According to an article published by CNN, John Mackey (the CEO of Whole Foods) feels singled out by the FTC's attempt to block the Whole Foods/Wild Oats merger.

Whole Foods is the largest seller of organic and natural food, and it had planned to acquire Wild Oats, until the planned merger was blocked by the FTC (for anti-competitive reasons). Mackey says:

Look at the track record of the FTC in the last six years. They have approved 96 oil and gas mergers. They approved Smithfield buying the No. 2 pork producer, giving them around 30% market share in the U.S. [In 1999], they approved Exxon and Mobil merging. It's ludicrous to single [Whole Foods] out for anticompetitive reasons. [The rules] are obviously being selectively enforced.

Mackey has a good point. It seems odd that the FTC would block the merger of two natural foods companies, when they have approved the merger of large oil and gas companies, and other special interests. In the CNN article, Mackey goes on to say that Whole Foods will focus on opening new stores in the future, instead of acquiring them. This will prevent entanglements with the FTC. He is quoted as saying:

You can open as many stores as you want without permission form the FTC, but if you try to buy stores, that requires permission. The solution is obvious: We won't be buying stores, we'll be opening them. You don't see Wal-Mart acquiring anyone in the U.S. anymore. It's easier for them and us to just open stores.

Other interesting points from the article:

• If the merger succeeds, Wild Oats prices will be lowered.
• Whole Foods adapts certain stores to fit the culture. For example, in London, Whole Foods has an organic pub where customers can buy organic draft beer and wines.
• When considering where to open new stores, Whole Foods looks at the density of college grads. Mackey says Whole Foods "caters to the well-educated [because] for people to change their dietary habits requires that they be well-informed."
• Whole Foods has tripled its supply of local food in the past year, and is loaning up to $10 million a year to local producers. 13 loans to local producers have already been made this year.
• Whole Foods has a positive effect on real estate property values. When Whole Foods opened in Chelsea [in New York City], condos above the store went up 10% in price on opening day. This has caused some real estate investors to buy up property in neighborhoods where a Whole Foods store is slated to open.
• Whole Foods is seen as a highly-desirable tenant by property developers because of its effect on real estate prices.

I hope the merger succeeds. It's sad to see the FTC apply rules selectively. I think it comes down to lobbying, and unfortunately, Whole Foods doesn't have the same lobbying power that the oil and gas industries have.

In my earlier post, I mentioned how I was growing some organic vegetables.

Unfortunately, I'm having trouble keeping the deer away. They are eating the young plants. The zucchini is doing well, though. For some reason, the deer don't find zucchini too appealing. :-)

I am really starting to sympathize with farmers who deal with pests on an everyday basis.

A friend of mine told me that placing human hair around the plants should keep the deer away. So, it looks like I will be buying deer netting or putting uncolored (non-chemically treated) hair around the plants. I'm going to try the hair trick first. If that doesn't work, then I guess I won't have home-grown vegetables this year.

In other news – I've been dealing with some spammers (RSS/Feedburner, and of course the usual blog comment spam, most of which Akismet catches). So, if you see anything odd coming from this blog, now you know why. It seems spam is becoming more of a problem online.

Local Produce – I've been eating some great produce from the CSA that I belong to. Last week, I received some excellent (but very small!) watermelons. I've included a photo below. These are the some of the smallest watermelons I have seen (they tasted great, though).

I've come across an amazing story — a family in Pasadena, CA has created a self-sufficient urban homestead where they grow over 350 varieties of edible and useful plants on 1/10 acre. They are in the middle of Pasadena, surrounded by neighbors—and yet they produce more crops than most small family farms!

The Dervaes family chronicles their journey online (their website is nicely designed with beautiful graphics) with articles, newsletters, outreach campaigns and information for people interested in organic gardening and eco-living.

According to the website, their organic garden produces over 6,000 pounds (3 tons) of produce annually. This provides fresh vegetables and fruit for the family’s vegetarian diet and a source of income.

This is really quite amazing, and very impressive.

When Jennifer Pittman moved to Forth Worth, Texas and discovered a lack of organic food providers, she decided to create her own source of raw food produce and products. Pittman started an organic co-op called Blueberry Market…

Beyond the Chains, Local Options Limited
by Amy Culbertson
Star-Telegram Food Editor

When it comes to organic options outside supermarkets and natural-foods markets, Fort Worth and environs aren't exactly overflowing with options. Where in other cities, farmers markets are primary sources for local organic produce, you won't find any organic farmers at the Cowtown Farmers Market, the group of local farmers selling produce on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at the Benbrook Traffic Circle.

Ben Walker, president of the North Central Texas Farmers Market Corp., which operates the Cowtown market, says his group has just one organic farmer, who sells only at the Grapevine Farmers Market. The dearth of organic-food providers was what motivated Jennifer Pittman to launch a fledgling organic and raw-food business from her home near Texas Christian University several months ago. Pittman had been running an "environmentally safe cleaning business" in Austin before she moved here and found the options for her goal of a raw-food diet suddenly limited.

Through her Blueberry Market Organic Rawfood business, Pittman brings in organic produce, seeds, grains, nuts and nut butters, oils, herbs, teas and skin-care products for pickup every two weeks. She gets most of her items from several national distributors but has recently added some produce from a local organic farmer. She's looking for a storefront to offer a retail location in the future and eventually would like to be involved in the growing end of the organic-food business. For now, however, her business is mostly e-mail. Pittman joins a short list of local organic co-ops that includes Monica Brown's Your Health Source co-op, probably the area's largest.

Your Health Source, which Brown started four years ago, provides organic groceries for about 825 families. Brown lives in Weatherford, but her co-op is based in downtown Fort Worth, from which groceries are delivered to a network of "host" sites — homes or small businesses — for pickup within a two-hour radius. At the host sites, members "sort the food and get it ready for the people to come pick up," Brown said. Each member family pays $25 to join and gets a basic box of fruits and vegetables — some weeks include local produce — every other week for $40. Members can order extra shares or whole cases of produce; many members split cases. Other groceries available for order include local pastured meats, eggs and dairy products, along with dry goods such as bulk grains, seeds, nuts and nut butters; local honey; and oils.

Members also have access to e-groups to discuss health issues and share recipes, and Brown does frequent cooking demonstrations at various sites. All the co-ops operate a little differently — some have fees to join; some require that their members work a certain number of hours sorting food or doing other tasks. But all buy in bulk to offer price advantages over retail outlets, and most deliver a basic box of produce at set intervals, usually every other week.

Fort Worth Raw Food Related Co-ops

Blueberry Market
TCU area of Fort Worth: Specializing in vegetarian, vegan and raw-food items. Every-two-week pickup; individual orders; no joining fee. www.blueberrymarket.com. e-mail: blueberry@blueberrymarket.com

Joyful Living
Aledo: Kristy Bell specializes in organic grains and mills. Also produce, grocery items, dry goods. Every-two-week pickup; pre-assembled produce box $25; individual orders and on-site sales. No joining fee or minimum order. (817) 441-7074.

Wonderfully Made
South Fort Worth: Produce; frozen, refrigerated and dry goods; grain grinders and mills. Every-two-week pickup, produce box $20-$36 with a onetime $5 box deposit. No joining fee or minimum order. (817) 294-1873.

Your Health Source
Fort Worth: Produce, dry goods, groceries. Every-two-week delivery, produce box $40. $25 joining fee. (817) 793-3509; (888) 280-0494.

Walmart will begin offering more organic food, according to a news article. According to Reuters, "Wal-Mart is the top U.S. grocery seller and also No. 1 in organic milk sales. It carries organic baby food, juice, produce and pasta sauce, but will be expanding its offerings to include products ranging from pickles to macaroni and cheese." Maybe more people will buy organic produce if Walmart begins actively supplying its stores with organics.

Right now, the two Walmart locations closest to my house have no organic produce, compared to Target (its closest competitor) which offers some organic produce (lettuce, grapes, apples, carrots, celery, cucumbers). Whole Foods is still the best retail choice for fresh organic produce, but Target is an alternative option (albeit less desirable).

All of Target's organic produce is "packaged" and comes from Earthbound Farms. For example, organic cucumbers at Target are wrapped in plastic in a black container, in comparison to Whole Food's produce which is not packaged, and comes from local farmers (well, at least some of it does).

I live in the suburbs, and the five options here for organic produce are…

Whole Foods
Local CSA (community supported agriculture) subscription
Kroger
Target
Lowes Foods

Whole Foods and local CSA's are the best. Surprisingly, Kroger has a decent selection of organic produce (they recently expanded their offerings). Lowes Foods is another store that offers a small selection of organics. It will be interesting to see what kind of organic products Walmart decides to carry.

An article about Glaser Organic Farms, which is one of the largest raw food producers in the U.S. From TheLedger.com …

Farm Finds Success With Raw, Vegan Dishes
Glaser Organic Farms near Miami doesn't use heat or animal products.

Served under a blue and-white tent, the strawberry ice cream at the Coconut Grove Farmer's Market is unbelievably creamy, the tropical fruit pies are rich and succulent and the patestuffed portobello mushrooms are savory. Quite a feat, considering that all the food served here is raw and vegan — no animal products or heat involved.

The "ice cream" is actually made of finely ground cashews, the pies sit on a pecan crumb crust and the pate stuffed inside the mushrooms is devised of almonds and herbs. These raw food dishes, which draw health-food enthusiasts from around the region, are the creation of Glaser Organic Farms, a 15-acre farm south of Miami that has grown into one of the largest raw food producers in the United States.

Glaser farm products, which range from unbaked cookies called "rawies" to a bread made from sprouted whole grains dehydrated at very low temperatures, are shipped across the country and widely found in health food stores, such as national chain Whole Foods Market. "Our business is growing every year," said owner Stan Glaser, who started selling raw products to local stores 25 years ago and is now building a new, 3,000 square-foot kitchen — three times the size of their old space — to keep up with demand. "The volume just seems to increase, increase, increase."

Some think raw foods are healthier because heat breaks down vitamins and minerals in food and kills enzymes, which aid digestion. Others say it's the most natural way of eating. "Raw food was the original food," Glaser explained, pointing to the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. "What were they eating? Steaks? McDonald's?" They probably weren't eating mint and lemon tabouleh or tiramisu either, though both concoctions are a hit at the Farmer's Market, which Glaser Farms hosts every Saturday.

"I like the whole feeling of it," said Arthur Ackerman, a Key Biscayne business owner and yoga teacher who frequents the market's deli. "I like the ambiance, I like the food." Ackerman, 66, isn't a raw foodist, but says he tries to eat a healthy diet and the raw food dishes make him feel more energized and sleep better. "My disposition is more upbeat," Ackerman said.

Sitting at a nearby picnic table, a flight attendant who gave his name as Kachito called the Farmer's Market "the temple." The South Beach resident started eating a primarily raw foods diet after experiencing some health problems three years ago. He now says his allergies have disappeared and his annual physical exams consistently show he's healthier than average. "Raw foods is my life now," said the slim, bright-eyed man who looked younger than his 62 years. "I don't do it to live to 200, I just want to feel good every day."

But nutritionists don't recommend the diet. Although it's great to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, dietitian David Grotto said an optimal diet would include both cooked and raw foods. He said there's little scientific evidence that eating exclusively raw foods is healthier.In fact, cooking foods can bolster the amount of some vitamins, such as beta carotene. "It's not as simple as cooked equals less nutrition," said Grotto, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association and the director of nutrition at the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care in Evanston, Ill. Grotto said he's seen extreme cases of cancer patients on raw diets who have died from malnutrition.

Yet interest in raw foods and demand for such products is steadily growing. Adult education courses offered in Broward County, north of Miami, include a raw foods class called "Change your life: Cook with no heat." And few can deny that most Americans would benefit from eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. Glaser said he doesn't expect everyone to give up cooked foods, but he says the growing interest in raw foods is a "positive trend" because people could increase the percentage of their diets made up of raw foods.

At 10:00 a.m. this morning, I drove to the state farmers' market in the city (approx. 25 minutes from my house) in search of fresh, organic produce. The search proved very interesting.

I questioned (nicely and politely) five different farmers. "Do you use pesticides on your crops?" All five said yes–they HAD to spray the crops. There was no other way to keep the bugs off.

Or so I was told.

"But what about farmers who grow organic produce?" I asked. "How do they keep the bugs off their crops?"

"I don't know, honey," said an old farmer with a strong southern accent, white hair, and yellow, crooked teeth. "I been farmin' for twenty-FAHV years and everyone I know of sprays. If ya don't spray, the bugs'll eat up everything."

"Is there anyone here who sells organic produce?" I asked.

"Not that I know of," he replied.

There were only five farmers selling vegetables such as zucchini, squash, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, etc. The rest were selling fresh flowers, baked goods, honey, plants (azaleas, marigolds, herbs) or strawberries. It seemed nearly everyone was selling strawberries. There were pints of strawberries everywhere I turned. I asked about spraying the berries with pesticides, and everyone I asked said that they sprayed…they said they HAD to spray.

The Specifics of Spraying Strawberries

I learned that the spraying is typically done to the strawberry plant in March and this keeps the bugs from eating the plant and destroying the fruit. Here's an interesting fact for you: Strawberries and bell peppers contain some of the highest concentrations of pesticides. So, knowing this, I avoided buying the pesticide-laden strawberries. According to the EPA, over 70 pesticides now in use are probable cancer-causing agents. (See my earlier post on pesticides.)

I was surprised that not a single farmer I talked with knew how to farm WITHOUT spraying. Organic farming was a mystery to the local farmers. It was something that they could not explain.

It's amazing how much knowledge our civilization has lost. Ironically, our "modern" lifestyle is contributing to our illnesses and our problems. Ironically, cancer rates are higher in "developed" countries than third-world countries. Ironically, ancient civilizations knew more about organic farming practices (and sustainable agriculture) than the majority of "modern" farmers.

My experience today makes me want to learn the basics of organic farming methods. Are organic farmers working miracles? In the eyes of conventional farmers, they are. In the eyes of conventional farmers, these organic farmers are doing the "impossible."

It reminds me of an old Chinese proverb…"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it."

This morning I went to the local farmers' market in the town I live in. I met the owners of an organic farm. They're not certified organic because they're too small and it costs $500 every year plus scheduled inspections by state agents, but the owners use organic farming methods and they do NOT use synthetic fungicides, pesticides or herbicides on the crops. The husband and wife seemed to be very aware, and I enjoyed talking with them.

Thus far in my life, I've never had the opportunity to talk with (or meet) the people who grow the food I eat. That's pretty sad, but I guess it highlights the modern, disconnected society we live in. The owners encouraged me to come visit the farm, as they give free tours. While I don't have the time (or inclination) to visit the farm, it's good to know that if I wanted to, I could have a look at how the food is grown.

With the sole exception of talking to the owners of the farm mentioned above, I found my town's farmer's market to be rather disappointing. The organic farm mentioned above offered only lettuce and cabbage for sale, along with lots of antibiotic free meat. (They raise free-range, grass-fed poultry and cattle). Since I wasn't interested in buying meat or eggs, that left cabbage and lettuce, which were also for sale. So, I ended up buying two bags of locally grown, pesticide-free lettuce.

The owners of the farm told me that they'd have sweet bell peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes within the next five weeks. So, I'll head back down to the town farmers' market in five weeks for the veggies. But I won't be going back until then. There's just not enough organically raised produce there.

Next Saturday, I'll be heading down to the state farmers' market in the city, which is a LOT bigger, and should have some organic produce. (Let's hope so, at least.) I want to buy produce in bulk/volume.

I have considered moving to Winter Park, FL (right outside of Orlando), partly because the organic produce at the Winter Park Whole Foods store is spectacular. According to the Whole Foods website, the Winter Park store has "the most abundant organic produce selection in Central Florida, with a minimum of 80 organic fresh fruits and vegetables daily." Now, that's a great selection! Plus, there's no state income tax in Florida, which is always nice! :-) Right now, moving is not an option, but eventually I would like to live in another area of the country.

According to a recent news article, organic food is becoming easier to find. This news article (text re-printed below) describes how grocery stores and restaurants in Wichita, Kansas are offering a wider selection of organic foods.

Organic Matters
From the Wichita Eagle

Organic food is becoming easier to find in Wichita — and finding its way to more cooks and diners. Devotees of organic food know what's in store for them in Wichita: Their options for dining out are severely limited. They pay more for the food they prepare at home. Some people think they're, well, a little flaky. But for a growing number of people, the cost and inconvenience of going organic is outweighed by the belief that they're helping both their bodies and the environment.

"I feel great when I eat them," said Debbie Margerum, who was buying organically raised eggs at the GreenAcres natural foods store last weekend. "You become healthier, and you're not spending your money on doctors and prescriptions." Such beliefs, while unprovable, are nonetheless what help drive the organic food business. Food industry sources estimate that sales of organic food have been growing nationwide at a rate of about 20 percent a year, though those sales still represent only about 3 percent of all sales.

Interest in organic foods is highest on the coasts, but Wichita seems to be partaking of the trend, too. Green Acres, in Bradley Fair, recently more than doubled the space devoted to organic produce and other foods, giving it the largest such selection in the city, and added seating for its deli. A local chain, Whole Foods, added a third location at Maize and 21st several years ago. Supermarkets such as Dillons and Food 4 Less have begun carrying a limited amount of organic food products. And other longtime purveyors of organic foods, such as Food For Thought and the Taste of Health restaurant, show no signs of slowing down.

Organic food fans aren't a homogeneous lot. Some are also vegetarians, vegans and even raw food enthusiasts, but others cheerfully eat meat. Many who have had health problems view organic food as part of an alternative, holistic approach to healing, while others are more concerned about the effects that modern agricultural practices have on the environment as a whole. Wichita artist Chris Brunner became a vegan — one who eats no meat or dairy products –"cold turkey" while reading an article about the cattle and poultry industries 20 years ago. That made finding a place to dine out in Wichita difficult enough, but when he also embraced organically raised foods about 1 ½ years ago, the situation became nearly hopeless. Fortunately, Brunner is a talented cook who enjoys entertaining at home.

"Most of the time if somebody wants to get together for dinner, I'd just as soon make dinner," he said. Like many vegetarians and vegans, Brunner says he originally found himself trying to "replace" meat in recipes. But these days, he prefers to let the flavors of fresh vegetables and fruit stand on their own. He grows some of his own produce during the summer and buys certified organic products whenever possible. He acknowledges that the latter cost more but says, "You're getting at least 40 percent more nutrients out of food, and it's much better for the environment, and that's worth considering. It's kind of like the old adage: 'Pay me now or pay me later.' "

Sherill Miles, a Nebraskan who comes to Wichita for alternative medical treatment at the Center for the Study of Improvement in Human Functioning, says she is convinced that pesticides caused many of the serious medical problems she has experienced through the years. She stays away from foods with labels full of "things you can't even read." She has nothing against meat, buying a whole cow — organically raised — for her family each year. Beyond that, she hasn't converted any family members to the organic food cause. Miles said her husband "thinks this is quackery." To be sure, there's also a political and economic aspect to the organic food movement that dates back to its founding in the 1960s counter culture.

"Our bodies are overwhelmed by toxins," said Kim Bannon, who blames pesticides and genetically modified seeds produced by huge multinational food companies. About three years ago, Bannon started eating only organically raised vegetables in their raw state after hearing a talk in California by David Wolfe. She has helped bring the colorful Wolfe (he describes himself as a "nudist, Buddhist and raw foodist") to Wichita for two appearances since then. During his most recent visit, at First Unitarian Universalist Church, tables were set up offering everything from mesquite meal ("made of seed pods from the mesquite tree") to fresh coconut juice to something called maca –"ancient Peruvian superfood."

"Our only vote really is with our dollar," Bannon said. Peter Horsley takes a less extreme approach, buying organic versions of foods that are otherwise heavily sprayed with pesticides, lack taste (free-range chicken "is more moist") and aren't too costly. "I get what tastes good and seems reasonable," he said.

Several people have told me that they believe it's more important to eat organic foods than it is to eat raw. I believe that the best health comes from organic produce eaten in a raw state. However, if you're struggling with the "raw" element, AT LEAST make sure you're eating organic fruits and vegetables. The following article briefly highlights the dangers of pesticides.

Pesticides

The E.P.A, the Environmental Protection Agency, reports that approximately 70 pesticides now in use are 'probable' or 'possible' cancer-causing agents. In addition to being sprayed on fruits and vegetables, they're also used on grains that are fed to cattle, chickens, and other livestock. These chemicals may lodge in the animals' tissues and milk, which are ingested by humans. Some studies have suggested that exposure to low levels of pesticides for long periods of time can cause breast cancer. Women who avoid eating animal products altogether have been shown to have much smaller concentrations of pesticides in their breast milk.

Another way to avoid pesticides or limit your exposure to them is to purchase organic produce. Once available only at 'health food' stores and markets, many big supermarket chains now carry organic produce, grains, and processed foods, such as breads, which are made with organic products. Laws vary from state to state as to what can be labeled 'organic,' so check to find out what your local laws are. To avoid pesticide contamination, peel and wash all fruits and vegetables, although some chemicals can't be washed away. Use a vegetable scrub brush on foods whose outer peel you're going to eat. Even though the U.S. doesn't ban the use of pesticides in agriculture, it does have the highest standards concerning their use, so you may want to limit or avoid consuming produce brought in from other countries.

I just recently found out about CSA's, otherwise known as Community Supported Agriculture projects. As a member of a CSA, you will receive fresh produce harvested from a local farm each week.

Benefits of Joining a CSA

• CSA's are a great source of fresh weekly produce from local farmers (make sure you find an organic farm, if possible).
• By joining a CSA, you will be supporting sustainable agriculture and family farming.
• Buying produce from a CSA is usually cheaper than buying produce from the health food store.

Here's where to find fresh raw food and organic produce in your local area.