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F o o d & C o n su m e r N e w s W e e k ly
A Thank You to the OCA and Its Members Quote of the W e ek tan has banned the sale of spiro-
tetramat, a pesticide produced by
The organic community has something to be proud of—the recent “Nationalism is our form of incest, is our Bayer CropScience that is toxic
victory in Washington with the publication of new regulations that idolatry, is our insanity. ‘Patriotism’ is its and is killing off the nation’s hon-
will crack down on factory farms scofflaws producing “organic” milk. cult. It should hardly be necessary to say eybee population.
As an organic farming watchdog, on behalf of our farmer-members, that by ‘patriotism’, I mean that attitude World Wildlife Fund: Loyal Ally
we want to sincerely thank Ronnie Cummins and the rest of the staff which puts the own nation above human- of Corporate Agribusiness
at OCA for their decade of hard work that has helped lead to this vic- ity, above the principles of truth and jus- WWF is engaged in a mega-green-
tory. tice; not the loving interest in one’s own washing operation to cover up the
For years OCA has been an invaluable partner in the efforts to rein- nation, which is the concern with the environmental and social destruc-
in abuses by Dean Foods’ Horizon brand and Aurora Dairy (pro- nation’s spiritual as much as with its mate- tion caused by soy production in
ducer of private-label milk labeled organic for the likes of Wal-Mart, rial welfare - never with its power over South America; impacts include
Costco and many grocery chains). other nations. Just as love for one individ- deforestation, environmental pol-
For years, during the Bush administration, the USDA looked the ual which excludes the love for others is not lution and poisoning of people.
other way while giant corporations overtly cheated. But the potent love, love for one’s country which is not UNFI Refuses to Sign
partnership between organic farmers and consumers has proven part of one’s love for humanity is not love, Sustainability Pledge
that people power still can still trump corporate money and clout. but idolatrous worship.” -Erich Fromm (1900- The Coalition for a Sustainable
Less than 2% of our citizens farm today, both conventional and 1980), US psychologist. Posted on Information Food Supply Chain has been try-
organic. Farmers have no clout in Washington or the marketplace. Clearing House Newsletter Feb. 19, 2010 ing to get UNFI to sign pledge to
But when the leading organic farming group partners with the most cease marketing conventional
powerful representative of organic consumers, OCA, we are all potent force to be food as “natural,” to increase the sales of certified organic foods, to
reckoned with. adopt fair trade standards that honor the right of workers to freely
To all of you who have, over the years, contacted your elected officials, written choose representation and collective bargaining and to promote a
the USDA and, most importantly, carefully continued to buy organic dairy prod- sustainable environment that includes the elimination of business
ucts—but only from the true heroes in this industry—we want to sincerely thank practices that accelerate climate change.
you. -Mark A. Kastel, Co-director, The Cornucopia Institute. www.is.gd/9cTpb Read these articles & many more: www.organicconsumers.org
Written and edited by Alexis Baden-Mayer & Ronnie Cummins · Please post, distribute, & subscribe: organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.cfm
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