>I don't have to let anyone come and check me and decide if I am organic
>enough. I grow by the rules and don't need any big brother watching over me
>. if you think I am lying get a searchwarrent convince a judge you have a
>reason to look. this is America I don't have to prove I am not guilty every
>year year after year. you don't ask that of chemical grower why pick on me.
>why you forcing us to play these games is wrong. in some states you pay $10
>in some states you pay 2000 dollars for the same verification whets is fair
>about that. why do I pay more in Ca. than Ky. what is far about that. how
>the Fed. gov. and state force me to pay more here than in KY.
>the fairness of the same prices for the same thing ? where is my robe of
>innocence why am I guilty and have to pay to prove I am telling the truth
>over and over again just because the year changes.
What does a "robe of innocence" have to do with anything? We are
talking about regulation within the *commercial* sphere, not a criminal
proceeding.
And while we're at it, what ever led you to expect that regulation
would be uniform (you call it "fair") from state to state, or even town
to town? That sort of variation is precisely what localised (rather
than federal) control is all about. This is America, and there is
absolutely nothing preventing you from moving to Kentucky if you find
the regulatory and administrative environment in California so onerous.
I've built and renovated several houses over the years, and what do you
know --- there's variation in building codes, permit requirements, fee
structure, and administrative burden from place to place. Big deal.
I've also done a major renovation in a jurisdiction where there is no
code at all or even any requirement to get a permit. I've always built
to code (actually, way better than code). I *know* that I build better
than code, but I don't run around being a cry-baby about permits, fees,
and building inspections in those places where they are required.
Regulations, inspections, permits, fees, and paperwork are absolutely
normal in the commercial sphere. If you're selling food, you're in the
commercial sphere, and you should *expect* regulation.
Organic farmers, especially small growers, would do far better to stop
moaning about organic certification --- which can help their businesses
--- and start paying attention to the REAL threats to their survival.
a) the looming application of HACCP requirements to *all* produce
growers, regardless of size.
b) the possible application of migrant labor laws to "apprentices /
interns" on organic farms.
c) the rapid disappearance of small processing plants and
slaughterhouses.
If you're an organic produce grower on this list and you *don't* know
about HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) I suggest you
find out sooner rather than later. It *will* affect your operation
within a few years, maybe a few months. It is a major food safety issue
(far more important than chemical residues in terms of the number of
acute illnesses). It can shut you down. The application of HACCP
requirements to produce will almost certainly be nationwide.
State application of migrant labor laws to apprentices/interns has
already put one vegetable farm out of business. There may be more.
Small scale processing is one of the best ways for the small grower to
add value to crops. Unfortunately, it is getting harder and harder to
find places who will do this work for you. Many slaughterhouses now set
minimum-kill requirements far in excess of what small growers are able
to bring forward --- 5000 turkeys, for example.
Energy spent complaining is far better applied to a serious and
dispassionate analysis of the opportunities and threats facing the
business. Coupled with honest analysis of strengths and weaknesses,
such study can make the difference between success and failure. Where
strengths overlap an opportunity, there is the potential for
substantial profit. Where weaknesses overlap a threat, there is a
serious problem.
HACCP and other potential regulations *are* a substantial threat,
especially for the small grower. In that environment, reactive (as
opposed to adaptive) attitudes towards regulation would seem to be a
significant weakness with the potential to undermine survivability.
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