Manufacturers seek to boost organic production

Seeds of Change, the organic food division of confectionery company Mars, is urging lawmakers to craft legislation that will encourage US farmers to increase organic production. The industry faces critical shortages in supply, notably for dairy products.

The company is partnering the Organic Trade Association, other manufacturers, retailers and consumer groups to gain broad-based support for measures, including offering farmers incentives to switch to organic, more research funding from the US Department of Agriculture for organic projects, and enforcement of the USDA's 2002 standards for labelling a product as organic.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15280787/

Global Market Booming for Organic Cotton Products

Use of organically grown cotton by retail titans, fashion designers, and small and medium-size companies resulted in a dramatic growth in global retail sales of products containing organic cotton between 2001 and 2005, according to a new report by the Oakland, Calif.-based nonprofit Organic Exchange. Organic production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers and genetically modified seeds.

http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=30957

Brands drive organic cotton growth

Sales of organic cotton are set to triple to $2.6 billion at the end of 2008 from its current $900 million level as retailers and brands make significant new commitments to sustainable textile and apparel production.

Nike, Marks and Spencer, CO-OP, Patagonia, Timberland and Wal-Mart, which already sell organic lines; were joined by newcomers Reebok, C&A, Hennes & Mauritz, Target and Next at last week's Organic Exchange conference in The Netherlands, which attracted around 300 delegates.

http://www.inteletex.com/NewsDetail.asp?PubId=&NewsId=4926

Brands drive organic cotton growth

Sales of organic cotton are set to triple to $2.6 billion at the end of 2008 from its current $900 million level as retailers and brands make significant new commitments to sustainable textile and apparel production.

Nike, Marks and Spencer, CO-OP, Patagonia, Timberland and Wal-Mart, which already sell organic lines; were joined by newcomers Reebok, C&A, Hennes & Mauritz, Target and Next at last week's Organic Exchange conference in The Netherlands, which attracted around 300 delegates.

http://www.inteletex.com/NewsDetail.asp?PubId=&NewsId=4926

Organic for everyone

Organic for everyone, the Wal-Mart way
America's biggest company is also the world's biggest purchaser of organic cotton.

The $300-billion global cotton industry uses more pesticides and synthetic fertilizers than any other crop. Cotton Inc., the industry trade group, says that's nothing to worry about, but you don't have to be a scientist to know that applying tons and tons of pesticides to the soil - more than 50 million pounds in the United States alone - probably isn't a good thing.
Just ask H. Lee Scott, the chief executive of Wal-Mart Stores (Charts), which in the last couple of years has become the world's biggest purchaser of organic cotton.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/25/news/companies/pluggedin_gunther_cotton.fortune/index.htm

Cheapest Organic Clothes

Cheapest Organic Clothes available online.