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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] clarification of use of "organic"

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  • From: Road's End Farm <organic87 AT frontiernet.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] clarification of use of "organic"
  • Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 10:19:49 -0400


To clarify for those not familiar with the distinctions: when the USDA set up their organic program, they decided to control the use on labels and in marketing not only of the term "certified organic" but of the word "organic" itself.

It's not permitted, on labels or in advertising, to use the word "organic" unless the operation is USDA certified organic. As Todd said, I don't think there's anything preventing saying in conversations that one follows the standards but isn't certified; especially when the conversation has nothing to do with advertising, but is discussing general principles.

In order to be USDA Certified Organic, it's necessary to be farming organically according to the USDA standards,

There are some growers who are farming according to those standards, or according to stricter standards, who are not certified with USDA, although according to their farming practices they could be. This might be because they don't need the certification for their particular markets, or it could be because they're opposed to getting involved with the USDA program. Some of these growers are in the Certified Naturally Grown program; which is not allowed to use the word "organic" because of the USDA regulations, but which certifies, I believe, to the same standards. Some of them are in other programs -- Demeter, for instance. Some of them aren't in any program.

To further complicate things, there are people who say they are growing organically but are not USDA certified because they are under the 5000K limit, or for other reasons: some of them are growing organically, but some of them have no idea what the standards actually are and may be in violation of them; and others, of course, may be in violation of them on purpose.



-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale







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