The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) represents a half million people, like you, working together to support family farms, sustainable agriculture, safe food, and a healthy environment. Without you, there is no OCA. Together we are bringing about positive change!

Organic Community Celebrates Too Soon USDA still undermining organic integrity
by Mark Kastel <www.cornucopia.org>
September 2004 The Cooperative Grocer
The accolades in the press after USDA Secretary Ann Veneman withdrew aseries of highly controversial guidance documents proved to be short-lived.
The documents, prepared by the National Organic Program (NOP), would have allowed antibiotic use on organic dairy farms, pesticides with unspecified
toxic ingredients, and the uncertified sale of organic pet food and textile products, among other practices.
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Did you know ?

• Once GMO's are released into the environment they can never be recalled.
• We have been eating GMO food since 1996
• The United States grows 75% of the world's genetically engineered crops
• Most GMO crops are engineered to require the use of toxic weed killers
• Labeling of GMO foods is required in Europe, Japan, Russia and Australia, but not in the US

At the top of the world wide news is Genetic Engineering of the food we eat. Altering genetic makeup of species undermines and destroys the genetic foundation of agricultural systems world wide. Local Food believes that with the use of world altering technologies being applied to what we eat, that it is a small thing to ask that all GE foods and modified food products be labled. Monsanto and other American mega food corporations are spending six million to defeat the measure. Local Food supports your right to know what you are consuming and support the choice of consumers being knowledgeable about their food. The Organic Consumers Association have been lobbying against these giants with less than $150,000, yet the volunteer effort is strong and excellent work is resulting. Of course they can use your help. Much information can be found on the subject of GE foods at Genetically Engineered Food Alert . Another site, Genetically Modified Food News has a listing of over 2000 news articles about Genetically Modified Organisms in the food chain.

The Union of concerned Scientist have great articles like

• Listing of genetically engineered foods currently allowed on the market
• Genetically engineered salmon

TWENTY WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR INTAKE OF BODY CARE CHEMICALS
The UK Guardian has released a brief consumer guide with some great techniques to maintain good hygiene while protecting your health.

Of the 20 tips, here are some of our favorites:

#5 Avoid unnecessary use of products with a high sun protection factor. At night you don't need to use a moisturizer with an SPF.

#8 Become label savvy. Everyone reads food labels - get in the habit of doing the same with your toiletries. They won 't tell you everything, but it will help.

#16 The average make-up wearing woman will eat two pounds of lipstick in her life-time. Most lipsticks contain petroleum derivatives. Try brands based on beeswax, plant oils or vitamin E instead.

#20 Ask your granny for tips. Lemon juice, for example, has always been used as a beauty aid - to make fair hair shine, to soften hard skin, and get rid of blackheads. Cosmetics haven't always been all about products devised in laboratories.

Read all of the tips here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/
reduce052104.cfm

GREEN DOVE

Women Food & Agriculture Network links and amplifies women's voices on issues of food systems, sustainable communities and environmental integrity. A Tides Center Project,
59624 Chicago Road
Atlantic, IA 50022-9619

Why drink Shade Grown Coffee?

When you drink shade grown coffee, you know that the coffee is grown with attention to the soil, the land and its inhabitants. On a typical shade grown farm you will find the coffee trees grown beneath a taller canopy of trees that provide protection protection for the coffee and are beneficial to the soil.

Equal Exchange creates and develops long-term relationships with growers in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Columbia, Peru and Tanzania. These relations are health to the environment, local wildlife, migratory birds and to the farmers. Farmers participating in these growing communities have the opportunity to end cycles of poverty and exposture to chemical fertilizers and pesticides and preserve the land and soil for future generations.

In Bloomington you can purchase Equal Exchange Coffee at the Runcible Spoon, Soma, Bloomingfoods, and other locations around town. If you sell or serve Equal Exchange coffee and would like to be added to our list, please send information to Local Food.

Local Food News is a forum for the topic of food and what is happening in the Bloomington community and the world that affects what is on our tables. Information found here is available to inform the consuming public so that we may all have needed information about the changing face of food to assist us in making responsible food choices.