Natural and Organic Product Makers Must Be Very Careful When Developing Formulaes and Recipes

The consumer product world is undergoing a green revolution. Marketers are racing to be the most green, most natural, most organic. Trade groups and organizations are marketing seals of approval, ala good housekeeping, to bedazzled innovators. There is a "gold rush" aura to this stampede.

When a large, multi-national firm like p&g, or general mills touts their green bona fides, the consumer can trust that these brands have been properly vetted. Teams of lawyers review every label statement and product performance claim. Publicly traded companies such as these cannot afford any risk of lazily policing their quality and standards. Huge quality control groups and research and development departments oversee every step of new product development, ingredient and product testing. All of this is accomplished long before a concept is turned over to the sales, marketing and branding pros to prepare market launch and consumer consumption.

The rapid growth of social media and the internet has greatly enhanced and accelerated the opportunity for entrepreneurs to launch artesian and micro-brands. My consumer product development and marketing consulting firm reviews many of these projects. These innovators are passionate about the hand crafted soap, skin care moisturizer, barbecue sauce, energy drink or gourmet candy they produce and proudly tout as "all natural" or "organic".

Many of these entrepreneur's are self-taught. There was a time when this was considered a positive business trait. No longer! The risks associated with legal and insurance issues must be paramount for every small green business. Too often it is given short shrift.

There are literally an endless number of cosmetic brands, topical skin care brands, food and baked goods, weight loss, drinks and other consumable product sellers that can be easily searched on the internet. LinkedIn is bloated with these types of brands, many making outlandish performance claims. I read some of the branding statements and marketing claims and gasp at the audacity.

Food, cosmetic, vitamin and other topical or consumable product manufacturers are very sensitive to the desire for contemporary small business innovators to appear 100% green. However, they are even more sensitive to the risk that most all-natural products pose. The FDAalways lurks and regularly rears its grizzly head to enforce rules that approach the Bible, Torah and Koran combined in length and complexity.

Bakeries and food product manufacturers are extremely sensitive to providing preservative systems that protect products from bacteria growth and extend shelf life. I love my neighbor Mary Jean's cupcakes and look forward to eating them. But i would not buy one that has been shipped, handled, stored in extreme climatic conditions, etc. Unless i knew it was made under tight industrial standards.

Many artisan cosmetic producers make their products at home. The "all natural, organic" tag they attach to their products is accurate, and they state this openly and proudly. They should be very careful. It is almost impossible to get product liability insurance for these products without proper production controls. Bacteria growth will occur unless a preservative is added and virtually all such systems that efficiently protect users include chemicals.

another issue with all truly "all natural" products is the problem of obtaining nature identical ingredients. Natural ingredients are flora or fauna that are grown and harvested. Every major producer of these products faces the issue of product quality control and stability from season to season and year to year. Essences that are essential for the production of perfumes can be of differing color and strength owing to different climate, moisture and exposure cycles. Mother nature really does control natural life. Taste, smell, color, product performance and quality can be seriously affected by biological changes that regularly happen each growing season. Sophisticated manufacturers have developed technology to minimize this risk. I have rarely seen an artisan producer that knows the problem exists, much less how to cope with it.

This is not a screed against small artesian craft brand marketers. It is just a nod to difficulties that are real and should be addressed. The ability to germinate new consumer product brands is an essential part of the American character. Some of these innovations grow and become the next great new thing. Just protect yourself at every stage of the product development, sales, marketing and branding cycle.

by: Geoff Ficke

Geoff Ficke has been a serial entrepreneur for almost 50 years. As a small boy, earning his spending money doing odd jobs in the neighborhood, he learned the value of selling himself, offering service and value for money.

After putting himself through the University of Kentucky (B.A. Broadcast Journalism, 1969) and serving in the United States Marine Corp, Mr. Ficke commenced a career in the cosmetic industry. After rising to National Sales Manager for Vidal Sassoon Hair Care at age 28, he then launched a number of ventures, including Rubigo Cosmetics, Parfums Pierre Wulff Paris, Le Bain Couture and Fashion Fragrance.

Geoff Ficke and his consulting firm, Duquesa Marketing, Inc. ( http://www.duquesamarketing.com ) has assisted businesses large and small, domestic and international, entrepreneurs, inventors and students in new product development, capital formation, licensing, marketing, sales and business plans and successful implementation of his customized strategies. He is a Senior Fellow at the Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Business School, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

Healthier Living and Organic Farming

A large part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and the ecosystems in which crops and livestock are raised. Foods certified as organic must be produced using growing methods that minimize soil erosion and that maintain or enhance the fertility of the soil. All the chemicals in the world can't nourish a garden as well as healthy organic compost.

Look for natural and organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers, such as the use of compost. Natural fertilizers, compost and organic materials encourage native earthworms. The soil's organic matter contributes to good soil structure, and water-holding capacity. Improve the soil with organic matter and fertilizers to develop the best soil for growing seeds and plants.

The availability of nutrients from organic fertilizers depends on their breakdown by soil organisms, which in turn depends on weather and soil conditions. Their nutrients are not available to plants until the organic matter has decomposed. In reality, you can't have a good organic garden without a good composter.

The use of disease resistance must be emphasized within an organic program. In current organic production systems, growers are not permitted to use conventional synthetic organic fungicides in their disease management program. The national organic program rules prohibit the use of conventional pesticides, petroleum, or sewage-sludge-based fertilizers, bioengineering or ionizing radiation and synthetic substances. But, there are several general things any organic gardener can do to beat those pests naturally.

Many believe that organic foods contain a higher level of nutrient minerals and much lower levels of heavy metals. As a result, the industry has understandably grown from experimental garden plots to large farms with surplus products sold under special organic labels.

Today, organic foods are available at supermarkets and farmer's markets, in restaurants and through mail-order suppliers, even here on the web.

Example - http://www.organic-items.com

Buying organic will insure that the food products you consume contain no genetically modified organisms, and are free from irradiation.

Purchasing locally grown, organically produced fruits, vegetables and meat assures you of having the very best food available for your family's table. Buying hemp, organic cotton and recycled products like home furnishings, baby clothes, and natural beauty products aid conservation of natural resources. Growing organically takes more time, requires more knowledge and skill, and, for now, costs more.

Francesca Black works in marketing at Organic Items http://www.organic-items.com and Aromatherapy Blends http://www.aromatherapy-blends.net leading portals for organic products and natural excercise.

Think Organic is Expensive? - Try Medical Bills

The American health care system has become a "sick care" system in which citizens pay more than in almost any other country (15% of our economy) only to count themselves among the most unhealthy people in the industrialized world. According to recent statistics, one third of Americans is obese, and countless others suffer from preventable chronic diseases. These days, amid threats of losing health coverage, perhaps the safest and most effective source of health insurance is prevention.

Foods that are processed, packaged, genetically modified or treated with chemicals are damaging the human body. The toxins in these foods are not recognized, and are, therefore, unable to be properly digested. They remain stored and, over time, cause disease. While upon first glance organic grocery options seem more costly, they provide, in fact, an invaluable savings -- financially and otherwise -- in the long run.

The misleading savings of fast food may cause some to believe that cheap meals lacking nutritional value are their only options. At a time when Americans are clinging to their every dollar, however, fast food is absolutely not an efficient use of resources. While "dollar meals" offered at many fast food establishments promise savings, they actually tax both the wallet and the body. When the body does not receive nutrient-rich food, it simply calls out for more. Extra-large french fries and soda may seem to satisfy, yet they are really just overworking the organs without providing vitamins and minerals necessary for optimal health. In addition, the empty meal leaves the consumer unsatisfied, lethargic and looking to eat (and spend) again shortly thereafter. Less food will satisfy the body's needs when a meal consists of organic whole foods, grains, fruits and vegetables.

Life is just too short not to provide the body with the best food available. If the old adage, "you are what you eat" is true, (which it is, literally, as the food we eat is absorbed and becomes our very blood, tissues and cells), then organic food is unquestionably worth the extra effort. Real food without toxic chemicals is less expensive than many seem to think. A bunch of organic kale at Stop and Shop costs about $1.00; organic collard greens cost under 50 cents; one pound of organic quinoa at Whole Foods (containing some 11 servings) is $2.99. Eating higher-quality food means spending less overall. A bag of conventional potato chips, devoid of nutrients and filled with chemical pesticides, disappears in moments, but one bowl of organic brown rice, vegetables and beans goes down slowly. You just can't eat more than one.

Buying organic can actually save money, with a little know-how: 1) Buy in season. Notice how much watermelon costs in December? Seasonal produce costs less. 2) Join a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture groups abound throughout the country. Members prepay for vegetable shares from an organic farm and pick up the freshest possible produce, as it is often harvested that morning or the night before. (localharvest.org contains information about CSAs). 3) Buy in bulk. Stock up on frozen or canned organics when they go on sale, and save on expensive packaging by purchasing from bulk bins. 4) Get support. Don't know where to start? Take a healthy cooking class or seek out a health professional who can steer you toward a healthier lifestyle.

The real savings from organic foods, however, lies in what Americans will save on medical expenses. According to a recent study published in Health Affairs, the average health care cost per American is $6280 per year (that's a lot of kale!). Some 70% of those dollars are spent on preventable diseases, such as heart disease, the leading cause of death in this country. The fact remains that healthy bodies get sick less often and fight disease more effectively. Bodies fed organic foods -- free of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals toxic to the body -- will spend less on over-the-counter and prescription drugs, copayments, lab tests and hospital bills. These costs are no match for an extra 30 cents for organic carrots, an extra dollar for organic milk, an extra 75 cents for organic bread.

Rather than spending money on costly treatments after people are already sick, the focus must now shift to spending on prevention. A February 22 New York Times article on President Obama's plan to cut the national deficit cites the cost of health care as "the biggest factor behind projections of unsustainable deficits in coming decades." The plan to revise the failing health care system under the new administration will require "investments in disease-prevention programs." The nation cannot survive, physically or financially, without a plan for prevention.

When a doctor prescribes a medication, most patients fill the prescription, pay the copayment, and carry out the doctor's wishes. When a certified holistic health counselor prescribes, "Let food be thy medicine; let medicine be thy food," why not fill that prescription, pay the extra 30 cents copayment, and carry out the practitioner's wishes? The benefits far outweigh the investment.

Jennifer Kelly,CHC, AADP is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and founder of Feeding Your Life Holistic Health Care, located at McNally Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Kings Park, NY. For more information on individual and group holistic health counseling, visit feedingyourlife.com or call 347-564-3600.

What's the Future of Organic Certification?

Some organic produce enthusiasts are cheering about its increasingly widespread availability. They say it's about time that huge retailers like Safeway, Costco, and even Wal-Mart have begun to add organic products to their shelves. With the market beginning to boom, some of the world's largest food manufacturers are beginning to jump on the bandwagon, as well, such as Kellogg's, Kraft, and General Foods. Isn't that good news for advocates of healthier food?The answer is a qualified maybe. It's a simple case of the time-proven law of supply-and-demand. The organic market has been growing steadily for decades, and once the numbers were there, it was inevitable that the big companies would step in to grab a share of the market. Some less enthusiastic organic foods advocates have expressed concern that having the giant retailers move into the market will ultimately weaken certification standards and hurt small farmers who have been able to capitalize on serving the organic niche market in order to survive.The market share for organic produce is still miniscule, accounting for less than 3 percent of U.S. retail food sales in 2005, but the numbers are still impressive: $14 billion in sales and increases of 16 percent for organic produce, 24 percent for organic milk, and a whopping 55 percent rise in organic beef sales over the past year. Certified organic products typically sell at a 20-30 percent premium over similar non-organic ones. Given numbers like those, it's not surprising that the nation's mega-retailers are beginning to get excited by the possibilities for future growth. However, there is growing concern that as factory-style farms move into the organic area to fill the demand from giant retail chains, the certification process may be lessened to allow those huge farms to meet the specifications. Those fears were given some credence when a recent report by the Cornucopia Institute discovered that two of the largest organic dairies in the nation keep their cows primarily in huge feedlots with little or no chance to graze on pasture. At the moment, the demand for organic milk outstrips supply, but if the trend continues (and there's no reason to believe it won't), it could cause genuine problems for small farmers, who have been all but squeezed out of nearly every other phase of agriculture, but managed to find a market niche that allowed them to stay in business. One of the biggest effects on the market will be retail giant Wal-Mart's demand for considerably lower prices. That means smaller profit margins for suppliers, but it could also mean a further loosening of certification standards in order to meet the demand and the low prices Wal-Mart would expect.

Where will it all lead? It's too early to tell, but if the current trend continues, it would appear that the consumer cost of organic produce and meat is going to become more affordable. However, it's yet to be determined how much loosening of the certification guidelines will take place in order for that to take place. Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher teaches environmental interior design. For more information about Environmental Psychology and 5 ways you can change your home environment, visit http://environmentpsychology.com.