At 11:12 PM 10/26/97 -0500, Sprinkraft@aol.com wrote:
>Sal:
>
>What seems to have happened in CA is that the state has confused their
>"registration" program with a certification program. And to infer anything
>more, as if they are preparing for a state-operated program, would I suppose
>be speculation. Perhaps they are just experimenting, and you are the
>reluctant guinea pig. The NOP, judging from what is in OFPA, does not mandate
>dual certification, but that the state will accredit the certifiers within
>their jurisdiction.....not force the growers or handlers to jump through an
>identical set of hoops. That is dual certification, and OFPA/NOP/ is all
>about putting and end to all that.
>
>My take on the USDA program is that, for one, WE all have to make this
>efficient, fair and effective without onerous charges on the producer. We
>probably have a long way to go once the Proposed Rule is out. Changing the
>Rule and our ongoing participation with local, regional, state, federal and
>imnternational regulators will be of much service.
>
>It has been my experience that the door to our participation is open, and it
>is mandated in the OFPA as well...and here in Texas we have two TDA mandated
>committees that provide input and can serve to represent growers. One deals
>with standards and enforcement and the other is on marketing.
>
>I don't know what the deal is really about the wall between organic growers
>and government...time to bust that down. A few weeks ago TDA appointed a new
>organic certification director, Leslie McKinnon, a woman with bio-control
>background from within the department. Our first impulse here was to throw
>her a party and invite all the players to come and bring a casserole and some
>beer and chat with her and have a few modest talks about stuff. This is what
>we tend to do here.... just keep open the lines of communication and allow
>the certifier/government people to know who we are...with farm tours, parties
>and casual phone chat.....I got the impression that this is what is happening
>in Iowa and Indiana also. If the county is doing something that is not just a
>duplication but actually a short term mistake, i.e., a misread on the
>registration program, you can begin to change that....but I would like to
>know what CDFA's position and empowerment is with that....or is it just a SB
>County program? Did the legislature add something to the California law, or
>was it done administratively with county-based discretion?
>
>Let me know. Steve
>
>
>
>
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