Choice magazine has assessed the top ten independent endorsement labels in Australia, putting each certification through its paces on transparency, consumer friendliness, conflict-of-interest management, stakeholder engagement, equitable participation and verifiability of compliance. The ten programs reviewed were: Australian Certified Organic (ACO) National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA) certified organic Fairtrade GI symbol National Heart Foundation tick Organic Growers... ...Read more »

An Australian Certified Organic (ACO) meat producer has become the first in the world to comply with Japan’s new organic livestock standard. Matt O’Leary, beef producer from Australian Organic Meats in NSW has out-stripped Japan’s own farmers to become the first meat supplier ever to match the stringent criteria of the recently developed Japanese Agriculture Standard (JAS) for livestock. “I’m pretty pleased – and a bit surprised,” Mr O’Leary... ...Read more »

Niche Australian Certified Organic (ACO) processors have been pushed into the limelight this year, with organic products consistently awarded for outstanding innovation by the mainstream food industry. “Organic companies have been small and focused on product development in the past. Now, as we emerge onto supermarket shelves and contribute more resources to marketing, people are starting to sit upright and say ‘this is fantastic, how long have you been doing this?!” noted Anni Brownjohn,... ...Read more »