Real Organic Podcast

Arran Stephens: Fighting The Lobbyists Who Dilute Organic


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#022: Arran Stephens is the chair and co-founder of Nature's Path, one of the few big brands who were present at the onset of the modern  organic movement and remain true to the spirit and letter of the organic law. Having served on many industry boards, including the Organic Trade Association and the Non-GMO Project, Arran's long-held view is that we need  to stay wary of profit-motivated players and foster the growth of more activism-centered businesses. 

Arran Stephens has been involved in the organic movement since the late 1960s and founded Nature's Path with his wife Ratana in 1985. They are now North America's biggest certified organic breakfast foods company. He served on the board of Organic Merchants in the early 70s, was on the board of the OTA during the creation of the USDA's National Organic Program, was a founding board member of the Non-GMO Project (which he later parted ways with), and has also served on the board of the Rodale Institute. He is outspoken about his role as an activist and the importance of that behavior to his family's business and the organic movement. 

To watch a video version of this podcast please visit:
https://www.realorganicproject.org/arran-stephens-fighting-lobbysits-who-dilute-organic-episode-twenty-two

The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce. It also identifies pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs as compared to products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).

To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:

https://www.realorganicproject.org/farms

We believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be. But the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing small farms that follow the law. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but are still paying a premium price. The lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.

If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000  Real Fans!

https://www.realorganicproject.org/1000-real-fans/

To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:

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Real Organic PodcastBy Real Organic Project

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