Portland, OR-based Portland Roasting Coffee Company has officially launched a brand licensing program, with the two Portland Roasting Café locations in the Oregon Convention Center. The company was also named “Roaster of the Year” by coffee industry trade journal Roast Magazine.

Organic rice and rice products producer Lundberg Family Farms, Richvale, CA, has announced the first recipients of its Raising Organic Family Farms initiative. $25,000 in grants was awarded for the education and financial support of organic family farms. Most of this total went to 19 organic facilities including bee farms, livestock farms, mushroom farms and food pantries, while some went to education and conference expenses.

The entire line of natural and organic Brazilian style acai products from San Diego, CA-based Acai Roots has been certified by CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers).

Winners of the second annual Gardens for Good Grant contest, sponsored by Nature’s Path of Richmond, BC, Canada, are CAPI USA of Minneapolis, MN; GroW Gardens of Washington, D.C.; and Oliver’s Garden Project in Hamilton, ON. The grant program helps to support the growth of local organic gardens in communities that need them.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, February 2012