Is Organic Food the New Agri-Business?

[Miss Maia]

When we as consumers purchase food and drink brandishing the well known and easily recognizable green and white "USDA Certified Organic" label, we assume and expect that what we are buying is not only free of harmful chemicals, but is also produced in a strictly regulated and environmentally friendly way. But with the explosion of organic goods readily available, is that really the case anymore? Not according to a recently published Washington Post article.

The USDA currently regulates all organic products, a $23 billion per year industry, through the National Organic Program. Yet since it's inception in 2002, organic certification standards have become more lax each year, and the program has fallen prey to food industry lobbyists.

Take this quote from Joe Smillie, USDA National Organic Standards Board Member, "People are really hung up on regulations, I say, 'Let's find a way to bend that one, because it's not important.' . . . What are we selling? Are we selling health food? No. Consumers, they expect organic food to be growing in a greenhouse on Pluto. Hello? We live in a polluted world. It isn't pure. We are doing the best we can."

What can we do as consumers to avoid purchasing faux-ganic products, despite their having been labeled as so? How about shifting our focus and dollars away from trendy health food chain grocery stores and towards our local farmers and grocers.

[Miss Maia]

I also prefer to shop at a small neighborhood grocer over a big corporate grocery store, no mater how trendy and chic they may be.

[Esther]

Yep, I agree too. We all have to educate ourselves, and read beyond the label. I also agree about local. Whenever possible, I much prefer to support local farmers (I want to KNOW where my food comes from).

[Dennis M. Hallinan]

USDA Organic is the height of hypocrisy. I too look for other certifications when buying organic.

[Susie-Q]

I agree. I think the farmer's market and local CSA are the way to go. I also look for independently certified organic food by organizations such as Oregon Tilth, QAI and others. I don't rely on the familiar USDA label because I'm aware that their standards are constantly slipping.

I also like to keep up with the Organic Trade Association. But in the end, I am very disappointed by the standards that the USDA puts forward. We should be able to trust the label to be attached to only the highest standards.