On Sat, 8 Nov 1997 Erorganic@aol.com wrote:
> Do you feel that "organic" as we understand it
> or according to NOSB is "sustainable?"
>
> eak: I do not know how you understand organic. As a farmer, knowledgeable of
> virtually every kind of organic farm production, I would say that the very
> basis of organic farming is environmental sustainability. Economic
> sustainability is within the control of organic farmers. Number one is every
> organic farm has to be efficient in biological management, labor management,
> mechanical management and in marketing. Additionally, flexibility in what
> the farmer produces plays a very large part in continually adapting and
> staying ahead of the market, that is the consumers interest, needs and
> desires. All these concerns make every type of farmer and especially organic
> farmers "sustainable". The NOSB has limited knowledge on all aspects of real
> organic farm sustainability. LIkewise does USDA. So do consumers. Thus the
> reason the organic farmers need to be at the forefront along with consumers
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I assume you mean _all_ the organic farmers, necessarily including the
small farmers forming those Fertile Crescents around the cities and towns
local to them and who contribute so substantially to the quality of the
food available in those locales and equally to quality of life there
through the cohesive and functional communities that result in part
from the positive role they play in those communities.
Food doesn't just come from supermarkets, chain markets and restaurants.
Include fair rules for the small farmer to play by in the OFPA rulebook.
Your input can count in this process. I hope you'll act on behalf
of the small farmer.
Lawrence
> (because what they want is what must be fulfilled to have market permanence)
> to make sure the organic standards and procedures are workable and efficient.
> We need all the help we can get from informed consumers to create a USDA
> National Organic Program that works for the steward of the land the consumer.
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