The Organic Center Announces 'For the Health of Our World' Fundraiser to Further Critical Research on Organic Food's Impact on Health and the Environment

August 20, 2009

The Organic Center (TOC), a leading independent research and education institution dedicated to advancing scientific research behind the health and environmental benefits of organic products and farming, announced today that they are hosting the "For the Health of Our World" fundraiser on Saturday, September 12, from 6 to 9:30pm at Clif Bar's Headquarters in Berkeley, California. Bay Area influencers and organic advocates will join together to celebrate organic food and farming as a sustainable solution in promoting human health, reversing climate change and addressing world hunger issues. Upcoming research initiatives include calculating and analyzing the comparative environmental footprint and production of greenhouse gases of organic versus conventionally produced dairy and beef.

To kick off the fundraiser, TOC is hosting influential leaders for the "Entrepreneur's Open Forum" at the Numi Tea Garden on Saturday, September 12(th), located at 2230 Livingston Street, Oakland, California, from 10am until noon to discuss strategies for healthy business growth. Discussion leaders include Walter Robb, co-president of Whole Foods Market(R); Alex Petrov, president of Lucerne Foods(TM); Michael Funk, chairman of United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI); Samantha Cabaluna, director of communications of Earthbound Farm; Linda Gerwig, vice president of sales at Hain Personal Care; John Foraker, CEO of Annie's Homegrown(R); Jeff Mendelsohn, president of New Leaf Paper; Ted Nordquist, CEO of WholeSoy & Co.; Brent Knudsen, managing partner and founder of Partnership Capital Growth (PCGA); Rheem Rahim, co-founder and creative director of Numi Tea(R); and Will Burke, CEO and co-founder of Brand Engine(R). Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn insights and strategies to enhance business.

Later that same evening following the intimate "Entrepreneur's Open Forum," TOC will host attendees at their fifth annual fundraiser, which will include a presentation from guest speaker Myra Goodman, co-founder of Earthbound Farm. Guests will be invited to sample delicious organic hors d'oeuvres prepared with O Organics((TM)) ingredients by celebrity Chef Domenica Catelli while sipping on specialty cocktails made with Square One((TM)) Vodka. The evening will also showcase a 15-minute film festival showcasing Food Inc, FRESH, Soil: In Good Heart, among other inspiring films and a silent auction featuring varied products and experiences from the Northern California community. Auction highlights include a vineyard tour, wine tasting, lunch and a mixed case of wine from Frey Vineyard; three weeks of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) fruit and vegetable delivery; and other high-value items.

In addition to the morning discussion and evening fundraiser, media and journalist are invited to a meet-and-greet at 5:30pm prior to the Fundraiser to speak with the host committee; Dr. Charles Benbrook, the chief scientist at TOC; among other VIP attendees.

The host committee for the evening includes Walter Robb, co-president of Whole Foods Market; Michael Funk, chairman of UNFI; Gary Erickson, CEO of Clif Bar & Company; Ahmed Rahim, President, and Rheem Rahim, co-founder and creative director, of Numi Tea; Myra Goodman, co-founder of Earthbound Farm; and Alex Petrov, president of Lucerne Foods.

Sponsors of the event include Premier Sponsor O Organics; Platinum Sponsors Lundberg Family Farms(R), Organic Valley(R), Horizon(TM); Gold Sponsors Partnership Capital Growth Advisors (PCGA), Brand Engine(R); and Silver Sponsors Be Green Packaging and Whole Foods Market(R). The Organic Center would also like to acknowledge the continual support from their valued Cornerstone donors Annie's Homegrown, Aurora Organic Dairy, Dean Foods(R), Driscoll's(R), Frontier Natural Products Co-op(TM), The Hain Celestial Group, Hidden Villa Ranch, Nature's Path Foods(R), New Chapter(R), New Hope Natural Media, Small Planet Foods(R), Solera Capital, Stonyfield Farm(R), Sunflower Markets(R), United Natural Foods, Weil Lifestyle, and WhiteWave Foods.

The Organic Center is committed to raising awareness among consumers of the nutritional benefits of organic foods. Underscoring this mission, TOC recently refuted a study commissioned by the British government's Food Standards Agency (FSA) entitled "Nutritional quality of organic foods: a systematic review." Highlighting multiple missteps in the FSA's analysis, TOC released an in-depth analysis that shows the UK agency's failure to properly assess differences in the levels of antioxidants and not using stringent guidelines to determine whether the studies are scientifically valid.

Source: The Organic Center