I've read all of the debate going back and forth these past few weeks,
and I'm starting to get more confused than I was when I first read the
standards! As I understand it, if an organic farmer grows food at higher
than the proposed standard, he will still be able to call his food
organic, using the national label.
Eric: That is correct under OFPA.
But he will not be able to label his
food as being organic AND "more organic" than the government standard.
Eric: Any certified farm or handling operation can label their product as
"organic" under OFPA, just not "more organic" than other organic farms. Any
person can certify or make a truth claim about any product. The only
limitation under OFPA is claiming that a specific certified farm or handling
operation's product is "more organic" than any other certified farm or
handling operation. The reason for setting up a consistent and uniform
"organic" standard is to assure the customer is getting what they are paying
for. A product that produced and handled utilizing a system of farming and
handling that has been established as a national standard.
I
thought that they didn't want to prohibit these growers from being called
organic, but they wanted to prohibit them from claiming that they were
using higher standards than the government.
Eric: That is consistent with OFPA.
(Which I still think is
ridiculous).
Eric: the National Organic Standard was created for the purposes stated in
OFPA.
§2102 PURPOSES.
It is the purpose of this title
(1) to establish national standards governing the marketing of certain
agricultural products as organically produced products;
(2) to assure consumers that organically produced products meet a consistent
standard; and
(3) to facilitate interstate commerce in fresh and processed food that is
organically produced.
Am I right, or utterly confused?
Aleta Cheal
Organic gardener, consumer, and student
acheal@juno.com
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