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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Organic crop fraud targeted
  • Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:15:09 -0600




Organic crop fraud targeted
Published: Thursday, Sep. 17, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 8B
http://www.sacbee.com/business/story/2188480.html

A bill meant to deter fraud in California's nation-leading organic farming
industry is headed to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk.

Assembly Bill 856, authored by Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas,
targets problems in the organic fertilizer sector, the subject of several Bee
articles beginning in December.

The bill increases penalties for violations of organic fertilizer standards,
expands state regulators' inspection authority and raises as much as $416,000
annually for enforcement through new fees on fertilizer makers.

The Bee investigation revealed that state Department of Food and Agriculture
regulators had caught a Salinas-area manufacturer spiking its allegedly
organic fertilizer with synthetic nitrogen, which is banned from organic
farms. The company, California Liquid Fertilizer, sold its product to
packaged-salad giant Earthbound Farm and strawberry powerhouse Driscoll's,
among other organic farming leaders.

While California Liquid Fertilizer was ordered to pull its product from the
market, it remained in business and was not otherwise penalized.

The organic fertilizer sector's troubles worsened this year, drawing
Washington's attention.

In January, federal agents raided Bakersfield-based fertilizer maker Port
Organic Products, by several accounts the leader in the California organic
market. Kern County inspection records show the company had stocked thousands
of gallons of aqua ammonia, a common source of synthetic nitrogen.

In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new verification
standards for organic fertilizers. In July, the agency announced violations
at a third fertilizer maker.

The state Department of Food and Agriculture sponsored AB 856. The bill was
also supported by organic farming and certification groups as well as the
fertilizer industry.

Synthetic fertilizers don't present food safety risks, but the organic
movement opposes them because they take a great deal of energy to produce,
decrease natural soil fertility and can pollute water. Organic produce
commands a premium price largely because of guarantees it was grown without
synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.

California farms account for nearly 60 percent of U.S. acreage of organic
fruits, vegetables and nuts.






  • [Livingontheland] Organic crop fraud targeted, Tradingpost, 09/18/2009

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