Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - Re: organic? not likely!

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Jill Taylor Bussiere" <jdt AT itol.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: organic? not likely!
  • Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2001 10:15:23 -0600


Hello to Bill and Linda!

Thanks for responding. I may get certified this year, we will see. It is,
at last count, about $160, I believe, for me ( I checked 2 years ago). It
is not against the law in Wisconsin, as far as I know, to use the word -
have been to organic conferences, seen regulation, etc. etc. - if it is
against the law, then it is buried.....it is worth digging to see for sure,
though....
So, are you saying that I am committing fraud? My stuff is organically
grown. I do not claim it is certified, as it is not.

Or are you saying that the woman selling hers as organic is committing
fraud. If that is indeed the case, yes, it is fraud. However, the first
remedy to any wrong, in my mind, is to try and right it - for instance,
telling that woman that she is committing fraud, talk about the cancer
customers (I have some too), warn her what the difficulties would be if she
were caught, etc.etc.etc. can have more positive results than immediate
whistle blowing. If she doesn't shape up immediately, then "the wrath of
the government" would be appropriate, in my mind.

Just as in our market, if someone is selling something wrapped unsafely,
then my job is to tell the person, not call the authorities. If they refuse
to wrap safely in the future, then they would not be permitted to sell at
our market. Of course, the woman at her stand would be under the
jurisdiction of ag. and trade inspectors, so that would be the place to
report if she does not stop the fraud after a warning.

Jill

> Jill
>
> Our understanding, (Bill talks I type) under the new organic standards,
> Federal law allows any small grower selling less than $5000 in organics to
> not have to be certified. However, in Ohio, it is against state law to
> use the word unless you are certified, no exceptions. You need to check
> with your state laws governing organics.
>
> Unless the cost is extremely prohibited, we feel it's better to be
certified
> than not and then you have the paper to show for it, when questions arise.
>
> BTW, as we were out milking, Bill brought up the question of fraud (if
lots
> of dollars are involved, it becomes a felony). When you claim something
is
> (for example) a Rollex and its a Timex. Its fraud.
> When you claim something is organic and its not, it is fraud. And fraud
is
> a crime. (Bill's old cop training keeps peeking out once in a while.)
>
> We know of a case where people were selling unlicensed canned goods, it
was
> purchased by a state inspector and they were turned in. You never know
who
> the person is on the other side of the table.
> Even on your own farm stand.
>
> Bill & Linda Barry
> Barry Farm
> http://www.barryfarm.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jill Taylor Bussiere" <jdt AT itol.com>
> To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001 9:56 AM
> Subject: [market-farming] Re: organic? not likely!
>
>
> > Bill or Linda (not sure which wrote...),
> > I do indeed have less than $5,000 in sales. Are you telling me that
I
> > can use organic legally? The last 2 years I had a sign that said
> > "Vegetables grown organically" - a rather small one, and I didn't always
> put
> > it up, because people who are looking for that that are regulars knew
even
> > before I started putting a sign up. And one woman was about to purchase
> > some of my vegetables until she saw that sign, and then walked away.
When
> I
> > asked her why, it turns out that she had seen the 60 minutes organic
> bashing
> > show, and now was afraid to buy organic.
> > Anyway, I wasn't sure what to do this year - try to get certified,
or
> > not put up anything this year.....
> >
> > Jill
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: William Barry <unclebil AT bright.net>
> > To: Market Farming <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> > Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001 8:51 AM
> > Subject: [market-farming] Re: organic? not likely!
> >
> >
> > > Jill's suggestion about a letter to the mother is fine. But you also
> need
> > to
> > > inform her she is violating state and federal law. Feeling sorry for
a
> > > single mother with children is one thing. But someone else will not
be
> > soft
> > > hearted enough to let her continue and she will be at least fined.
> Could
> > > she afford that? Wouldn't it be better to straighten her out now
before
> > the
> > > law gets involved?
> > >
> > > Especially, with her "signs" all over with "organic" on them, someone
> will
> > > turn her in. You can count on it..
> > >
> > > Using the word "organic" without certification is federal not just
state
> > > anymore.(unless you can prove less than $5000 in organic sales).
What
> > > would be the liability repercussion of selling non-organic food as
> organic
> > > to someone allergic to the chemicals, antibiotics, etc. I wouldn't
> want
> > > that lawsuit.
> > >
> > > It is not a game anymore and she needs to be informed. If she
continues
> > > afterwards, then the fault and liability is her own and no one else's.
> > >
> > > Looking the other way got us into this "Frankenfoods" debacle.
> > >
> > > Bill & Linda Barry
> > > Barry Farm






Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page