Environmental for Food Justice

Changing sector involves expansions, acquisitions and concentration PEPSI AMONG THE TOP CORPORATIONS GETTING INTO ORGANIC FOOD Devon G. Peña | Seattle, WA | February 23, 2014 Professor Phil Howard of Michigan State University has been tracking the growth of corporate organics since 1997 and most recently by creating diagrams of the structure of the organic industry. These diagrams are based on the acquisitions by the top 30 food processors in the United States. Comparing the trajectory from 2003 through 2013, a very interesting set of patterns emerges from Howard’s diagrams.   There are obvious changes like the addition of Pepsico (a.k.a. Pepsi), the nation’s largest food and beverage processor. Pepsi’s direct presence in the organics market appears to have been initiated in November 2006 with the acquisition of Naked Juice; compare the 2003 and 2013 diagrams immediately below . Diagram 1. Structure of Corporate Organics (2003)   Diagram 2. Structure of Corporate Organics (Au...

Moderator’s Note: Opponents of GMO labeling argue that the I-522 initiative has little  public support among local consumer groups and that the effort is spearheaded by outside groups. This is worse than a case of the pot calling the kettle black: Most support for I-522 is local while it is outside groups, like the Monsanto Corp. and the Grocery Manufacturers Association, that are the prime outside influence peddlers who so far have dedicated more than $17 million in funding an opposition to I-522 campaign. For a report on this outside spending go to the Organic Consumers website. In today’s post, I present one of the most succinct and eloquent statements in support of I-522 developed by a local, Washington State-based organization. Community to Community Development , or C2C as it is known in organizing circles, is an important voice in this debate because the group uniquely brings all the stakeholders together – farmers, farm workers, and consumers – to work toward a more susta...