On the Sustainable Food Horizon for 2012: Organic Market Trends, GMOs, Fukushima, World Hunger, Obesity and More

January 5, 2012 | By Steven Hoffman

Commentary, Food and Agriculture, Food and Health, Natural, Organic & LOHAS Market Research & Trends, Socially Responsible and Sustainable Business, Sustainability

With the overall economy showing signs of recovery, Boston-based investment banking firm Canaccord Genuity is bullish on the natural and organic products industry, which, says analyst Scott Van Winkle, is currently growing in the 10% range due to strong consumer demand for quality, health and nutrition, compared to 1% growth in overall food sales. More than three-quarters of US families purchase some organic foods, according to a November 2011 Organic Trade Association (OTA) survey.

Compass Natural Creates Eco Expo for First-ever Eco Music Festival

July 6, 2011 | By Steven Hoffman

Client News, Natural, Organic & LOHAS Market Research & Trends, Socially Responsible and Sustainable Business, Sustainability

Compass Natural of Boulder, CO, was engaged by EMU, the Eco Music Festival to organize, market, sell and manage the Eco Expo featuring natural, organic and eco-products exhibitors.

Fukushima in Our Food: Low Levels of Radiation from Japan’s Nuclear Meltdown Detected in Milk, Fruit and Vegetable Samples Tested from California Farms

June 1, 2011 | By Steven Hoffman

Animal Welfare, Commentary, Food and Agriculture, Food and Health, Natural, Organic & LOHAS Market Research & Trends, Press Releases, Sustainability

As the crippled reactors in Japan continue to emit radiation into the environment, the risk grows that it will appear in our food. Radiation has already been detected in trace amounts in milk across the U.S., and in strawberries, kale and other vegetables in California.

Kelp and the Fallout Zone: Natural Foods Stores in Western USA Sold Out of Radiation-Fighting Supplements

March 16, 2011 | By Steven Hoffman

Commentary, Food and Agriculture, Food and Health, Press Releases, Sustainability

Boulder, CO (March 16, 2011) – Returning from the Natural Products Expo West on Monday, I discovered something very disturbing, and yet fascinating, as I went shopping at my local natural foods store in my hometown of Boulder.

All of the kelp dietary supplements were sold out. This is a phenomenon that is occurring in natural foods stores throughout the Western USA. While… Read more »

Say it Ain’t So, Mr. President: Tell Me You Didn’t Cave on GMO Alfalfa … and Now Sugar Beets!

February 7, 2011 | By Steven Hoffman

Commentary, Food and Agriculture, Food and Health, Natural, Organic & LOHAS Market Research & Trends, Press Releases, Sustainability

The USDA on January 27 announced it would allow the planting of genetically modified alfalfa without any restriction or labeling requirements. Since then, the organic industry has been up in arms. Alfalfa is the nation’s fourth largest crop and a prodigious pollinator, and as such, it is all but guaranteed that organic alfalfa crops will become genetically contaminated, which could be particularly threatening to organic dairy producers who rely on alfalfa as feed for their cows.