Reminder: Learn & connect at Expo East! Register today!
FTSLA is co-hosting several not-to-be missed workshops at Expo East, with excellent presenters and collaborative dialogue. We still have spots available. Feel free to pass on to interested colleagues.
Pre-registration is required. To register, contact Melissa Schweisguth at melissa@ftsla.org or 541-727-0460.
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1. "Organic Systems & the Value Proposition for Long Term Sustainability" (View flyer)
WHEN: Sept 25th, 2009; 11:30 am-2 pm (food provided)
WHERE: Boston Convention Center: Room 161
Hosted by FTSLA. Expert speakers will offer informative presentations and facilitate an engaging dialogue on organic benefits and our potential to drive wider sustainability.
Features Timothy LaSalle, PhD., of The Rodale Institute, Tom Wright (sustainablebizness.com), Melissa Schweisguth (FTSLA), Cecil Wright (Organic Valley) and other invited guests. See flyer or FTSLA's website for details.
2. Responsible Packaging Forum (view flyer)
WHEN: Sept. 23, 2009: 1-4:30 pm, Free catered lunch from Whole Foods 12-1 PM.
WHERE: Boston Convention Center Room 109A
Sponsored by Whole Foods' Green Mission and FTSLA, this features diverse industry experts and dialogue to help you develop concrete action plans. Focused on closing the loop on packaging waste (cradle to cradle) and responsible bio-based materials.
Speakers: Michael Besancon (Whole Foods Markets), Chad Smith (Earthbound Farms), Mark Rossi (Clean Production Action), Robert Combs (Burt's Bees), Tom Wright (sustainablebizness.com), Melissa Schweisguth (FTSLA). See flyer or FTSLA's website for details.
3. Introduction to FTSLA
WHEN: Sept. 24th, 2009; 9-10 am
WHERE: Boston Convention Center: Room 156A
Interested in FTSLA and want to learn about our mission, approach, activities and member best practices? Attend this session for an informative presentation and Q/A.
4. Member Networking
WHEN: Sept 25th, 2009; 2 pm (after "Organic Systems" presentation/discussion, above)
WHERE: Boston Convention Center: Room 161
Connect and reconnect with other FTSLA members to share current progress and questions, and facilitate ongoing, joint progress.
Thanks to New Hope, Organic Valley and Whole Foods for providing meeting rooms, food and AV equipment.
Member News
~ The Ashland Food Cooperative (AFC) received the Oregon Organic Coalition's Organic Award of Excellence, recognizing efforts such as being the first Oregon Tilth Certified Organic retailer and its support for Provender, the Organicology conference and other causes. ACF also co-sponsored a week-long "Eat Local Challenge" and discontinued plain bottled water smaller than one gallon to address associated environmental and social concerns.
~ Cris-P Produce implemented a program optimizing cooler efficiency. Their warehouse operator assesses weekly production needs to determine total cooler needs, maximizes cooler use and turns the others off. The sustainability team tracks weekly performance against their targets for cases/cubic foot and makes changes to improve. Julio Lopez reports "After doing this for 1 month we saw substantial differences in our electric use."
~ Organics Unlimited's GROW program (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers), expanded its reach to Ecuador, funding a program that engages at risk youth in start up micro-businesses. This will also allow Organics Unlimited to provide bananas and pineapples from Ecuador under the GROW label.
Affiliates
~ SCS completed its first Fair Labor & Community Benefits Certification inspection, on an organic cotton production supply chain. They audited cotton producer co-ops and farms, a cotton gin, a spinning plant cooperative, a sewing cooperative, a knitting and dying process, a manufacturer and a screen printer.
~ QAI has partnered with Trucost Plc, a leading environmental data firm, to offer Trucost Environmental Footprinting. QAI will use Trucost to calculate a firm's direct and supply chain environmental impacts including greenhouse gas footprint, and the financial implications of those impacts.
Green America recently shared an updated version of its carbon offset provider review to help companies navigate the growing menu of offsets and understand various methods.
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company has developed a Guide Outlining the Business Case for Green Building and Retrofits. Helps readers understand and communicate the social, environmental and economic benefits of "green" practices in new construction and retrofits, facilitating successful approval for these projects.
Sustainability Headlines
USDA Organic says no to GMOs: USDA put out a statement clarifying it did not support the Foreign Agriculture Service's report on "The Unexplored Potential of Organic-Biotech Production," and removed the report from its website. Organic advocates, including the Organic Consumers Association, mobilized comments to oppose the report.
Organics & nutrition: The French food agency AFSSA released a report: "Nutritional quality and safety of organic food. A review," authored by Denis Lairon of the University of Aix-Marseille Francea and published in Agronomy for Sustainable Development. The study identifies many documented nutritional benefits in organic produce, such as additional antioxidant micronutrients.
Organic growth: The USDA's Economic Research Service has released a new report on the organic market. This indicates that the organic market shows double-digit growth but represents just over 3% of total food sales, highlighting great opportunity for growth.
Well deserved recognition: Sustainable farming champion Joel Salatin was one of the recipients of the 2009 Heinz award, elevating the visibility of the benefits of "beyond organic" agriculture. This recognition was granted to several other individuals working on leading-edge social and environmental work.
Organic vs natural: A recent consumer survey found that consumers are getting savvier about the difference between "natural" and Certified Organic, and prefer organic based on its clear certification and definition.
Contact Info
Natalie Reitman-White, Executive Director
541.852.0745 or info@ftsla.org
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