Organic industry in shock as Whole Foods pushes new rating system that promotes chemical agriculture as better than organic

‘For some time, food chain Whole Foods Market and organic farmers have had a cooperative, mutual relationship. The retail grocer has enabled organic farmers to gain a sizable foothold in the food market at a time when Americans’ passion for healthier alternatives to the GMO-laden, processed foods market is rising.

As The New York Times reported, Whole Foods’ stores were more like “showcases” for organic products – fruits, vegetables and flowers that are labeled with the names of the farmers who grow them.

However, this mutually beneficial relationship is beginning to fade, thanks in large part to changes by Whole Foods as it faces new competition from other mainstream grocer chains and organic farmers are able to find additional markets for their produce.’

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