Living Maxwell

Better Choices

Another Reason to Support Organic — Organic “Hotspots” Significantly Boost Local Economies

While there are many reasons why we should support organic food, we now have yet another one: organic boosts local economies.

In a new study by the Organic Trade Association called U.S Organic Hotspots and their Benefit to Local Economies, it has been found that organic food and crop production – and the business activities accompanying organic agriculture – creates real and long-lasting regional economic opportunities.

Conducted by by Penn State Agricultural Economist Dr. Edward Jaenicke, the research identifies 225 counties in the United States in Organic Hotspots — counties with high levels of organic agricultural activity that have neighboring counties with high organic activity — and then looks at how these Organic Hotspots impact key county-level economic indicators.

And what this study found was incredibly compelling, including:

Being an Organic Hotspot increases median household income by over $2,000
Being an Organic Hotspot lowers a county’s poverty rate by as much as 1.35 percentage points

This significant increase in household income and reduction in poverty levels are greater than general agriculture activity, and being an Organic Hotspot has an even greater impact than major anti-poverty programs.

In summary, what this shows is that organic isn’t just providing healthier food for people and keeping toxic pesticides out of our environment, but organic is making our economies stronger.

As such, we need to get this report to every single one of our politicians. Now we have tangible proof, instead of just rhetoric, that adopting a pro-organic agenda makes good business sense and will improve the financial standing of citizens living in these Organic Hotspots.

Needless to say, this is an extremely encouraging development and great work by the Organic Trade Association!

(To find out if you live in an Organic Hotspot, check out this cool interactive map here.)

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

Organic Milk – The Most Important Product a Family Can Buy

For people who are new to organic or have very limited financial means to buy organic, the one thing that I always say is the following:

The absolute number one priority in your household should be organic milk for your kids.

Even if a family thinks that organic food is out of their budget, organic milk cannot be compromised under any condition.

Organic milk is about the health of the kids, and that comes before everything else.

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

The Risk of Buying Conventional Honey

For many of us who understand the importance of organic, we eat and buy organic food without thinking about it.

We know that we don’t want to consume food that contains artificial growth hormones, synthetic pesticides or genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).

We know that it is essential for us to purchase the highest quality food possible.

We know that food is medicine.

Yet, there are too many people out there who are just not that concerned about the food that goes into their bodies. They largely assume that since our government allows it on the shelf, it is safe.

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

5 Questions with Dr. Joel Kahn, Leading Cardiologist and Author of The Plant-Based Solution

Last April, I was in Denver attending the National Organic Standards Board meeting and went to dinner one night at True Food Kitchen.

Sitting at a community table, I struck up a conversation with a woman across from me and she proceeded to tell me that she had recently switched to a vegan diet.

“So, do you know Dr. Joel Kahn? The cardiologist from Detroit,” I asked.

Given that the plant-based world is a tight community and that Dr. Kahn is a social media star, I had a feeling that she might have known him.

“Do I know Dr. Kahn?” she responded with her face completely lit up. “He’s the reason I am a vegan today! Everything he talks about online and in his books convinced me to go plant-based!”

With the release of his excellent new book The Plant-Based Solution, Dr. Joel Kahn is looking to make a similar impact on many more people.

I recently caught up with my friend, and here is what he had to say.

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5 Questions with Dr. Joel Kahn, Leading Cardiologist and Author of The Plant-Based Solution