Organic products

THE ORGANIC VINEYARD
Tuesday, October 7
In a simpler time in America, agricultural communities thrived. Neighbors spent time together and pitched in during harvest season. People felt connected to the earth and its seasons. Today, as a 640 acre farm just two miles from Lake Michigan's eastern shore is being transformed into Douglas Valley ( http://www.douglasvalley.net), the Midwest's first organic vineyard community is beginning to take shape, and it is bridging the divide between past and present.

With a charming Tasting House in place and acres of wine grapes, orchards and ryegrass planted, Douglas Valley is now offering two to six acre farmstead lots for sale from just $129,000. The first phase of 18 lots have begun to sell to prospective homebuyers yearning to live on their own estate farms. Each lot has a one to two acre designated home site chosen for its views of Lake Michigan, farmland, rolling hills or forested areas; the remainder of the lot will be dedicated to agriculture. Although not required, homes will be encouraged to 'build green' with sustainable features. Owners can farm their own land or contract with Douglas Valley for vineyard and farm management.

Steeped in history, the century old Tasting House once served as a bunkhouse for passengers on the Manistee & North Eastern Railroad, Douglas Valley will stay connected to its roots as it develops into a vibrant, sustainable organic farm and vineyard community. Developers Cliff Boomer and Steve Loomis are dedicated to preserving the farm's history, turning old buildings into integral parts of the Douglas Valley village center. An old machine shed, for instance, will become the farmer's market, while a restaurant and event center are planned in the old barns. Another outbuilding will house the general store and post office.

The hub of Douglas Valley life will be the village center, which will feature the organic winery. There, Douglas Valley residents can sell their grapes; those with at least two acres of grapes can choose to have their harvest made into their own private blend.

'I had the good fortune of growing up on a farm in Leelanau County,' Boomer explained. 'When my wife and I saw this property over two years ago, we immediately knew it was the perfect opportunity to create the ultimate farm experience for people who desire a simpler, more fulfilling way of life. So we've taken this historic 640 acre fruit farm and we're creating a community where people can enjoy organic agriculture, vineyards, a winery, a tasting room, fine cheeses, really a gourmet experience, all while being in the breathtaking beauty of these rolling hills.'

Those interested in learning more about Douglas Valley Organic Vineyard Community are invited to stop by the Tasting House, 3860 Cohodas Road in Manistee, from 12 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. View a six minute video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUaDe-bTtwk and visit http://www.douglasvalley.net.

By Steve Loomis

THE LATEST ORGANIC VINEYARD NEWS, AND LATEST ORGANIC WINE NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME

AN ORGANIC ALE
Peak Organic Brewing, producers of gourmet, certified organic ales, is collaborating with like minded small businesses and non-profits to create a delicious Espresso Amber Ale.

'Our Espresso Amber Ale is a celebration of tasty, local ingredients and organic, fair trade practices,' said Jon Cadoux from Peak, a passionate craft beer brewer. 'As foodies, we've always appreciated hand crafted coffee roasters, so we jumped at the opportunity to work with our friends down the street at Coffee By Design, who craft amazing coffee. We feel like this is more than just a delicious craft beer, but also a positive experience from start to finish, farm to glass,' said Geoff Masland from Peak.

The Espresso Amber Ale is brewed with Maine roasted, organic fair trade espresso in collaboration with Coffee By Design (www.coffeebydesign.com). The beer is in partnership with Transfair, a non-profit that works to ensure that farmers and farm workers behind Fair Trade Certified(TM) goods are paid fair, above market prices, helping to support a better life for farming families, community development and environmental stewardship (www.fairtradecertified.org). Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale is the first Fair Trade Certified(TM) beer brewed in the United States.

'Having two local companies collaborate on a delicious product with a strong social purpose is a pleasure and a win win for all,' said Coffee By Design co owner, Alan Spear.

'The business community has a long way to go in terms of environmental stewardship, ourselves included. But we enjoy partnering with organizations that are focused on taking the right steps,' commented Cadoux.

The Espresso Amber Ale is a flavorful, robust ale with toasty notes from the espresso in the front palate that delicately compliment the sweeter notes from the malts in the back palate. Said Cadoux, 'We have been working on this ale for a long while now and we are proud of the final product.'

Peak Organic: A Toast to Life's Peak Experiences

Peak Organic is a small brewing company dedicated to making delicious organic beer using the world's best ingredients. Brewed in Portland, Maine, look for Peak in fine restaurants, leading supermarkets, gourmet shops, natural foods stores and fine pubs. For further information, visit www.peakbrewing.com .

By Peak Organic Brewing

THE LATEST ORGANIC BEER NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME

YEO VALLEY SPONSORSHIP
Yeo Valley Organic, the UK's leading organic dairy company, has unveiled new look creatives for its ITV national weather sponsorship. Five new executions will be broadcast before and after the weather announcements; three of the creatives launch this evening (6 October).

The campaign will follow the theme used in Yeo Valley Organic's print advertising, 'A Breath of Fresh Air from the Country', which reinforces the brand's British, natural credentials. The strapline is also designed to emphasise that Yeo Valley produces natural products from a real place, based in the heart of the Somerset countryside. Each of the creatives show animated scenes of the countryside, with five different weather conditions and product shots overlayed at the end.

Ben Cull, Marketing Director of Yeo Valley, said: 'Our press campaign has been well received by the public so it was a natural progression to amplify its impact by bringing it to life with animation. Our print adverts parallel the redesign of our packaging, and now this fresh new look has been extended to our weather sponsorship, culminating in a coherent brand image. We wanted to bring a little bit of Somerset into people's homes, and I think these creatives achieve that.'

Yeo Valley Organic is sponsoring the ITV weather bulletins across four ITV regions, including London, Meridian, West and Thames Valley, reaching 16 million viewers. The idents will be broadcast up to five times a day during the week and three times a day over the weekend.

The sponsorship forms part of Yeo Valley Organic's 2008 £3.6m marketing campaign.

By www.talkingretail.com

THE LATEST YEO VALLEY NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME

AN ORGANIC FEAST
On a traditional village farm on Crete, Rodney Bolt finds heroic resistance to commercial pressure.

THE Greek heat hung heavily. It seemed tangible, as if draped over the pergola that shaded us as we sat on a flagstone terrace, looking out over vineyards and olive groves across a shallow valley to the sea. Cicadas kept up a gentle background hum. The sun scorched an earthy fragrance from the ground around us and scents of sage and rosemary wafted on a light breeze, mingling with aromas of cooking. It was lunchtime at Agreco, an organic farm in northern Crete.

One by one, dishes arrived at the table, glistening stuffed peppers, wild artichokes, chicken with okra; rabbit and quail, suckling pig with quince and chestnuts; tomato and olives, blanched courgette flowers and vegetable stews. A feast of staggering proportions, and every part of it, from salads and olive oil to meat, herbs, bread, wine, cheese, nuts and honey, came from the farm itself.

Agreco is in the hills above Rethymno, on a stretch of the north Cretan coast that is home to some of the island's classiest resorts. But the tourist development clings to the coast. Head inland and you are soon among fields and olive groves. As the road winds into the mountains you pass through stone villages with little Byzantine churches and on to forests of cypress and plane.

Agreco's location on the cusp of this upland microclimate means it produces everything from olives to chestnuts. The farm is owned by the Daskalantonakis family, who also own some of those luxury resorts along the coast, which they run with admirable eco consciousness in a country where environmental issues are frequently edged aside.

Agreco operates on organic principles. Pests are controlled naturally, livestock dung is recycled. Ducks and hens move about under the olives, they eat weeds and their droppings are excellent fertiliser. When it's time for them to move on, they are led to the next grove by a trail of corn kernels. Diversity is the keyword (at a time when many farmers are under pressure to produce single crops for mass consumption) and Agreco has its own dairy, beehives and olive press and all the vines and crops and vegetables that supply the menu of its on site taverna. This is open to the public in the early evenings and at lunchtime on Sundays.

But concern for the environment is not just about banning pesticides and artificial fertilisers. Small farmers in countries such as Greece are under tremendous pressure to chuck in the struggle to earn a living from the land for the easy money of commercial tourism. That and the single crop culture mean that a way of life disappears, as the social fabric of seasonal rituals and festivals frays.

By www.theage.com.au

THE LATEST ORGANIC FOOD NEWS, FROM THE ORGANIC HOME