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This week we are featuring an opinion piece on a new organic standard entering the market. It is the first of a two part series which concludes next week with another perspective on the idea.
By Melody Meyer
Last fall the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) made the decision not to prohibit hydroponic and container growing methods in organic production. This decision left some members of the organic community infuriated and galvanized. They vowed to dig in and create a label that meant something more than the USDA seal. After a few short months the Real Organic Project (ROP) was formed by farmers and advocates who say they are reclaiming the original meaning of organic.
Dave Chapman is a tomato farmer in Vermont with a long history of soil advocacy. He is a member of the newly founded Real Organic Standards Board and he elaborated on what precipitated the move to create a new organic standard.
“There has been growing discontent with the NOP in the last few years," Chapman said. "Certainly the recent rapid spread of hydroponics in USDA certified berry and vegetable production has been a shock. To many of us, this is an abandonment of the basic principle of organic farming. Another alarming development has been the sudden increase of CAFO production in both dairy and poultry."
Chapman said the organic community has watched with a feeling of helplessness as “certified organic” has being redefined.
When asked if there was concern that another label in the market will create confusion for the consumer Chapman said “Yes, but I am more concerned that the consumer will be misled by avoiding that confusion. The truth is that the meaning of organic under the NOP is becoming more confusing by the day."
He continued "That isn’t because we are bickering about insignificant issues, but rather because the organic philosophy is getting lost in the rush for the marketplace. Issues such as animal welfare and nutrient density are not “outlier issues” to many of us. They are very close to our hearts, and they are the reason that many choose to spend their money on organic food."
Chapman said "The way to avoid so much confusion would be for the hydroponic producers to create their own label where they proudly advertised how they grow food without soil, using organic inputs. But that won’t happen, because they are pretty certain that people don’t want to buy food with a hydroponic label. So instead they have forced their way into the “certified organic” brand."
Chapman indicated that “There are millions of people who want real organic, but they don’t know how to find it. Due to bad labeling, one needs to be an expert to find a tomato grown with traditional organic practices. It is important to remember that the confusion is created by those changing the meaning of “organic.” It is not caused by the creation of new labels to represent these old ideas.”
The Real Organic Project, he said, is meant as an educational effort, helping both farmers and eaters to learn more about the biological foundation of healthy soil and healthy food. It is created to grow an alternative to what Michael Pollan called the “Organic Industrial Complex.”
