Whole Foods Cooks up Electricity
At the Whole Foods commissary in Boston, the canola oil won't just be for cooking -- it will soon be used to make electricity. The natural foods grocer plans to run the walk-in freezer and the overhead lights using the new power source, reports The Boston Globe . By next year, a generator that's powered by the used cooking oil will provide all the electricity needed for the commissary -- about 2 ...

Whole Foods Contributes $30K-plus to Farm Aid
Whole Foods Market's Portland, Ore. and Seattle stores have raised over $30,000 to support Farm Aid. The donation represents 5 percent of net sales at the organic and natural grocer's 11 area locations that took part in the "5% Community Giving Day" held Oct. 16.

Learn Great Foods sets retreats
Learn Great Foods, a natural foods tour company in Michigan, has announced its 2009 schedule of classes. The weekend retreats are held in either Petoskey or Leland.

Stevia set for approval from FDA
     It's a battle that has pitted promoters of all natural, against artificial sweeteners over this herbal derivative called stevia. And will likely create an explosion of new products.       It's said to be 300 times sweeter than sugar and available as a *dietary supplement* in health food stores like Vitamin Cottage and whole foods for years.        But stevia is about to be approved for use ...

Sunflower Farmers Market Opens in Texas
Natural foods chain Sunflower Farmers Markets has opened its first store in Texas, the Austin American-Statesman reports. With stores that are smaller than those of traditional grocers, Colorado-based Sunflower touts its rock-bottom prices, convenience and wide selection of produce.

Being Seduced By the 'Health Halo'
It's a growing problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control, two of three Americans are overweight. We try to eat well, but fail. Now, a French study suggests that Americans overeat because we've been seduced by the "Health Halo." Foods that have "zero grams of trans fat" or are 100% natural make us feel like we're eating healthily. Baylor Grapevine Dietitian Ashley Browning says ...

Shopping for Affordable Organic Foods Has Never Been Easier
(ARA) - Providing a family with nutritious, well-balanced meals is hard enough for busy consumers, but in today's changing economy, affordability is also a factor.

For the Birds: Feed 'em in Fall to Welcome Them Back in Winter
(ARA) - Humans aren't the only ones who look forward to the autumn harvest. Fall brings a bounty of natural foods for our feathered friends, too.

CHFA champions legislation for natural health products
The meetings on Parliament Hill come after the government?s announcement during the Speech from the Throne earlier last month that legislation amending the Food and Drugs Act would be re-introduced in the current parliamentary session.

New sweetener considered for FDA approval
Plant extract could become additive in processed foods pending FDA approval

Natural Medicine: High-fructose corn syrup and children
Natural Medicine: High-fructose corn syrup and children.

Natural Ways to Boost Libido
You can never be too rich or too thin, they say. Nor, apparently, too hot. The quest for potions, foods, herbs and supplements to increase a sagging libido never ends.

Organic foods at new Arrowhead pet store
Choice Pet Market recently opened in the Village at Arrowhead shopping center, near 67th Avenue and Loop 101.

Screw Market Share: Whole Foods subpoenas New Seasons? financial and marketing records.
In Battlestar Galactica terms (new episodes January 16!), they're pretty much demanding a direct download, Cylon-style, from New Seasons' Resurrection ship. Which is soooo not cool.

Making sense of food labels
If you're dieting or just watching what you eat, you've no doubt spent time looking at food labels. ?Grocery store shelves are full of products claiming to be organic, low-fat, natural, sugar-free - the list goes on,? states Sara Zook, Registered Dietitian with Beloit Memorial Hospital.

Cheese Plant To Bring $437M Impact To Region
HULL, Iowa ? One of the newest cheese factories in the United States, Green Meadows Foods of Hull, Iowa, hosted its grand opening on Saturday, November 22. The cheese plant is estimated to bring $437 million impact in economic development to the region and will employ 85 people at one of the largest cheese factories in the country.

Healthy Skin from the outside in
Take a closer look at what to look for (and what to watch out for!) in various skin care products. Holly Potter is available by appointment at Stonington Natural Health Center, Quiambaug Cove, 107 Wilcox Road, Suite 103, Stonington, Conn. Call 860-536-3880 for more information.

Trot out the turkey again ... this time in a Mexican family favorite
What to do with leftovers. We found a wealth of appetizing recipes from Whole Foods Market, which offers preparation and nutrition tips on its Web site, www.wholefoods market.com.

Sprouts Farmers Market Raises $22 Million for Expansion
Natural and organic foods retailer Sprouts Farmers Market said it had raised over $22 million in senior unsecured corporate notes last week to support its planned growth of at least 15 new stores per year aiming for more than 100 stores in five years.

Hard times bring home the joys of home cooking
As times get tougher and reconfigured budgets force a cutback on eating out, taking out and buying expensive processed foods, a growing number of American families must now rely more on home cooking.