of Commercialized Transgenic
Crops reported GM soy yield improvements of 12% for American farmers. Yet
the results of over 8,200 US university-based controlled varietal trials in
1998 showed an almost 7% average yield reduction in the case of the GM soya
crop. In other words, the controlled trials findings were diametrically
opposite to the estimates in the report. [for more on this see:
http://members.tripod.com/~ngin/false.htm]

COMPANIES AND PRODUCTS

ITALY: CONAPI EXTENDS ITS PRODUCTION RANGE
8 January, Aiab

After 23 years as honey producers, the members of the Conapi cooperative
have decided to extend their range to include other organic products.
Organic grain and fruit producers will also now be invited to join.

Founded as a youthful cooperative in Bologna in 1978 (then the Consorzio
Nazionale Apicoltori or national consortium of beekeepers) as an attempt to
experiment with different farming practices, today Conapi includes 155
producers from all parts of Italy, three associations and ten cooperatives.
It produces around 1,800 tonnes of honey each year, accounting for some
15-20% of Italian production, including a line of organic honey. It's
best-known brand is Mielizia.

In 2002 Conapi is bringing new organic products to the market under the
Mielizia brand. Conapi sells in the Italian domestic market and abroad, from
within Mediterrabio organisation which, with a turnover of 24 billion lira
in 2001 with almost 30 billion budgeted for 2002, markets the honey as
Mielizia and own label and markets other organic products under the Alce
Nero brand.

SWITZERLAND: RETAILERS REPORT GOOD RESULTS FOR ORGANICS
14 January

Swiss retail giants Coop and Migros have both reported strong performance in
their annual results from their organic category.

According to Coop, the "remarkable group sales in 2001" are explained
largely by the success of the organic labels Naturaplan, Naturaline,
Oecoplan and Cooperacion/Max Havelaar. Together, the four brands exceeded a
billion francs turnover (+35 %), "two years in advance of forecasts," the
company underlined.

The success of the ssector brought some criticism in the Swiss press
regarding traceability and labelling of organic products which can command a
60-80% price premium. According to Isabelle Eichenberger, agricultural
manager within F‚d‚ration romande des consommateurs (Swiss French-speaking
consumers group) "big efforts are required to demonstrate traceability and
the indication of the origin of numerous organic products bio."

The main criticisms appear to be that, as in the UK, a large number of
organic products and ingredients are imported into Switzerland, thus
undermining the environmental benefits of the production system, and the
(common) concern that imported organic products may not be produced to the
same high standards as domestic one.

Migros said that 2001 sales at its supermarkets rose 2.9 percent to 14
billion francs.

UK: ICELAND RESULTS STAY FROZEN
10 January

No-one expected that Christmas 2001 figures from Iceland could be worse than
2000, when the retailer blamed its big push into organic food for scaring
customers away in droves, but they were - 4.2 per cent worse, as measured
by like-for-like sales figures.

Iceland's new management team, headed by Bill Grimsey, had expected sales to
be flat. He asserted that the falling Christmas sales were accounted for by
five products, beer, soft drinks, prawns, pizza and chicken nuggets, which
had been aggressively marketed as loss leaders in 2000. Although there were
fewer customers, they spent more on average and group margins are much
healthier without the uneconomical price promotions, providing a springboard
for future growth.

The rest of the Iceland group (it will soon be renamed The Big Food Group)
are faring better, according to the trading statement. Booker's sales were
up 0.5 per cent over Christmas, as it increases its share of a declining
market, and the Woodward bulk delivery business has continued to establish
itself.

Iceland shares have been rated a sell by most analysts based on the latest
announcements.

UK: OMSCO SIGNS POINT TO ORGANIC FARMS
12 January

Members of the Organic Milk Suppliers' Co-operative have put up new footpath
signs telling ramblers when they are walking on an organic farm.

The boards carry information on the diversity of wildlife and plant species
that organic farming practices sustain.

Sally Bagenal, chief executive of the Organic Milk Suppliers' Co-operative,
said: "We want to encourage all those who can to visit their beautiful
countryside.

"Our farmers are offering you a great opportunity for you to go, see and
learn about organic dairy farming and its environmentally friendly methods."

For further details on OMSCo farms, telephone 01934 750244.

GERMANY: UPLŽNDER BAUERNMOLKEREI PRODUCING 15 MILLION KG ORGANIC MILK
(ZMP/UB)

The Upl„nder organic dairy has registered constant growth since its
establishment in 1996 and now 15 million kg of milk are processed annually
by 74 organic farmers, in addition to 7 million kg of conventional milk.

Sales of organic milk and organic dairy increased in 2001 by about a
quarter. The dairy's milk sells for just 46 Cent including value added tax.
The organic premium of 7 Cent is paid for all milk.

Organic milk from the dairy is marketed largely to the food retail trade, in
North Rhine-Westphalia in Familia under the brand Naturl„nder and in Hessen
in Tegut under the Alnatura brand. To the health food trade Upl„nder milk is
marketed under the own name.

UK: LORD MELCHETT JOINS PR FIRM THAT ADVISED MONSANTO
8 January

Lord Melchett, the former head of Greenpeace UK and a policy adviser to the
Soil Association startled former colleagues last week by announcing he had
taken a job at a PR company which has represented Monsanto, the European
biotech industry and some of the world's most notorious polluters, including
the Exxon Corporation, Union Carbide, and the US company Babcock and Wilcox.

The former Labour minister andorganic farmer, who is on the board of
Greenpeace International, is to join Burson-Marsteller, the world's largest
corporate communications company as an adviser in the company's corporate
social responsibility unit, with a brief to talk to whoever he likes.

His acceptance of the contract has caused unease among his former colleagues
at Greenpeace, even though the Eton-educated peer asked the permission of
the organisation's new head before accepting the job. Stephen Tindale, who
took over from Lord Melchett as Greenpeace's executive director, said he was
certain that Lord Melchett would not compromise his ideals.

Lord Melchett said he would be prepared to engage with his old adversary
Monsanto, but he insisted: I am not going to change my stance. GM food is a
technology that has no future. The environmental villains are the people we
want to change or stop.

GERMANY: GŽA IN 2002: THE HIGHEST QUALITY STANDARDS
10 January

German organic certification group G„a is looking forward to further growth
in 2002.

In 2001 the four G„a regional groups registered a combined increase in
member of about 15%. In Germany - with the majority in East Germany - 409
G„a producers manage an area of about 42,000 ha. 73 overseas producer's
enterprises belong to the association as well as 28 German processors and 8
trading ventures. In 2002 a G„a-regional association will be based in
Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.

Recognising that the market for organic food is becoming increasingly
international G„a applied in 2001 for IFOAM accreditation.

IRELAND: EGM OF IOFGA ABANDONED
13 January, www.organicmattersmag.com

The EGM of the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association scheduled for
13th January did not take place due to a failure to issue the correct notice
to the membership of the association. Instead a meeting of members was
convened and the Board of Directors agreed to resign with the exception of
two members present who remained to conduct the business of the association.
Following proposals from the floor a further four members were co-opted by
the remaining Board members to act as an interim Board until the AGM of the
association on February 24th. A new Board will be elected following normal
procedures on the day. The interim Board members are David Notley, Michael
O'Sullivan, John Normanly, Geraldine Blackwell, Rosemary Logue, Michael
Hickey and Maura Deegan.

UK: STOP THE CHOP - NEW GUIDE TO BUYING WOOD WITHOUT WRECKING FORESTS
8 January

Wooden furniture and accessories look great in the home - but our taste in
timber may be putting the world's forests at risk.

Now a new guide is available to help the discerning shopper stop the chop,
providing advice on how to find wooden products from sustainable sources,
and what to look out for when you buy.

Wood is a natural, renewable material, making it preferable to
environmentally-costly alternatives such as steel or PVC. But bad forest
management, high levels of timber waste and illegal logging mean that the
world's forests are shrinking, endangering wildlife and communities, and
putting more than 1,000 tree species under threat.

The new edition of the Good Wood Guide, published by Friends of the Earth
and Fauna & Flora International, provides expert advice on where to find
reclaimed wood and wooden furniture - as well as tips on finding Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products which come from
sustainably managed forests.

Some 275,000 tonnes of timber is currently wasted as a result of furniture
manufacture and other joinery - so choosing wooden products carefully can
make a real difference. The Good Wood Guide also includes a full list of
species currently under threat, including details of where they are used.

Dr Georgina Magin, Fauna & Flora International's Global Trees Officer, and
author of the Good Wood Guide, said:

"We know the public cares about wildlife, but all too often they do not
realise the damage buying wood can cause. Our current shopping habits are
putting tree species under threat, but by using this guide, wood buyers can
reduce the impact on the world's forests, and protect forest wildlife for
future generations to enjoy."

The Good Wood Guide, written by Dr Georgina Magin and edited by Lesley
Smeardon, is published by Friends of the Earth and Fauna & Flora
International on 21 January 2002, priced œ7.50. To order copies, call
Friends of the Earth on 020 7490 1555.

Website: www.foe.co.uk

UK: J SAINSBURY 'WINNING MARKET SHARE FROM TESCO'
14 January

J Sainsbury plc, the major UK and US food retailer, this week issued its
third quarter trading statement for the 12 weeks to 5th January 2002 and
claimed to be taking share from its rival Tesco for the first time in six
years. Sir Peter Davis, chief executive of the group, which lost the crown
of British retailing to Tesco in 1996, said: "We stopped losing share [to
Tesco] and started to put on share during October and November."

Result highlights -Sainsbury's Supermarkets: Fourth consecutive quarter of
increasingly strong like-for-like sales growth; Total sales up 7.4%
excluding petrol. Like-for-like sales growth up 6.4% excluding petrol;
Record Christmas and New Year trading period; like-for-like sales up 6.8%
excluding petrol for 6 weeks to 5th January

Sir Peter Davis, group chief executive, said:

"This is the fourth quarter of increasingly strong like-for-like sales
growth in the UK and the third consecutive quarter of like-for-like sales of
6.0% or more. This is a very significant improvement over the 0.6% achieved
in the same three quarters last year. We've seen continued growth in
customer visits and increasing average spend. We had a strong Christmas and
New Year trading period, with our extended Christmas range selling well
across the estate. We're very encouraged by these results, which gives us
confidence that we are on track to fulfil the targets we have set ourselves
this year and to deliver a sustainable recovery of the business."

USA/UK HORIZON ORGANIC SIGNS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH DAIRY
CREST IN THE U.K.
14 January

Horizon Organic Holding Corp. has announced that the company's U.K. division
has entered into a strategic partnership with Dairy Crest, the U.K.'s
largest dairy company. The company also said that this relationship
provides the platform to add milk to the successful line of Rachel's Organic
yogurt and butter products sold in the U.K. and will introduce Rachel's
Organic milk this month.

As the largest U.K. dairy company, Dairy Crest currently processes and
delivers milk to all leading supermarkets and to home delivery customers.
Home delivery in the U.K. represents 30 percent of the milk business.

"Along with supermarket sales, home delivery provides us with a great
platform to introduce Rachel's Organic milk," said Don Gaidano, Managing
Director of Horizon Organic U.K. "Dairy Crest is converting its own brands
of organic milk to the Rachel's Organic brand and will be supplying Rachel's
Organic milk to its home delivery customers this month. Shortly thereafter,
Dairy Crest also will be offering Rachel's Organic milk to its supermarket
customers. This is a unique and innovative partnership that will help
accelerate the acceptance of Rachel's Organic products."

As part of the agreement, Dairy Crest also will process Horizon Organic
private label and Rachel's Organic branded milk at new, dedicated organic
facilities that are part of the company's state-of-the art plant.
Operations at the Horizon Organic owned processing plant in Honiton, Devon
will be phased down and synergies with Dairy Crest will allow improved
packaging, distribution and new marketing opportunities. This replicates
Horizon Organic's successful U.S. strategy of working with industry leaders
to process and distribute its products providing high quality, low costs and
excellent customer service.

In addition, Dairy Crest will continue to deliver and place Horizon
Organic's private label and Rachel's Organic branded milk directly in the
dairy case, resulting in higher impact displays. During the year, Horizon
Organic and Dairy Crest conducted a successful test of such a direct store
delivery program.

"Dairy Crest has developed a significant organic dairy business in the UK,
across all product sectors," said Mark Taylor with Dairy Crest. "This
partnership will leverage the Rachel's Organic brand, allowing us to add
real value to retail customers and improve the range of organic dairy
products available to British consumers, who are increasingly interested in
organic food."

"We are very excited about the long-term relationship we have developed with
Dairy Crest," said Chuck Marcy, President and CEO of Horizon Organic. "Not
only will this partnership provide the foundation to grow Rachel's Organic
branded milk in the U.K. but also it will assist us in managing costs
through processing and distribution efficiencies. Furthermore, this
agreement is an important step in our plan to continue improving the
performance of our U.K. business."

Web: www.horizonorganic.com and http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/

USA: NEW ORGANIC YOGURT SMOOTHIES - FIRST SINGLE SERVE
14 January

Straus Family Creamery, once again the pioneers in the organic marketplace,
are Introducing the first single-serve organic yogurt drinks on the U.S.
market. The yogurt smoothies are made with 100% organic ingredients. The
smoothies will be introduced at San Francisco's Fancy Food Show next week.

Flavors include raspberry, strawberry and vanilla. Smoothies are made with
just nonfat yogurt, nonfat milk and organic vanilla or fruit puree or juice
concentrate. As usual, no thickeners, no additives, nothing but pure
organic ingredients.

Straus will offer the smoothies in both 8 oz. and 12 oz. sizes. In
addition, Straus will package their Chocolate Nonfat Milk in the 8 oz.
single serve size to round out the flavors. With a shelf life of 30 days,
Straus is hoping to expand distribution of their products, as well make the
smoothies available for local schools who are testing and expanding an
organic school lunch or after school program.

Straus Family Creamery, the first organic dairy and creamery in the western
United States, committed to producing high quality organic dairy products,
has an ever expanding full line of products including their recently
introduced milks in returnable pint glass bottles.

Straus Family Creamery. Contact: Vivien Straus, Tel: (213) 481-0745,
Email: family@strausmilk.com Website: www.strausmilk.com

USA: BOSTON RESTAURATEUR IS SERVING HEALTHY PORTIONS
13 January

Robert Reid is chef and owner at the Organic Garden Cafe and Juice Bar, an
organic, vegetarian, and raw food restaurant that celebrated its second
anniversary on the winter solstice in December.

Located on Cabot Street in Beverly, tucked into a bank of storefronts that
includes an Irish restaurant, a cobbler, the Cabot Street Cinema Theatre and
a parking lot for nearby Montserrat College of Art the caf‚ is also located
near to a large natural food co-op on Cape Ann, and natural food markets in
Saugus and Newburyport.

The idea of a restaurant where people sidle up to the bar for a shot of
wheat grass - a chlorophyll-rich drink that Reid likened to a rejuvenating
''blood transfusion'' - and nearly all the food is served raw was novel
here, but the community is ''warming up to it.'' Reid said every day brings
two or three tables of new patrons - local people who were ''just driving by
and thought they'd check it out.'' A quarter of Organic Garden Cafe's
customers come from the Boston area, others travel from as far as New
Hampshire and Worcester, and many hail from neighboring communities such as
Gloucester and Salem.

Boston Vegetarian Society president Evelyn Kimber said other Boston area
restaurants offer vegetarian and vegan cuisine, but Reid's is the only one
that features food that is raw, as well as organic and vegan. While other
restaurants offer some vegetarian entrees, ''there aren't any restaurants
locally except Organic Garden where you can go in and know you can order
everything,'' she said.

Full story:
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/013/north/Goal_of_this_restaurateur_is_ser
ving_healthy_portions+.shtml

USA/UK: TESCO USES US AS STEPPING STONE TO THE WORLD OF HOME SHOPPING
13 January

As Tesco launches its home delivery dotcom technology in the US with
Safeway, it hopes that this will help it identify partners for similar
ventures in other parts of the world.

John Browett, chief executive of Tesco.com, said he was interested in
forming similar partnerships with supermarket operators in France, Germany,
Japan, Canada, Australia and northern Italy.

Under the deal with Safeway, Tesco's online technology and its in-store
picking model have been adopted by GroceryWorks - the US group's online
channel in which Tesco has taken a stake. The move means that Home Counties
know-how is driving the biggest e-commerce operation in California, the home
of the internet. From Monday the service would be available in five stores
in Portland Oregon, which between them would cover the whole of the city.
Portland was picked for the launch as it has had no online grocery service
since Web Van, the warehouse-based US operation, was shut last year. Mr
Browett said this meant there was latent demand for the service.

AUSTRALIA: HERVEY BAY GAINS NEW ORGANIC FOOD PROCESSING PLANT
10 January, www.just-food.com

Australia's Hervey Bay is to gain a new organic food processing plant which
will see the creation of 40 new jobs. Trial products will be available from
July, while the site will officially open in October.

The factory has received a grant worth A$550,000 (US$289,000) from the
Federal Government's Invest Wide Bay scheme. As well as being a working
plant, the site is intended to become a tourist attraction educating
visitors about the processes involved in producing organic food.

Owner-operator Tim Nelson said: "Those farmers that found it not
cost-effective to set up a food processing plant or a food packing plant on
their own farm, and the rules and regulations which govern food handling and
food safety now make it quite expensive to set a food handling, food packing
plant, we will offer them an opportunity to contract pack at our premise."

USA: ORGANIC WHEAT GROWERS' CO-OP BOOSTS INCOME
10 January, AgWEb.com

The Sangre de Cristo Agricultural Producers cooperative in New Mexico was
founded in 1995 with the help of New Mexico State University's Cooperative
Extension Service and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) to
assist northern New Mexico growers in producing and marketing organic wheat
and other products.

Starting with five inexperienced growers the co-op gained momentum, and more
experienced growers joined to take advantage of Extension's assistance to
switch to organic production and sell through the cooperative. The co-op
currently has nine members, mostly from Questa and Costilla north of Taos.
Another five growers are expected to join in early 2002.

The key to the co-op's success is its organic product, which commands much
higher prices than conventionally grown wheat. Organic wheat currently
sells for 11.6 cents per pound, compared with about 3.3 cents per pound for
conventional wheat, Jimenez said. Since 1998, the co-op has milled all its
wheat into organic flour, which is then sold to customers in New Mexico at
30 cents per pound. The wheat is milled and bagged with Sangre de Cristo
labels by Rocky Mountain Milling, an organic mill in Platville, Colo.
After deducting production, transportation costs and payment to the co-op,
members receive another 5 cents per pound for the flower. Thus, co-op
growers receive a total net profit of 16.6 cents per pound for organic wheat
and flour, or more than five times the 3.3 cents per pound that conventional
growers earn selling wheat on the open market, Jimenez said.

Co-op members have slowly but steadily built up a niche market in New Mexico
with assistance from the NMDA. Co-op production has grown immensely over the
last six years, from 40,000 pounds of wheat in 1997 to a 560,000-pound
bumper crop this year.

Full article:
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?file=AgNewsArticle_200211014
32_4413&articleid=83012&newscat=GN

CANADA: BRECON FOODS INTRODUCES AGED UNPASTEURIZED WHITE 100% CERTIFIED
ORGANIC CHEDDAR

Brecon Foods of Montreal is pleased to announce the introduction of Canadian
aged unpasteurized white 100% certified organic cheddar in 40lb blocks.

Dairy trader Michael Albu says: "The ingredients are raw organic milk,
bacterial culture, sea salt, microbial enzymes. There is absolutely no
animal rennet, preservatives, bovine steroids, pesticides, herbicides, GMOs.
Nobody else can make this claim."

With less than 0.5% lactose the product is approved for lactose intolerants.
It is excellent for the deli case and Brecon Foods can supply labels.

The new product complements Brecon's existing complete line of organic dairy
products

Contact: Michael Albu, Dairy Trader, Brecon Foods Inc., Montreal. Tel: 1
514 426 8140 Ext.229; Fax: 1 514 426 5929 Email: Michael@brecon.ca Web
Site: http://www.brecon.ca

EVENTS

UK: 25-27 JANUARY 14th SOIL ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate.

With the costs of the foot-and-mouth epidemic estimated in billions, the
need for sustainable solutions to the problems faced by modern agriculture
has never been greater. Among the issues to be debated will be 'Society's
new demands on agriculture' and 'Global versus local - can the conflict be
resolved?' The speakers include Michael Meacher (Environment Minister),
Peter Melchett (Policy Director, Soil Association), Renate Kunast (Minister
for Food, Germany) and Patrick Holden (Director, Soil Association).
For media enquiries: Sue Flook or Simon Toseland, Press Office, 0117 914
2448; sflook@soilassociation.org
All other enquiries: Dom Lane, Events Organiser, 0117 914 2451;
dlane@soilassociation.org

CANADA: 25-27 JAN. 21ST ANNUAL ORGANIC CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH, ONTARIO

TITLE: 'Organic Agriculture & The Farm Economy'

*KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Gunnar Rundgren, President of IFOAM. Mr. Rundgren is from
Sweden, where he is a leading consultant in organic certification and
farming systems. His Keynote Address on Saturday, January 26th is entitled:
"Organics/Europe - Lessons For North American Agriculture.'

*Over 30 workshops, panels, symposia, food events, AGM's, etc.
*Featuring a Jan. 26-27, 100-booth Organic Trade Show
*Strategy meetings for international certifiers, traders & government

One of Canada's largest public organic events (1500+ attendance)

Further information: Email: mailto:organix@georgian.net Web:
www.guelph2002.organicfarms.ca

UK: 3 FEB. HDRA'S NATIONAL POTATO DAY 2002
AT RYTON ORGANIC GARDENS

HDRA, the organic organisation, is holding its ninth national Potato Day on
Sunday 3rd February. Everyone is welcome at this exciting event that
celebrates the UK's most popular vegetable.

There will be over 100 varieties of seed potato on sale, that can be bought
by the tuber for 12p each. This means that adventurous gardeners could
potentially grow dozens of different types of potato in their own back
gardens, to compare the taste of each and every one!

Throughout the day help will be on hand at the Potato Advice Desk, with
displays and children's activities too. A "Ready Steady Cook" style cookery
demonstration, by professional chef and author Holly Jones, should be great
fun, whilst talks by Mike Thurlow, Head Gardener at HDRA's Audley End House
Organic Kitchen Garden, and Dr Gareth Davies, HDRA Research Officer, will
interest gardeners and non-gardeners alike.

Potato Day is being sponsored by Waitrose, and "Potatoes and Pesticides"
will be the title of a fascinating talk by Alan Wilson, author of "The Story
of the Potato" and Head Agronomist at Waitrose. It is thanks to Alan
Wilson's enthusiasm for organic production and the conservation and
celebration of genetic diversity in potatoes, that the first Potato Day got
off the ground. He was instrumental in turning HDRA's Executive Director,
Jackie Gear's idea of Potato Day into reality, by suggesting that Waitrose
might back the event. Alan Wilson was also a driving force behind Waitrose's
initial commitment to selling organic food.

HDRA's 30,000 members have their own Potato Day on Saturday 2nd February, at
which top chef Steven Saunders will be demonstrating his considerable skills
with potatoes!

Further press information and a booklet listing the potato varieties, which
will be available on the day, can be obtained from Jackie Gear on (024) 7630
3517, email: jgear@hdra.org.uk . Angela Bull can also be contacted at:
abull@hdra.org.uk

GERMANY: 14-17 FEB 2002: BIOFACH 2002

With 1,725 exhibitors from 55 countries and 24,912 registered trade visitors
from 99 nations BioFach 2001 emphasised its position as the world's leading
trade fair for organic consumer goods.

BioFach 2002 once again offers a comprehensive overview of the industry from
raw material to finished product.

Many special shows and events provide the flair that distinguishes BioFach
and the accompanying Biofach Congress is free for exhibitors and trade
visitors.

BioFach guarantees quality.

Contact: BioFach 2002 Project Team, NurnbergMesse GmbH, Messenzentrum,
D-90471 Nurnberg, Germany. Tel: +49 911 86060 Fax: +49 911 8606228 Email:
info@biofach.de Web: www.biofach.de

Note: organicTS will be exhibiting at stand 1-742. Please call in!

USA: 7 - 10 MARCH. NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPO WEST
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California, United States

Organic exhibits include: over 275 companies with certified organic finished
products on the main trade show and over 100 companies with certified
organic products in the outdoor, Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace tent. Visit
the all new Organic Wine and Beer Garden.

Organic events include: an organic farm tour and organic benefit luncheon
for the Organic