Send this sampler of Organic tasty treats & finest fruits! A specialty sampling of juicy, organic pears and apples, with a treasure trove of organic gourmet: tasty yogurt-covered banana chips, creamy yogurt-covered almonds, and luscious organic, nut-covered Chocolate Fudge.

Ingredients
1/4 lb Organic Yogurt-covered Banana Chips, 1/4 lb Organic Yogurt-covered Giant Almonds, 3 premium Organic Apples, 3 premium Organic Dessert Pears, 1.6 oz Organic Nutty Fudge

Price: $42.95 (Nov, 2008)
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For you, only the freshest and best tasting will do! We select each piece of fruit from the Best of the Best orchards in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California Estates, to the sweet Hawaiian Tropics. We go the extra mile to pick only the finest, most luscious fruits and pack each assortment in a gently cushioned gift box. 13 mouth-watering pieces: 3 luscious Fuji apples, 3 Imperial Cornice pears, 3 sun-sweetened navel oranges, Plus 2 sweet kiwi, 1 Ruby Red grapefruit & 1 exotic mango . All are individually pre-wrapped for presentation.

Price: $49.99 - Nop 2008
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This fruit such as medicinal plants in various parts of the world. Food can be quoted from almost all parts of the plant, but just papaya fruit the most frequently used because it easy and delicious.

For you who like eat papaya fruit, it’s good to know that a distinctive fruit to your confidence to grow more consumption. Should you rarely eat papaya. So for you this article made so that you are on to try and love it. Well, this is the important 10 things about papaya that can make you ‘love’ on it.

1. Papaya fruit contained various types of enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Even the content of vitamin A is more than carrots, and vitamin C is higher than orange. Rich with vitamin B complex and vitamin E.

2. Papaya fruit contains papain enzymes. This enzyme is very active and has the ability to accelerate the process of protein digestion. Dissolved protein is the main problem faced by the general pattern in many people eat daily.

3. Protein in papaya fruit is not too high, only 4-6 grams per kilogram weight of the fruit. But this little number that can be almost entirely digested and absorbed body. This caused enzyme papain in papaya fruit could digest substances capable of 35 times greater than its own size. The digestibility of protein, this reminds us to more carefully choose food, that food containing high protein will not necessarily be beneficial for the body. That important is easy or not was protein absorbed in the body.

4. Papain can split protein to arginin. Arginin is one of the essential amino acids that in the normal condition can not be produced in body and normally was received through food such as eggs and yeast. However, when the enzyme papain was involved in process of protein digestion, naturally some protein could be changed into arginin. The process of formation arginin with papain is took part in influencing the production of of human growth hormone is popular with a human growth hormone (HSG), as arginin is one of the records in the compulsory establishment of HGH. Now, HGH is to help improve the health of muscles and reduce the cumulation of fat in the body. Other important information, laboratory test shows arginin work hamper the growth of cells of breast cancer.

5. Papain can also split the food that contains protein to establish the various amino acid compound that autointoxicating or automatically remove the unwanted substance as a result of imperfect digestion. Hypertension, difficult to defecate, arthritis, epilepsy and diabetes is a disease that is due process of digestion of food that is not perfect. Papain can not always prevent it, but it can at least minimize the negative effects appear. The papain can help make the digestion process food better.

6. Papain had a function of helping the amino acid regulation and helping remove the body of poisons. In this way the immune system can be improved.

7. Papaya can also accelerate the digestion of fat and carbohydrate. Enzyme papain is able to split the fibrous flesh, so that the meat more easily digested.

8. Papaya has the characteristics of the antiseptic and help prevent harmful bacteria in the intestine.

9. Papain formed in the whole fruit, both skin, flesh, and seed. So papaya should be fully utilized.

10. That still was unripe or half ripe had the content of nutrition that was higher than ripe.

Economic concerns are causing Americans to take a harder look at grocery purchases. “Across the board, Americans are spending less and ‘organic versus traditional’ is a decision many people are thinking about carefully,” says Marcia Mogelonsky, Mintel’s senior analyst points out.

The research firm cites two major cost-related challenges for organic food producers: rising food prices and private-label brands. Prices for food consumed in the home increased 7 percent this past year, according to Mintel’s report. “To cope with higher prices many shoppers are simply opting not to buy pricey organic or premium brands,” says Mogelonsky.

However, there are more private-label organics brands to choose from than ever before. Mintel tracked more than 540 private-label organic food introductions in 2007, that compares to 2003 when 35 new organic products hit the market.

“We don’t expect people to completely stop buying organics,” says Mogelonsky. “We anticipate more subtle changes, such as the formerly all-organic shopper who returns to traditional cookie brands while sticking with organic produce. These small changes will slow market growth.”

One example worth noting is that Whole Foods has watched fourth-quarter profits drop, dropping to $1.5 million in the quarter ended Sept. 28, compared to $33.9 million for the same time in 2007.

John Mackey, Whole Foods’ chief executive officer told market analysts, “The unrelenting negative economic news appears to be shifting buying behavior to making fewer trips and to making more value conscious decisions.”

Source: Mintel, Meatingplace, Porkmag

The city also found unsafe levels of melamine in China-made fish feed that were used at a local farm, after a similar scare over eggs.

All this has proven to be a boom for sales of organic food. Despite tightening budgets, when it comes to high-end grocery shopping, people in Hong Kong are still willing to dish out the extra cash.

One said: “I’m always willing to pay a little more for organic food because I think it’s better for the earth, not just for people.”

“I don’t want to take any chances,” another added.

Organic products are much pricier than regular produce because no artificial additives and less chemicals are used in their processing.

Hong Kong’s largest organic food store, Three Sixty, has seen a jump in sales.

Doreen Hong, Consumer Communications Manager, Three Sixty, said: “People are focusing more on the basic needs. How do they purchase for their family? What should they do?

“And instead of spending lots of money dining out extravagantly, they may be focused on buying good quality, wholesome, nutritious and delicious food.”

The store also saw a surge in demand for organic milk and eggs after the industrial chemical melamine was found in those products from the mainland.

For those worried about food contaminated by chemicals, it seems organic is the way to go. But the problem is, there is currently no across-the-board certification law in Hong Kong.

Organic labelling is done on a voluntary basis and stores rely on food certification from the country of origin for imported goods.

The Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre said having so many different labels is confusing for consumers and a lot of them need more assurances on the safety of organic products.

Jonathan Wong, director, Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre, said: “If they bought the tomato from Malaysia and say that this is organic, and imported to Hong Kong without any labelling besides saying that it is organic, there’s no way you can prove it unless you go back to their farm or go back to their production line.”

The centre is calling on the government to establish a certification law as soon as possible.

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Source: CNA/so

So don’t delay looking around to see what is for sale this autumn. Unfortunately the choice will not be that great in many garden centres but we are lucky to have Spain’s largest collection of bearded irises and mail order supplier right here on our doorstep and they still have dry rhizomes for sale for autumn planting as well as a few potted but more expensive plants for personal collection. A search of the catalogue section of their website www.iris-lomer.com will immediately demonstrate the enormous range of varieties that have been breed by plant breeders and there is probably something for your garden whatever your colour scheme.

Irises have become one of the more popular bulbous plants for nine reasons.

1. They flower in the Spring.

2. They are perennials so flower for many years.

3. After a few years daughter rhizomes can be separated from the original parent plant in the autumn and planted to expand displays. At this time it is best to discard the original mother rhizome.

4. The tough skin of the Iris rhizome means that it is less susceptible to eel worm, slug and snail damage than the thinner skins of bulbs such as tulips especially during the dry summer months.

5. There are many varieties available so interesting collections can be built up.

6. They do best in full sun.

7. They can be grown in dedicated beds, mixed beds, in containers and on rockeries.

8. Irises need very little if any watering.

9. They have few disease problems.

When you receive your package of irises open the packet immediately and plant out as soon as possible in a reasonably rich soil. A soil enriched with well rotted compost or manure is preferable to feeding with manufactured nitrogen rich fertilisers. The latter can result in too much green growth and smaller flowers. Plant so that the top is just showing with the roots spread out and covered with firmed down soil. Water once a week to keep the roots damp for a month - or two if there is no rain -until the roots are established. Always remember that irises do not like to be waterlogged. In the Spring and early summer watch out for aphids if the weather is humid and spray for several weeks until the danger is past.

The height of the iris stem and size of flower means that the plant needs plenty of nutrients so feed your irises each year six weeks before you expect them to flower. Typically this will be March /April on the coast and April/May in higher up inland gardens. A second feed each October is beneficial. One thing that Christine Lomer emphasises is ‘please weed between irises and do not use weed killers as it can affect the quality – especially the colour – of the flowers.’ Finally if you invest in a few irises they are something that you can enjoy for the rest of your gardening days.

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Source: RoundTownNews.co.uk, Clodagh & Dick Handscombe

Ergonomic Garden Set from Radius Garden, Advanced Ergonomic Bulb Trowel. For bulbs and transplanting Optimized blade with depth markings for precision planting Natural radius grip maximized power and comfort and minimizes hand and wrist stress Santoprene provides secure grip weather wet or dry Ultra-light, super-strong aluminum magnesium blades should last a lifetime of gardening Carded Ergo style hand tool program.

Price: $42.99
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The garden bucket caddy features clever from Fiskars, durable design to make gardening easier. In addition to its deep, large pockets for hand tool and glove storage, the caddy has a space for seed storage to keep seeds dry and protected, as well as a beverage holder and even a cell-phone pocket. The durable cloth caddy fits snugly around a 5-gallon bucket.

Technical Details
* Garden bucket caddy featuring unique and clever design
* Fits snugly on 5-gallon bucket
* Sturdy canvas construction
* Includes cell phone, beverage, and seed packet holders
* Deep pockets for various hand tools

Price: $18.49
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This 19″ electric push mower by Bolens features a powerful 1,500 watt 12 amp electric motor. This 2-in-1 high performance mower includes a rear bag and mulch kit. Features a cordminder system for user convenience and 9-position fingertip height control ability.

Technical Details
* Electric push mower
* 19″ cutting deck
* Mulcher and rear bag
* Cord minder
* 12 amp electric engine

Price: $193.58 (Nov, 2008)
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After several years of discussions, the major certification agencies in Europe have finally reached an agreement on harmonising their private standards for natural & organic cosmetics. Soil Association (UK), BDiH (Germany), Ecocert (France), Cosmebio (France), AIAB (Italy) and Ecogarantie (Belgium) have developed common standards for natural and organic cosmetics. The first draft of the new standards has been released for public consultation this week. The final draft will be drawn in January and certification of products will begin in April 2009.

The agreement sets minimum standards for natural cosmetics and organic cosmetics, however the agencies will still be able to develop separate standards as long as the baselines are met. The move is analogous to what has occurred in the organic food industry where the EU has minimum standards for organic agriculture and food products.

Harmonisation of standards is an important development, since the private standards of the agencies involved are the most widely adopted in the natural cosmetics industry. If the new standards receive a high take-up rate, they could possibly pave the way for common global standards. However, the lengthy discussions have led to the emergence of new standards in Europe and North America. In Europe, NaTrue is gaining momentum since its initial announcement at the Natural Beauty Summit last year. Its natural & organic cosmetic standards have received the backing of some of the leading international brands. Across the Atlantic, initiatives like NSF, OASIS and NPE are gaining ground.

With a plethora of natural & organic cosmetic standards being introduced, cosmetic manufacturers, formulators and ingredient companies are questioning the differences between these standards and their practical implications. The Natural Cosmetics Masterclass has been launched to navigate companies through the maze of natural & organic cosmetic standards, looking specifically at the technical, formulation and ingredient issues involved.

The first-ever Natural Cosmetics Masterclass will be held in London, December 4th and will comprise two interactive workshops. Major topics to be covered include demystifying standards, formulating natural & organic products, replacing synthetics, raw material sourcing, and developing new processes.

The first workshop will critically review and compare the major natural & organic cosmetic standards: the new European harmonised standards, NaTrue as well as North American private standards. The workshop will look at the practicalities of these standards, looking specifically at ingredient issues and processes.

The second workshop, Challenges in Formulating Natural & Organic Cosmetics, will focus on the major formulation and technical issues involved in making these products. The agenda includes defining natural / organic products, highlighting the synthetic chemicals typically absent in these products, and the suitability of natural alternatives. The pitfalls of formulating natural & organic cosmetics will be detailed, followed by practical solutions for product developers and formulators.

The Natural Cosmetics Masterclass will be led by Ms. Judi Beerling, Technical Consulting Manager of Organic Monitor. With over 30 years experience in cosmetic formulations and innovations, she has assisted numerous companies with natural & organic formulations and processes.