Brookside Market the Place to Go for Organics

Looking for fresh, local organic produce this season? Look no further than the Farmers' Community Market at Brookside, in Kansas City.

All producers that sell items at this market have to be certified organic growers and local producers.

Organic Podcast 4

This week’s podcast MOA Spokesperson Melinda Hemmelgarn will discuss: What is "organic" meat by definition, explain why natural is NOT "Organic", the nutritional benefits of grass-fed/pasture-based organic meats (decreased total and saturated fat; increased levels of antioxidants, beneficial fatty acids and vitamins A and E), environmental and farmer benefits and cookbook information -"The Grass-fed Gourmet Cookbook" and "The Farmer and the Grill," both by farmer and RD, Shannon Hayes.

LISTEN: Organic Podcast #4

Reference Information:

1. Organic labeling: See consumer information, specifically.
2. On food terms
3. Re subtherapeutic antibiotics, anti-biotic resistence and the American Public Health Association

Organic Podcast 3

This week’s podcast is an interview with MOA Spokesperson, Melinda Hemmelgarn on the nutritional benefits of organic dairy.

Topics to be covered in this podcast: How is "organic" defined? What does it mean to be an "organic" dairy? The significant differences between pasture-based organic and conventional dairy products. What are the nutritional differences and benefits of organic dairy products? Summary of important nutrients contributed by dairy products. An account of dairy farming as told to one nutritionist.

LISTEN: Organic Podcast #3

Reference Information:
Benefits of Dairy in general: - Dietary Guidelines for Americans
"Back to Basics: Have Milk with Meals." Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Nov. 2006

Organic Podcast 2

This week’s podcast is an interview with Green Hills Harvest Dairy, Stepping back and moving forward," What's it like to be an organic dairy farmer and making the organic decision.” Items discussed include feeding and milking regimens explained and how they differ from conventional dairies and as energy costs escalate and consumer demand for more synthetic-hormone-free and pesticide-free foods increase, organic dairy and local markets are especially getting stronger.

LISTEN: Organic Podcast #2

Reference Information:
1.) Antibiotic excretion:Antibiotic Uptake by Plants from Soil Fertilized with Animal Manure, K. Kumara,*, S. C. Guptaa, S. K. Baidoob, Y. Chandera and C. J. Rosena Published in J Environ Qual 34:2082-2085 (2005)
2.) Definition of "organic." FAO
3.) The American Dietetic Association's Healthy Land, Healthy People report
4.) What are the nutritional and health benefits of organic, pasture-based agriculture/ dairy. - The Organic Center
5.) Improved breast milk quality from women consuming a diet with organic milk and meat. Benefit traced back to pasture and forages on organic dairy/beef farms.
6.) Many articles on the health benefits of CLA (higher concentrations in pasture-based dairy)
7.) Union of Concerned Scientists: Greener Patures Report

Organic Podcast 1

This is the first podcast segment from the Missouri Organic Association.

The MOA will begin bringing Educational Organic Podcasts each week.

Today’s show will give consumers an explanation of what is the correct definition of organic, the concerns about pesticide residues for children and the facts about the nutritional benefits of organic foods. MOA Spokesperson Melinda Hemmelgarn talks with Brownfield Farm Broadcaster Julie Harker on these topics.

LISTEN: Missouri Organic Podcast #1

Reference Information:
1. The Organic Center
2. July 18th issue of the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
3. The American Institute for Cancer Research, Fall 2007 newsletter.
4. United Nations/Food and Agricutlure Organization, Newsroom, May 3, 2007.States should integrate organic agriculture objectives within national priorities
5. University of Michigan: Organic Agriculture and the Global Food Supply:( Farming Can Feed the World), Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (2007), 22:86-108, Campbridge University Press.
6. American Dietetic Association, Healthy Land, Healthy People
7. IA State: Yields Increase, Soil Resilience Soars; Longer-term research proves organic promise

Missouri Organic Spokesperson

Melinda Hemmelgarn is a registered dietitian, newspaper columnist, and freelance writer and speaker. She has written her trademarked weekly "Food Sleuth" column for the Columbia Daily Tribune since 1989, and it now appears in a variety of publications nationwide. The Food Sleuth mission is to 'digest' nutrition research, expose diet fraud, and help consumers think beyond their plates. She is also serving as the Missouri Organic Association Spokesperson.

Read more about Melinda.

You will hear more from Melinda in the upcoming Missouri Organic Podcasts.

Missouri Organic Association

The Missouri Organic Blog is a resource tool through the Missouri Organic Association that will post education podcasts for consumer education.

Stay tuned for the first installment of the Missouri Organic Podcasts.