Western SARE Accepting Applications for Research and Education Grant
Research & Education Pre-Proposals Applications for the Research and Education Pre-Proposal program is now open. Read the full Call for Proposal for criteria and directions for applying. The deadline for applying is May 22, 2020. Notification of status of the 2020 Research and Education Call for Pre-Proposals will be in late July 2020. This grant program involves scientists, agricultural producers, and others using interdisciplinary approaches to advance sustainable agriculture at local and regional levels. With the collaboration of producers, projects must integrate rigorous research [Read More]
Interview with Mark Mulcahy: Regenerative Retail Specialist
Mark Mulcahy is an award-winning retail consultant, educator, and organic advocate. He consults for co-ops, independent retailers, farmers, and produce distributors worldwide, and has presented numerous workshops at the Provender Alliance Annual Educational Conference over the years. Mark is the co-creator and presenter of the acclaimed Rising Stars leadership development course for natural food retailers which has trained over 2,500 managers, and Roots & Relationships, a fun, thought-provoking, interactive and inspiring journey into the unique legacy of food and its relationship and connection with [Read More]
Dr. Bronner’s Launches Regenerative Organic Certified Coconut Oil
Dr. Bronner’s debuts its first Regenerative Organic Certified product: Virgin Coconut Oil. A founding member of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, alongside Patagonia, Rodale, and other leading NGOs, farms, and brand partners, Dr. Bronner’s was among the 19 brands that participated in the Regenerative Organic Certified pilot program in 2019. Working in close partnership with Serendipol, the company’s coconut oil supplier in Sri Lanka, Dr. Bronner’s Virgin Coconut Oil achieved the Silver level of Regenerative Organic Certification. One of the first [Read More]
Sprague Now Offering EPA and FDA Approved Disinfectants Against Human Coronaviruses
by Geoffe Weibe – Regional Account Manager, Sprague Pest Solutions As we collectively work to mitigate risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our customers have inquired about Sprague’s ability to perform commercial disinfectant services. In response to this need, we have expanded our service offering to address this need. Our goal at Sprague has always been to work with our customers and communities to provide safer food, and protect the safety of the environments in which we all live [Read More]
I Harbor a Secret Hope
by Abigail Harris – Executive Director, Provender Alliance Amidst all the uncertainty with COVID-19 Pandemic right now, I harbor a secret hope. My longing is that all of this upheaval strengthens the human value placed upon quality and integrity in the food system that produces the nourishment we all eat: soil, ingredients, treatment of workers, and more, up and down the supply chain. In this Spring Journal issue, we feature two articles from Provender’s emerging VOICES Program (Voices of Independent [Read More]
Provender Debuts New ‘Ask and Offer’ Network
Provender Alliance is excited to announce that we are launching a new tool: the Provender Community ‘Ask And Offer’ Network. This new online network provides a straightforward way to ask for and offer help, advice, connections, and experience (using a platform called Givitas). The goal is to make it easier for our community to harness the knowledge and expertise we have in our incredible network to make everyone more successful. For example, if you need advice on a supply chain [Read More]
From the Board of Directors: Those on the Front Lines in our Industry
by Mark DiMaggio – board member, Provender Alliance We hope that everyone is as safe and healthy as they can be during these challenging times. I had intentions of writing about the natural products industry in the Pacific Northwest, reevaluating the need for mega trade shows and mega distributors. However, with the growing impact of COVID-19, I feel this is an important time to appreciate those on the front lines in our industry. Grocery stores and their [Read More]
From the Board of Directors: On the Front Lines
by Mark DiMaggio – board member Provender Alliance We hope that everyone is as safe and healthy as they can be during these challenging times. I had intentions of writing about the natural products industry in the Pacific Northwest, reevaluating the need for mega trade shows and mega distributors. However, with the growing impact of the COVID 19, I felt this was an excellent time to appreciate those on the front lines in our industry. [Read More]
Dear Regenerative Movement: Meet The Organic Movement
by Arran Stephens, Nature’s Path Founder and Dag Falck, Nature’s Path Organic Programs Manager Pioneer organic farmers were the visionaries of their age. Like many other inspired thinkers born before their time, they viewed the ordinary in extraordinary new ways, working quietly and diligently towards an alternate approach, often years or even decades before the general population awaken to the same realizations. Consider the doctor who was fired from his job in 1847 for suggesting that surgeons wash [Read More]
The Importance of Standards and Commitments
by Amy Pereira BS, CHNC, RYT-200, C-MI In line with Provender’s VOICES* program of showcasing the proactive projects of Provender members, I want to highlight a number of the standards and commitments that Pranarom Scientific Aromatherapy continually supports. Pranarom hopes that our sharing of the following practices will instill confidence in those seeking to use high-quality aromatherapy for health and well-being. Our intention is to continue to inspire farmers, producers, and communities at large to shift into genuinely recognizing [Read More]
The Two Pillars of Justice
by Carolee Colter, Columinate Consultant In the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish tradition of mystical Biblical interpretation, there is a saying that the two pillars of justice are mercy and severity. The pillar of mercy represents forgiveness for our wrongs. The pillar of severity represents the law of necessity—that we must reap what we sow, (or what in another religious tradition would be called karma.) When it comes to the workplace, justice needs both pillars. The pillar of severity upholds accountability [Read More]
The Environmental Bright Side of the Coronavirus?
by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss, EarthTalk Dear EarthTalk: I feel weird asking, but is there an environmental bright side to the spread of the Coronavirus? And is there an environmental cause of the pandemic? —Jane K., Miami, FL Coronavirus has killed thousands of people and sickened hundreds of thousands (if not millions) more around the world. It has also caused mass hysteria, and public health officials are bracing for the worst. The situation is mostly bad news, but the [Read More]
How to Burn Bright, Not Out
by Mark Mulcahy – founder/owner, Organic Options and Columinate consultant Interestingly, in the nearly 24 years I have been consulting with stores, farms, and businesses around the country, I still encounter managers in many businesses who have lost their vision and motivation. They feel burdened with the weight of all their obligations and responsibilities, and feeling burnout has become a regular part of their daily work life. One of the most common areas that [Read More]
Regenerative Organic: The Making of a Standard
by Elizabeth Whitlow – Executive Director, Regenerative Organic Alliance What does it take, exactly, to change the world? For those of us at Regenerative Organic Alliance, it takes conversation. Sometimes long, difficult conversation. And we’re okay with that. Last month, our Board of Directors gathered to ask, “How can we improve on the first iteration of Regenerative Organic Certified?” Over two full days, we took a deep dive into many lessons from our pilot programs: Over the last year, we [Read More]
Three D.I.Y. Spring Roll-On Perfume Recipes
By Tiana Challenger, Mountain Rose Herbs If you’re looking for a spring pick-me-up, these three perfume oil recipes are sure to get you there! They are easy to make and offer a fresh new start to spring, or as I like to call it, the season of life. Reflection Blend with Rose This blend is grounding, but also very open. I often find myself in a state of reflection when I enjoy this aroma. It helps me to feel [Read More]