Organic Watchdog Cornucopia Institute

I don’t like grocery shopping.

I am always in a hurry and I sometimes buy items that I didn’t mean to buy or forget to buy something because I didn’t see it on the right shelf. So when I go to a local supermarket or Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, I, sometimes, find myself frustrated because “Organic” items are mixed in with “Conventional”. I have to read every label and look for that tiny green and white USDA label that says it’s organic. I wish Mark Kastel was in my neighborhood to check these stores out so that they can get their act together.

Who is Mark Kastel?

He is a co-founder of Cornucopia Institute , one of the most aggressive organic-industry watchdogs in America. Cornucopia is primarily funded by donations and has thousands of volunteers spread across the country. Cornucopia has caught numerous large corporations that practice “greenwashing” – a practice of producing organic goods while ignoring the values and tenets of organic movement for sake of corporate greed. Cornucopia has caught Wal-Mart of placing non-organic items on shelves marked “Organic” deliberately and confusing customers, has discovered Organic Valley buying milk from questionable organic farm, and dairy supplying milk to Horizon Organic label was not in compliance with federal organic guidelines.

We need more watchdogs like Cornucopia but we should also be responsible and point out to the store managers when we see them ignoring the rules. Maybe we can make them realize that shoppers would enjoy shopping more if we can actually find the items we are looking for.

What a concept!