Organic labeling confuses(?) farmers

[nosmokes]

original-recordonline

After reading the article and knowing farmers, I take issue the word *Confuses* in the headline. Angers,Dismays,Irritates,Rips-Off,Aggrieves,I could go on with a list of adverbs, adjectives(?) but I don't think there's much confusion about the organic label or the regs or the impact. Oh, there might be a question or two about certain specifics in the minutia of the legalese but over all a guy knows when he's getting fucked no matter how much lube you use.
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Organic labeling confuses farmers
By Matt King


Times Herald-Record
[email protected]
November 11, 2007

# There's a tectonic shift under way in organic agriculture. An organic label was once a way for smaller farms to find a market niche with produce free of synthetic chemicals.

But as the demand for organic produce and other products has grown, large farms have started muscling in, sparking intense competition for space in farmers markets, health food stores and chain supermarkets.

The shift toward big organic has farmers feeling like they must choose between the principles of healthy eating and environmental stewardship that sprouted the organic movement and federally sanctioned organic certification, which is essentially a marketing program.

The federal standards are based on those created by farmers 36 years ago, but to organic true believers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program is at best flawed and at worst, a sham.

The standards allow some naturally derived chemicals and about 140 synthetics. The USDA gets blamed for turning a grass-roots movement into a program to benefit giant farms and stores that want to sell "organic" products with synthetic ingredients and import organic-labeled products from other countries, including China.

"High standards keep family farmers in the game," said Liana Hoodes of Pine Bush, the organic policy coordinator with the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture. "When standards are pushed down by the marketing end so more products can be produced, that hurts family farmers."

The rules do have defenders.

USDA officials say they're fair because they treat all farmers the same. And the rules promote crops grown with minimal environmental impact or pesticide residues, said Sarah Johnston, an organic specialist with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

"The various and sundry details may be less important than the overall rules," Johnston said. "We should fight for the important issues and not condemn (the law) in its entirety for its smaller imperfections."

Five years after the organic standards were adopted, mid-Hudson farmers are still struggling to find their place in the market. Some have turned their backs on it, some have decided to join a system they can't beat, and others are looking to get their own small slice of the organic pie.

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complete article here