This discussion is key to understanding what has become of organics. Early
in the evolution of the Organic Trade Association (formerly OFPANA), there
was a debate about whether the definition of organic should be based on the
distinction between "synthetic" and "natural" or on a concept referred to
as "agronomic responsibility," which involved criteria for ecological
management. The synthetic-natural side won, based primarily on the
rationale that consumers were already under the impression that organic
meant "no synthetics," and even though it was acknowledged that this was
very misleading and philosophically flawed, we couldn't risk confusing
consumers (or invest in trying to educate them). Continuing to hang
everything on this hook, despite many people's attempts to educate the
public about something that defies bumper-sticker definitions, is IMO a
prime source of the rampant confusion about the organic label.
Grace
At 08:14 AM 3/15/00 -0600, Kelly, Debi wrote:
>I'd like to take this on a little different turn. This paragraph written by
>Ronald Nigh stuck out to me:
>
>"The American consumer is sensible enough to know that industrialized
>agriculture has produced quantity and sacrificed quality. Anyone who
>thinks the average American diet based on processed food, fast food and the
>like is remotely "healthy" just because modern food science refuses to
>really address the issues is involved in a colossal self-delusion."
>
>I believe that most consumers (eaters) don't know where their food comes
>from. They are totally ignorant to the differences of how and where food is
>produced. To site an example:
>
>I had been helping a certified organic dairy producer in the state. She was
>doing some taste testing of their milk in a local MO grocery store chain.
>The tv station came by to do an interview with her. While this was
>occurring, folks were still passing her milk tasting station. A middle aged
>woman and her father stopped. They read the sign "certified organic milk"
>"produced locally on our farm". Their conversation went something like this
>- organic milk. what's that. i don't know. guess it means it came
>straight from the cow - They tasted it, looked at the price and went about
>their business of shopping.
>
>Also, terms are so confusing nowadays - organic, naturally grown, pesticide
>free plus tons more of eco-labeling terms. Not to mention that where the
>term organic is located on the packaging of a product tells a consumer just
>how much of the product is truly organic. I didn't even know about this one
>until just recently and I like to think of myself as educated. Talk about
>confusing.
>
>Try this sometime if you really want to know how much the consumer knows
>about their food and how it's produced. Stand next to the applesauce in
>your local grocery store. Pick up a Mussellman's "naturally grown"
>applesauce and then ask those standing next to you looking at the
>applesauces to tell you what the label means. Bet if you do that for an
>hour, you'd get just about as many differing answers as you do people you
>ask.
>
>I believe education of the consumer is just as important, if not perhaps
>more important then other factors, to the goal of producing our food in a
>sustainable and local fashion. Afterall, without the consumer to purchase
>what we produce then why produce it?
>
>Urban dwellers can't relate to agriculture anymore. They are to distant
>from it. But they do relate to food. Perhaps we need to take a little bit
>of a different tactic with agriculture. Instead of always using the term
>agriculture, why not start substituting the term food. Food (and fiber) is
>the connection between rural and urban.
>
>On a lighter note, my 4 year old son was helping me make dinner the other
>night. I handed him the carton of eggs and then turned to grab something
>else we needed. I heard him open the carton and say, "mom, look, chocolate
>eggs!" I spun around so fast to tell him he knew better than that but when
>I did, I caught his eyes dancing and his facing smiling. He knew he had
>pulled one over on mom!
>
>I believe we need to educate the consumer (eater) and most importantly, our
>young. Mary, do you have anything you'd like to add?
>
>debi kelly
>MAC
>
>Debi Kelly, Project Manager
>Missouri Alternatives Center
>University of Missouri
>531 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211
>573-882-1905, 800-433-3704 (MO only)
>kellyd@umsystem.edu
>http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac
>
>"There's no need to sustain the farm if there's no family to be
>sustained upon it."
>
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