February Newsletter

Message from the team at the OFPC  
Hi Everyone,
Being organic has always been consistent with being kind to the environment. And being organic means a lot more than just delicious, fresh fruit and veggies…  

This month, we have been busily adding even more products to our ever growing website.   As the environment is a chief topic of concern at the moment, we have decided to focus on products that play an important role in making a positive difference to our environment.    

We have sourced products that are not only biodegradable, but are non-toxic, have no petroleum based dyes, have no dyes and no phosphates and are of course not animal tested.  You can check out our new products in the “Grocery and Products Department” section of this newsletter, and our full product range at http://www.organicfood.com.au.  

We hope you have been enjoying our new products and if you have any queries, please let us know either on 9967-9967 or by email to info@organicfood.com.au.  

Happy shopping all

The Team at OFPC

Information Corner: Why go organic and is it becoming more mainstream?  How do I know if it is really organic?  
The Australian Organic Journal, Spring 2005, suggests that organic food is expanding across the globe and entering traditional market sectors.   As individuals realise that consuming organic food means a diet that is completely free chemical free and free of genetically modified food, the demand therefore increases, therefore paving the pathway of conversion for conventional farmers to organic farmers.   

Organic food is produced according to legally regulated standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and that they were processed without food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. Also, at all levels, organic food is produced without the use of genetically modified organisms. Historically, organic farms have been small family run farms – which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers' markets.  Now, however,  organic food is becoming much more widely available. 

According to the New York Times: Nov. 1, 2005, this trend is predicted to increase. There is evidence that organic farms are more sustainable and environmentally sound, among other benefits.  

Organic food is only certified organic if it carries the following certification.  Each certifying body has its own distinguishing logo. Australian Certified Organic (ACO)/ Biological Farmer's Association (BFA) Bio-Dynamic Research Institute (BDRI) National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) Organic Food Chain (OFC) Organic Growers of Australia (OGA) Safe Food Production Queensland (SFPQ) Tasmanian Organic-dynamic Producers (TOP)

For more info on the organic market certifications, click here.

What’s in season?
Asparagus
Guava – well worth a try if you’ve never tasted organic guava!
Pears  

Recipe of the month
Fruit Cobbler

INGREDIENTS – FOR THE FRUIT
2 punnet strawberries
2 punnet blueberries
1 pear
1 bunch rhubarb
5 tablespoons
Sugar
A good glug of balsamic vinegar  

INGREDIENTS – FOR THE TOPPING
6 heaped tablespoons butter, chilled
225g self-raising flour
70g sugar
A large pinch of salt
130ml buttermilk OR 70 mls milk plus 70 mls plain yoghurt mixed together
A little extra sugar for dusting

METHOD
Preheat the oven to 190 degrees.  Put the fruit into a pan with the sugar and balsamic vinegar, put the pan over the heat, and cook gently until the juices begin to run from the berries.  Pour into an ovenproof dish.  Meanwhile make the topping.  Rub the cold butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Add the sugar and salt, stir well, then add the buttermilk to form a loose scone-type mixture.  Spoon this over the hot fruit (to get a cobbled effect, flick balls of dough randomly over the fruit), sprinkle with a little sugar, and bake in your preheated oven for 30 minutes until golden brown. Serve with a little vanilla ice cream.  

Grocery and products department
New products for this month
Seventh generation baby wipes;
Seventh generation dishwashing liquid – more economical than previous product
All natural toothpaste;
All natural hand soap – great on your skin; and
Soleo 30 SPF organic sunscreen.

Click here to view all of our cleaning products and here for all of our beauty products.  

We’d love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions. Just email us at info@organicfood.com.au or call us on 02 9967-9967  
The Organic Food & Produce Company Proud supporters of WSPA ‘The World Society for the Protection of Animals’