As I was headed though some Michigan farmland at about dusk, I spotted a couple of deer grazing at the edge of a field of emerging corn.

Previously, I blogged about the family whose decision to go organic was driven by their concern about exposing their children to toxic chemical pesticides. As I drove past the deer, I got to thinking about the impact of those pesticides on the other residents of America’s farmland: wildlife.

Later in my hotel room, I pulled up the website for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal agency charged with protecting the nation’s wildlife species. What I read was rather sobering.

“Significant fish and bird kills have resulted from the legal application of pesticides, with millions of fish and birds estimated to die from pesticide exposure each year,” the website reported. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, a study found pesticide residues in 80% of the fish sampled. And, pesticides are a potential cause of deformities in amphibians like frogs, and for the decline in honeybees and other beneficial insects.

Farmers and ranchers pride themselves on serving as stewards of the bulk of the open space and wildlife habitat in the United States. The farmers and ranchers who produce organic crops and livestock can certainly take extra pride in their stewardship role. So keep in mind that going organic is not only a great choice for people, it helps to protect precious wildlife, too.

As Wild Oats works to transition to new retailers, I connect each day with devoted, sincere customers who write passionate posts about which Wild Oats affordable organics they love the most. Customers share thoughtful comments on Wild Oats Web site, share recipe pics, pose for photos in Wild Oats shirts and even send us direct messages about how much they miss seeing their favorite products on the shelves.

It’s amazing to me how many of you have taken the time to share! Thanks so much! Our customers mean so much to us and we are working hard to bring you new shopping options as soon as possible. In the meantime, we want to reward you for your love and support and make sure that we are effectively utilizing your feedback.

Our fun new giveaway enables us to gather info about your favorite Wild Oats products in one central location so we can better utilize it to grow Wild Oats in the right direction. Just tell us what you think and one lucky winner will receive a $100 Wild Oats Themed prize pack and a $100 VISA Gift Card.

Head here to share and enter for your chance to win! 

18+. US Only. Ends August 31, 2016. 

As the Non-GMO Project Verified label gains in popularity, many people are left wondering if it is as good as the USDA Certified Organic label…or possibly even better than the organic one.

But, which one is REALLY best?

Not only does the USDA Certified Organic label mean that the product is non-GMO, but it also means a whole bunch more. According, to the Organic Trade Association, organic agriculture, which is governed by strict government standards, requires that products bearing the organic label are produced without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetic engineering or other excluded practices, sewage sludge, or irradiation.

On, the other hand, the Non-GMO Project Verified label ONLY means that the product is non-GMO.

Perhaps the best way to understand the shortcoming when relying on the Non-GMO Project Verified label vs the USDA Certified Organic one is to see what growing practices are accepted to gain each status. This was eloquently covered when an NPR reporter looked at a farmer who grows conventional, Non-GMO Project Verified AND Certified Organic crops:

“A good place to see what this means, in practice, is the farm near Cerro Gordo, Ill., where Allen Williams grows corn, soybeans and a variety of other crops. It’s an unusual farm, because Williams grows crops three different ways: Some are organic, some are “verified non-GMO” and some are genetically modified.

But the way Williams sees it, there are basically two kinds of agriculture here: certified organic and conventional. He considers both the non-GMO and the GMO crops to be conventional, because when it comes to farming practices, both are very similar.

For both of those groups of crops, he uses factory-supplied fertilizers and chemical weedkillers. The only real difference is, he can use a cheaper weedkiller — glyphosate — on the genetically modified soybeans, and spray it right on top of the crops.

Then Williams shows me his organic farming. That’s a whole different system. His organic soybeans are also non-GMO, but that’s only a tiny part of what makes them organic. He points out a huge pile of chicken manure, which he will use as fertilizer. To control the weeds, he doesn’t spray chemicals. Instead, he brings in local high school students who walk the rows and clear out the weeds by hand.” Read the full NPR article here.

As you can see, conventional growing practices such as using chemical weedkillers are utilized when growing the Non-GMO crops. This might come as a shock to many who automatically equate Non-GMO Verified with a chemical-free crop. On the other hand,when it comes to the farmer’s Certified Organic growing practices, he is using non-GMO seed AND completely different and non-chemical fertilizer and pest control mechanisms.

Now that’s food for thought…

Wow, that was fast! Here we are already in August, about to get ready for back-to-school. But the free and easy feel of fun and outdoor activities doesn’t have to come to a screeching halt.

The weather is still warm, the birds are still singing and there’s still plenty to do. So (as I tell myself constantly) stop complaining!

Blogger Sebrina gave 10 great ideas for fun end-of-summer activities (see her post here), and here are some of mine to help you keep having fun outside for these remaining warm weeks.

• Play in the garden: Now’s the time to plan your cooler-weather veggies, the easiest of which are radishes — the perfect crop for kids and impatient adults, as they are ready to harvest in as few as three weeks from planting. Radishes like sun, but not really hot temps, which is why they’re planted in the spring and again towards fall. See some how to tips here.
• Take a hike: Extend your summer fun by planning an early morning hiking adventure and stop along the route to gather special rocks or enjoy the wildflowers. Keep your phone in your pack and be present in nature!
• Have a picnic: Get the kids together to plan the perfect picnic. The food you choose can be elegant or just plain fun picnic fare.
• Back to the beach: Just because summer is winding down doesn’t mean there aren’t some wonderful beach days to be had, in fact the beach can be less crowded as the back-to-school season begins!
• Camp for a day: Check out your county parks department for weekend activities. Here in South Jersey, we have some amazing county-run recreation programs that will take you exploring, kayaking and hiking – all with expert help and guidance. And I’m always surprised at how many neighbors have no idea that these fun activities are available. So check your area to see what you might be missing out on.
• Count fireflies: When the sun sets, head out to your backyard with the kids and watch the fireflies come out.
• Feeling crabby?: Throwing that crab trap into the water makes it feel like summer whatever the temperature is. And even if you’re terrible at it, it’s still a fun way to spend an afternoon. Just make sure you know what the size is for “keepers” so you don’t end up breaking any regulations (and possibly getting a summons). If catching crabs doesn’t happen in your area, check out the amazing water activities in your neck of the woods. Being near water always gives that fantastic feeling of summer.

So keep those flip flops out for a while longer and you might find the best of summer is yet to come!

A big bowl of greens to me is what a fresh canvas to an artist is—a great starting point for creation. The awesome thing about a salad is that you can put whatever you want in it. It’s yours to experiment with.

Here are my most favorite summer salad recipes:

Salmon and Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Salad

Yield: Serves 4 as a main dish or 6 as a side

1 large bowl of salad greens, preferably organic

8 ounces cooked salmon (smoked, canned, baked, grilled or poached) cubed, any visible bones removed

4 radishes, sliced thin

1 summer squash, ends removed, chopped

1 jar of sun-dried tomato pesto

Lightly steam squash and radishes in 1 inch of water, just long enough for them to remain slightly crisp. Drain and let cool.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Salad greens will wilt slightly, but all the favors should infuse. The radishes add quite a kick.

Grilled Fruit and Honey Salad

Yield: Serves 4-6

For the salad:

1 large bowl of salad greens, preferably organic

2 handfuls of figs, apricots or both, halved

4 ounces shaved Parmesan cheese

For the dressing:

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons flax oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

To prepare the salad: Grill the halved figs or apricots until soft. Set aside, and allow them to cool. Combine the salad greens, fruit and cheese in a large bowl.

To prepare the dressing: Warm honey in a small bowl so that it softens. Let cool slightly, and whisk in flax oil and balsamic vinegar. Toss into salad. This salad pairs deliciously with roasted pork tenderloin.

Asian Pear, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad

Yield: Serves 4-6

1 large bowl of salad greens, preferably organic

4 Asian pears, quartered and then diced

4 ounces blue cheese, such as gorgonzola

4 ounces chopped raw walnuts

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper

Asian pears should be purchased and eaten when crisp. They have a slight hint of vanilla in their flavor.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Enjoy as an entree or with a lean grilled meat, such as sirloin steak.