For decades, farmers growing without the use of chemicals in a bio-diverse, sustainable manner have referred to their farms and products as "Organic." On October 21, 2002 that ended.
The United States Congress declared that after October 21, 2002, any farmer selling over $5,000 worth of produce may NOT refer to their produce or growing methods as "Organic" unless they have been certified by a USDA accredited certification agency. Furthermore, failure to comply with this order is punishable with fines up to $10,000 per violation per day. [NOP Final Rule: 205.100]
While the certification process may aid gargantuan organic agribusiness farms (scantly practicing bio-diversity) its implementation is grossly counter-productive to thousands of small, diversified family farms using natural methods in growing and for disease and insect control.
Diverse crop production means burgeoning record management and excessive paperwork. Coupled with astonomical certification fees, time and budget makes it improbable if not impossible for many small farms to become "certified organic." Ironically, many of the best organic farmers are no longer allowed by law to call themselves "organic!"
USDA Organic program is designed to serve the large corporate farming operations. In fact, the majority of "Organic" food now filling supermarkets is produced on huge factory farms - required by their charters to place profits over all other interests, including producing safe, sustainably grown food. In recent years corporate consolidation has taken the most successful, forward-thinking farms under the larger corporate umbrellas of Dole, Kraft, General Mills, Unilever and Coca Cola.
Outside the United States, USDA "Organic" label does not carry the weight of law as it does here. In fact, its very legitimacy as a form of certification is challenged by foreign trade partners the EU and Japan - and US farmers must have their food certified by internationally accreditted certification agencies to sell in those markets.
All this is not to say that USDA "Certified Organic" is a bad thing, but rather that it is not the ONLY thing. A new, alternative label and certification system is emerging called
"Certified Naturally Grown." Certified Naturally Grown provides small, local growers with a certification system that consumers can quickly come to trust and understand.
Certified Naturally Grown encourages people to purchase from the small diversified farmers that make up their local landscape. In short, even while there are still many wonderful "Certified Organic" farmers out there, one shouldn't base one's buying decisions on certification status. The best rule of thumb, instead, is to get to know your local farmers and how they produce the food you're eating. Ask questions. Visit their websites. Make an appointment to visit their farm. Most importantly, know your food!
