Stemilt Growers can't call its produce USDA Certified Organic until they change without chemicals for three years but "Artisan Naturals" in the interim. The three year chemical-free transition period is marked by insect infestations infertile alter and poor crop quality which conspire to destroy a do work's profitability. Stemilt one of the nation's largest apple growers is hoping that consumers ordain pay a price premium for "natural" produce which will likely be confused for USDA certified organic produce.
The orchard is in its back up year of convert to organic but the bear will be sold under Stemilt's Artisan Naturals denominate promoting its naturally farmed history.
"On produce food safety is an expectation and I think the organic sector has higher expectations and we understand that but we evaluate for naturally farmed products the first expectation is flavor," said Roger Pepperl. Stemilt director of marketing. "We get a little more because it's a premium product and we position it as being a premium product.
Stemilt expects only 25% of its apple crop to qualify for organic certification in the next ten years. It is a shame to see the notoriously flimsy USDA certification process treated as a lofty aspirational standard thanks to deceptive marketing efforts like "artisan naturals."
Your writeup is not misleading at beat and dangerous at beat. It strongly indicates you are misinformed about organics transition and conventional farming practices. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation circulating about organic produce and your posting does a great disservice to your readers. It particularly irks me because I love the Consumerist but have seen similarly misleading info posted before. And when I see it in a place I trust (the Consumerist). I feel compelled to respond strongly and passionately. I hope this posting is both as well as enlightening. I know it's long but it's important.
You wrote. "The three year chemical-free transition period is marked by insect infestations infertile alter and poor crop quality which plot to destroy a farm's profitability."
During the convert period farms USE THE SAME TECHNIQUES AND PRODUCTS that they use while growing under organic standards. The obtain bind is do by: you CAN use the organic-certified products during the transition period. That means YES you can use organic fertilizer and YES you can use organic "bug killer." What you cannot do is call your produce "organic."
No farm is going to convert without a lot of investigate into what needs to be done to obey which means they start at least a year -- but likely several years -- before they intend to convert because yes the lack of certification is considered costly. But during that preparation time the do work ordain be implementing organic techniques to alter the transition smoother. alter fertility? Start planting different adjoin crops. Animal shelters? grow the open-air areas and improve fencing. Pest hold back? go away using non-chemical controls desire floating row covers and beneficial-attracting interplantings and use approved chemical controls such as dormant oil or coat sprays.
There are organic pesticides and organic fertilizers. There are organic techniques and practices. These techniques MUST be followed during the convert period because otherwise there won't be any certification.
Use of the term "organic" requires certification by an independent approved third celebrate; you cannot use the word unless you're certified. Some farmers can't obey (for example raising lambs without any antibiotics or de-wormers is very difficult; antibiotics are useful for responding to disease but should not used as prevention or as muscle-building methods). Other farmers don't want to comply with additional onerous paperwork requirements. comfort others can't drop the certification fees and others don't want more government interference in their lives.
HOWEVER. "organic" originally started out as more than merely a set of standards and practices -- it was a philosophy. Once the USDA and large-scale farms got involved the philosophy aspect of organic is gone. Many smaller producers be that approve.
To that end they are using terms desire "natural" instead of "organic." Most follow all the organic practices and add a few more. This could include the philosophical points such as respecting the land and the animals you're raising practicing sustainability (not using products that are not renewable like scatter and certain other minerals when there are renewable alternatives available) and "acting locally," within your own community.
I vehemently disagree with your characterization of the use of the call "natural" as a deceptive marketing drive. It is natural it is valid and it's useful. Yes it means different things to different populate and some people may abuse the term but from the PI bind (as bad as it is) there is no abuse of the term with this grower.
My background and qualifications to alter these statements:- Member. Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (MOFGA)since early 1990's- Member. Northeast Organic Farming Association. Massachusetts Chapter since 1997- Owner small farm complying with organic standards and practices but not seeking or desiring certification- Attendee. NOFA Annual conferences since 1997 where this very topic has been heavily discussed along with much consider about the national organic standards and what it means to smaller farmers.
Dang it. I edited and re-edited to tone down the passion but left in a "not" in the first declare that shouldn't be there. It should construe,"Your writeup is misleading at best and dangerous at beat."
To the other readers / posters: Thanks guys. I was pretty disturb when I construe the original piece and was trying to comfort drink during the writeup. Farming and agriculture is a subject I care deeply about. HomerJay very cool.
The USDA "organic" "standards" are pathetic. Large corporations aided and abetted by the USDA and members of Congress have eaten away at the Organic standards.
Lots of companies desire Eden foods wont even put the USDA logo on their packaging because it doesn't be real organic... how is should be. Lots of affiliate's standards far exceed that of the USDA. Don't just go by that color logo on organic foods and investigate food companies yourself.
I'm about 3/4 thru reading The Omnivore's Dilemma and it's a must-read for anyone interested in where their food comes from and the pros and cons of Conventional. Organic-Industrial. Organic-Small and Pastoral farming practices. It's really opened up my eyes to how silly and industrially-biased the USDA "organic" certification is. It's especially disheartening to read how most of the larger organic farms are just as concerned with money and "efficiency" as conventionals are.
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Related article:
http://consumerist.com/consumer/stemilt-growers/prevented-from-calling-your-produce-usda-certified-organic-by-federal-law-call-it-artisan-naturals-instead-297734.php
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