HL At a Glance for Nov. 20 - Nov. 27

Clermont, Fla.-based Uncle Matt's Organic Juices has introduced new packaging for its products that contains as much as 10-percent recycled plastic. The new containers provide a better oxygen barrier to preserve the juice inside. Uncle Matt's founder Matt McLean says that he was the first company to ask for recycled plastic from his supplier and that he hopes to use 100-percent, post-consumer plastic in the future.

The Greenfield, Mass.-based Organic Trade Association (OTA) is holding a free conference call for retailers who have questions about the national organic standards. The conference call will be held Dec. 11 from 3:00-4:15 p.m. Eastern Time. To register, contact Beth Fraser at bfraser@ota.com. Separately, OTA received the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service's Teamwork 2002 award for its work with the U.S. Organic Export Initiative, which promotes U.S. organic products at foreign trade shows.

The Eugene, Ore.-based Organic Materials Review Institute is seeking nominations for its board of directors. Service is voluntary and lasts for two years beginning July 2003. To nominate an individual, send a letter to the Nominations Committee, OMRI, P.O. Box 11558, Eugene, OR 97440-3758.

Swiss chemicals group Lonza has patented a new method to increase the intestinal absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in post-menopausal women, according to a Nov. 25 article at NutraIngredients.com. The method involves orally administering a fat-soluble vitamin and L-Carnitine. The patent is held by U.S.-based Hill's Pet Nutrition and the Kansas State Research Foundation. Lonza says that L-Carnitine has been shown to lower the serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids, while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program is offering grants to support innovative projects aimed at enhancing sustainable farms and farming in the Northeastern United States. The deadline for proposals is Dec. 9. For more information contact: 802.656.0471, www.uvm.edu/~nesare.