Don't pollute the organic market

[nosmokes]

Co-op Ponders Withdrawal from Organic Trade Association After Sneak Attack on Organic Standards

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/editorials/ci_3276022

Don't pollute the organic market

Editorial
Berkshire Eagle (Massachusetts)

Sunday, December 04

Art Ames was on his way to Colorado recently for a conference of co-op
market managers and members when the U.S. Senate went into the back room to
draw up rules compromising the integrity of organically labeled products. It
would be a stretch to suggest that senators used the moment when Mr. Ames
and his group, the National Cooperative Grocers Association, were away from
their desks to pull a fast one, but when the organically conscious grocers
heard about the impending congressional action to lessen organic standards
an uproar ensued.


Within days thousands of calls went out to senators. Senator Kennedy's
office was shocked by the spontaneous grass-roots response to the small rule
change that didn't even appear on the congressional docket, according to Mr.
Ames, who also was impressed by how fast and furious members of the
Berkshire Co-op Market that he manages were to shout their disapproval
alongside co-op members nationwide.


The grocers association won a short-lived victory in postponing Senate
action on rules that have been hotly debated this past year, since a small
farmer in Maine drew national attention for challenging USDA organic
standards. Organic blueberry farmer Arthur Harvey sued the United States
Department of Agriculture in federal court over allowing synthetics into
organically labeled products, the court sided with the farmer and ordered
the USDA to comply. Instead of instituting the most rigorous standards for
organic food, the USDA and organic industry special interests, more
concerned with profits than integrity, predictably set out to rewrite the
laws on what is and what is not organic.
~snip~
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But there is still hope and people like Mr. Ames and members of the
Berkshire Co-op are still fighting for the purity of the organic trade, and
further debate is certain in Washington. Lawmakers should fight for what's
right in this case, truth in advertising of organic products.
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