Organic Trade Association Launches Unprecedented Marketing Initiative to Promote Organic

In an effort to resolve confusion surrounding organic purchases, the OTA has launched an initiative to educate consumers on the benefits of buying organic. This initiative comes at a time when consumer research groups like Mintel and The Hartman Group are both predicting a slow down in the growth of organic purchases.

According to Christine Bushway, Executive Director of the OTA, "Never has there been as much evidence backing the benefits of organic to public and environmental health, as many organic farmers on the land, and as many educational programs preparing a new generation of organic farmers. But never in recent years has there been as high a level of consumer spending confusion and concern. The role of this campaign is to set the record straight and help consumers make the educated choice."

Sunflower Farmers Market to Open in Plano

Sunflower Farmers Market, founded by Wild Oats founder Mike Gilliland, will open its first Texas location in Plano on November 12th.

According to the Dallas Morning News, the market positions the produce section at center, housing fruits and vegetables sourced from local growers and suppliers. A variety of almost 800 different private label groceries can be found inside.

The market offers "Serious Food at Silly Prices," and strives to fill the value segment of natural and organic groceries.

The chain announced $30 million dollars in equity financing from PCG Capital Partners to fund rapid growth in December 2007, and plans to add 50 new stores to its existing 13 over the next 5 years.

Slow Down at the Friends Hoedown

It's not too late to taste the harvest at the 14th Dallas Farmers Market Friends Hoedown, Thursday, November 6th. Tickets can be purchased from the Friends site, http://www.dfmfriends.org/.

Chefs, local farmers sow partnerships

This article from USA today examines ways chefs and local farmers work together to lower costs and make good, clean food.

The Perfect Cappuccino To Be Shown At Dallas Video Fest

The Perfect Cappuccino , directed by Slow Food member Amy Ferraris, will be shown at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Angelika Film Center at 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane. It was screened last month during the Thin Line Film Festival in Denton, so if you missed it, now's your chance to see what has been described as the story of "one woman's obsession with a beverage."

The 90 minute video is "a personally narrated journey that traces the origins and current social meaning of one beverage-the cappuccino. Along the way it confronts a series of larger questions: Why is the Starbucks chain-store model a uniquely American approach to coffee? Is there something in our character, as Americans, that pushes us toward expansion and mass standardization? Is this human nature? Is it American nature? Are we a culture that values business enterprise? Or a culture that is ruled by it? Blending the voices of baristas, cultural critics, business leaders and coffee geeks everywhere, this film will use the cappuccino as a means to chart the strange intersections of individualism and mass culture that make up the contemporary American character."

Ferraris is a graduate of UCLA's MFA film program, where she received awards from AMPAS, the Women in Film Foundation, Edie and Lew Wasserman, the Hollywood Radio and Television Society, and the MPAA.

Tickets are at the door or at www.videofest.org.

Critique and Rebuttal on Slow Food Movement

Reported by California's East Bay Express:

Slow Food For All?

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/restaurants/slow_food_for_all_/Content?oid=839944

SUNDAY (10/11/08) NY TIMES MAGAZINE SECTION DEVOTED TO FOOD

Entire Sunday Time’s Magazine was devoted to Food.

Articles are still online:

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/magazine/index.html

Good article by Michael Pollan.