In a ruling that has significant ramifications for Monsanto and other plant care companies, Monsanto was found responsible for their pesticide harming a farmer using their product.For the whole story, click here – [link]

SunRidge Farms is pleased to expand the solar energy platform that helps power our facilities. Download PDF

Bill Gates is an enigma to me.  The Gates Foundation is doing some amazing thing in preventable disease efforts throughout the world and the foundation is funded by a promise of Bill’s to give away 95% of his wealth.  That wealth was created and it still being created by Microsoft Corp., so the ability of the foundation to make incredible contributions in the future to various projects appears very strong.  Here’s a link to a story and video of a recent interview with Bill Gates and some of the foundation’s activities –  [link]  I applaud many of his efforts, but… Read More

In the past week we’ve received four independent reviews of SunRidge Farms snacks, trail mixes, and candies.  We’re grateful that folks like our foods and want to tell others about them.  Take a look for yourself and see what others are saying.  Here are the links to the reviews and, remember, if you don’t find the product your interested in on the website (we’re working on this!!!!), give us a call at 831.786.7000 so we can help you find a retailer.[link] – Families.com [link] – Mummy’s Product Review [link] – Tatum’s Reviews [link] – Outnumbered 3-1 *we regret that Organic… Read More

SunRidge Farms is very excited about our participation in the Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival this Sunday, January 21st. Come out to the Cocoanut Grove at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and support the UCSC Women’s Club as they put on a flavorful event that funds re-entry Student Scholarships at the University of California Santa Cruz. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Whole Foods Market in Santa Cruz and Capitola, Bookshop Santa Cruz,Norrie’s Gift Shop and Bay Tree Bookstore on the UCSC campus. To learn more, visit [link] See you there!

The planting of round up resistant sugar beets and canola ( as well as cotton, corn, and soybean) is causing the spreading of the resistance to weeds like Kochia, a seven foot tall weed that handles drought conditions very well.  This is forcing Monsanto and it’s rivals to modify their seeds even more with other genes to resist other weedkillers since Monsanto’s proprietary Round Up isn’t working on these plants.  To read more, see the story on Bloomberg – [link]

Organic foods offer so many advantages that demand from consumers is creating new problems that will have to be overcome.  We, as consumers, have to be aware that if we wish to be able to have these foods it’s important to know what concerns the growers are facing.  Check out this article in the NY Times, [link]

Here’s a link to an interesting article on the Bloomberg Business website that discusses the fact that Monsanto GMO corn is failing to kill the insects it’s genetically modified to kill.   Please educate yourself on GMO foods so that you are aware of the practices and can be in a position to decide if you wish to continue consuming them.   At SunRidge Farms, we source Non-GMO foods wherever possible. [link]

This was exciting news coming out of Iowa State University.  After studying organic farming versus commercial farming for 13 years it was learned that both similar yields and higher economic returns resulted from organic crop systems versus the traditional corn/ soybean rotation.  These type of long term experiments validate organic practices and certainly cast doubts on those who absolutely feel that GMO and conventional pesticide farming practices are both valid and necessary. [link] SunRidge Farms sources organic and Non-GMO wherever possible in order to support these sustainable practices that are in harmony with our planet.

Next week is National Bulk Foods Week but rather than us tell you about it, check out this story in ShopSmart Magazine – [link]