Organic Pushes Back and More on localfoodforum.com
Learn about an organic farming foundation's Organic is Regenerative campaign
Organic Ag Interests Push Back on Regenerative Label
The term "regenerative agriculture" has come into vogue in recent years, and I've used it many times in Local Food Forum. Combining longstanding concerns about soil health with a belief that its practices sequester carbon in soil and reduce climate change, regenerative farming is sometimes described as "Organic+."
But there are many farmers who have invested much effort to obtaining and maintaining the USDA Organic label, believe organic practices are better for people and the planet, and — unlike regenerative — organic is clearly defined in federal law and regulation.
A campaign launched by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, under the heading of "Organic is Regenerative," indicates that the community of organic advocates is pushing back.
This story is posted on the Local Food Forum website both as news and as a conversation starter. If you agree that organic farming is getting short shrift at a time when regenerative agriculture is a hot topic, or if you think regenerative is truly the direction toward a better for people and the planet food system, I’m hoping some of you will weigh in — and I’m happy to share any reasoned opinion with our readers.
If you have thoughts on the subject, scroll to the end of the article on the website (linked below) and send a message, or contact me directly at bob@localfoodforum.com.
Summer Settles In at Chicago Markets
In a normal early July, we'd still be waiting anxiously for favorite local summer crops such as sweet corn and peaches. But their early arrival, reported here previously, our region's markets have settled into a very pleasing status quo.
There are still plenty of summer crops — melons, field tomatoes, bell peppers that aren't green and purple, and more — that will be coming in as the season advances — but you sure can eat good with food from your neighborhood market right now.
Check out my haul from downtown Chicago’s SOAR Market on localfoodforum.com.
Chicago Fair Trade Celebration Sunday
Katherine Bissell Cordova, who has devoted her professional life to a range of humanitarian and progressive causes, is marking her 10th anniversary as executive director of the Chicago Fair Trade non-profit.
This also coincides with her 60th birthday, and the organization is throwing a fundraising celebration this Sunday (July 14) at the Chicago Fair Trade Museum and Store at 4704 N. Broadway in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood.
Get all the details on the website.
Don’t Miss the Website’s Event Calendar
And finally, a reminder to check out (and utilize) the ever-growing event calendar on the Local Food Forum website’s home page.
Along with the Chicago Fair Trade event mentioned above, yesterday I added a sumptuous farm dinner at Mint Creek Farm in east-central Illinois this Saturday, and a gourmet feast on July 25 that’s a collaboration between Publican Quality Meats in the Fulton Market District and the James Beard Foundation.