Rockville, MD-based Mom’s Organic Market founder Scott Nash has urged Whole Foods Market to act faster on its new labeling program for sustainable seafood. While the grocery chain has set a goal to stop selling endangered seafood species by 2013, Nash says the chain is still selling too many red-labeled (endangered) products and not enough green-labeled (sustainable) products.

Nut butter manufacturer Justin’s, Boulder, CO, announced that they hosted a summit with the goal of finding solutions for more sustainable product packaging. The summit was attended by industry leaders from more than 20 companies in Boulder, CO on October 6th and 7th, where they hoped to discuss alternatives to current single-serve packaging.

The 2010 Glynwood Farmer Harvest Award went to Jeremiah Jones of GrassRoots Pork Company, Beulaville, NC. The nonprofit Glynwood presents the award for innovation in increasing access to fresh, locally produced food.

Elena’s Food Specialties, South San Francisco, CA, an organic and natural frozen food products maker, has entered into an agreement to be acquired by ADF Foods, Ltd., Maharashtra, India, a manufacturer of ethnic Indian food products. The acquisition was scheduled to be complete at the end of October.

A range of natural products companies, one for every day of the month, sponsored the first ever Non-GMO Month, including Earth Balance, New Chapter, and Lundberg Farms. October 10, promoted as 10-10-10, was official Non-GMO Day across the country. For other information and to see the rest of the companies that participated, visit www.nongmoproject.org.

Ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry’s, South Burlington, VT, has announced it will drop the “all natural” label from their products, in response to a request from health advocacy group The Center for Science in the Public Interest. According to the company, the move is to avoid misconceptions among consumers, as their products include ingredients like alkalized cocoa and corn syrup.

Non-profit organization Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has created a partnership with Immaculate Baking Company, Wakefield, MA, where the company’s Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough packages will feature the non-profit’s logo and give customers the tools to hold charitable bake sales. Immaculate Baking will match funds raised during the six-month campaign up to $25,000.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, December 2010 (online 10/27/2010)