US-based organic industry policy group The Cornucopia Institute has launched a new initiative aimed at directing consumers towards independently owned  brands and avoiding major corporations. 

Over 100 brands are brought together under the newly published Independent Organic Brand List. To qualify for inclusion, brands must meet strict criteria: they must be independently owned, available nationwide (US), and sell only organic products. The list includes brands across a variety of categories, from snacks and sweets to beverages, baby food, dairy, and plant-based options. Co-ops and independent retailers across the country have partnered with Cornucopia to share the print version of the list.

Cornucopia says part of its role is to help shoppers “navigate complex labels and marketing claims, empowering them to make confident purchases that support a vital alternative to the conventional food system”.

This new tool is intended to complement Cornucopia’s Who Owns Organic? project. Together, it says, these resources “empower shoppers to resist corporate control in the marketplace and support food that prioritises human health”. And it points out that many of the brands highlighted in its new list were founded in response to dietary needs that the conventional food industry failed to address.