New Seal of Approval Offers Consumers More Choices

The Hudson Institute's Center for Global Food Issues (CGFI) presented its new "Earth Friendly-Farm Friendly" Seal of Approval project to the food and dairy industry at the Worldwide Food Expo held in Chicago this week. This seal of approval is an alternative to organic and other production-related niche marketing, assuring consumers that products bearing the seal are produced in a manner consistent with the best available scientific, health, environmental, and quality standards and technologies. The certification program is based on environmentally sound and economically sustainable practices.

"Unlike other certification programs that limit and restrict a farmer's choices and significantly increase consumer costs, 'Earth Friendly-Farm Friendly' offers farmers more choices that do not add significant costs for consumers," said Alex Avery, CGFI's director of research. "The program is intended to provide farmers with the information and tools necessary to produce more food per acre, leaving more room for nature, using techniques and practices which have been scientifically proven and endorsed by experts."

A pilot project in the dairy industry will help launch the program. CGFI will work with dairy producers, processors, retailers, and consumers to formalize standards and create consumer awareness. For more information, call 540-255-6378.