The organic movement has gone gangbusters. As a result of its popularity, changes are being made on both ends: attempts for more stringent regulations to keep organic standards high and attempts at fewer regulations to help fuel the spread of the high-grossing organics industry.

But, even with the increasing popularity and availability of organic foods and products, for someone striving to stay committed to choosing organic, it can be hard to decipher all of the information that’s printed—from boycotts to genetic engineering to small organic companies being sold to large corporations not typically known for their commitment to sustainability. It can also be difficult to hear the positive in often negative information; for example, the many number of farms that have converted from using conventional methods to organic methods of growing.

So, New Life Journal asked area experts the same three questions to find out their opinion on where the organic movement is now—locally and beyond—and where it’s headed in the future. We asked:

1. What do you think have been the three most significant announcements, changes, proposed regulations or pieces of legislature passed in the organic industry in 2007?

2. How have changes in organics affected the Southeast region—from Western North Carolina to North Georgia? Did any state or area specific legislature arise recently?

3. How do you think the past year in organics will affect the movement’s future? Are there any proposed pieces of legislature that will definitely pop up in 2008?

Suzanne Welander
Communications and outreach director, Georgia Organics
This past year, Georgia Organics and partners successfully fought off a policy change proposed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture that would have required raw milk to be dyed to discourage human consumption. A similar proposal in NC went into effect in November 2007. The University of Georgia increased support of sustainable and organic agriculture by starting an organic certificate program and hiring a Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator. And, Tommy Irvin, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Commissioner attended the Georgia Organics Conference for the first time. Later in the year, the GDA made a financial commitment to support the Georgia Organics’ 2008 Annual Conference and additional outreach initiatives.

In Georgia, there is a recommendation being put forward for the legislature to develop a study group on organics to make recommendations for future policy consideration. We’re also hoping that 2008 will see Georgia’s legislature pass laws allowing direct consumer sales of home-baked and canned products like pickles, jellies and honey, etc. Food choices are a direct way for consumers to protect the environment three times a day. Agricultural policy has a huge impact on the food choices available to citizens and, as a result, should be a central issue of importance to all of our presidential candidates in 2008.

Daniel Parson
Organic grower and garden manager, greater-Atlanta’s Gaia Gardens
The proposed rule on leafy greens was important. To combat the conditions that led to spinach contamination earlier last year, the USDA proposed to require extensive testing for pre-washed greens. This didn’t affect me, because I don’t process greens before sale, but the possibility of these regulations becoming more generalized is a problem for me. A large processor may be able to test the water each harvest, each day, or for each batch, but a small grower like me couldn’t afford it. There were also some changes to the allowed synthetics list for organic processors. The lesson here is that an organic tater tot is still not the healthiest way to eat potatoes. The healthiest choice is to prepare whole foods at home, but, as an alternative, I think we all want to see organic processed foods stay true to the original intent of the movement.

I think we’ll soon see the government getting involved in sustainable and natural certifications, because there seems to be a need for designations other than “organic.” I also see the corporate food producers/processors continuing to push the limit of what organic means. As a certified grower, I do think people should buy organic, but they should also look beyond the label to select the best products. Someone at the recent Sustainable Atlanta Round Table asked me how to ensure that you can trust the food behind the “organic” label. I responded that when they see me at market and buy my organic products, they can look me in the eye and ask me anything about how my food is produced.

Roland McReynolds
Executive director, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Three NC family owned dairies won organic certification in 2007, proving that we can raise organic livestock in our region. The three farms produce milk for Organic Valley, a farmer-owned cooperative that makes organic dairy products with integrity. There was a lot of coverage nationally of the decertification of a 6,000-cow corporate “organic” dairy in Colorado this past year, which has exposed many of the loopholes that plague organic dairying under the USDA’s regime. The proven success of our family farms in producing organic milk is hopeful news.

The Farm Bill also has a lot of possible good news for organics—if it ever gets passed. Those hoping for a seismic shift in the Farm Bill’s twisted incentive structures are sorely disappointed, as the bill versions passed by the House and Senate are still dominated by massive subsidies to corporate agriculture. But, over the last several Farm Bills, we’ve seen progress. A particular change this year that is both symbolic and substantive is the addition of the title “Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.” Once you’ve got your own exclusive section in the Farm Bill, it’s pretty hard to take it away in future editions. Additionally, the title strengthens the programs contained within it by funding them for the five-year duration of the bill. See the Organic Farming Research Foundation’s Farm Bill report at http://ofrf.org/policy/federal_legislation/farm_bill/071210_update.pdf.
In North Carolina, CFSA hosted our first-ever legislative breakfast on organic agriculture. A large number of senators and representatives from both parties turned out to hear from organic farmers and businesses about the potential for organics to preserve our family farms and our agricultural traditions, and they were very receptive.
Ultimately, the consumer is driving the organic train, and local organic is the “gold standard” for consumers concerned about their health and the impact of their food choices on the community at large. Whether Congress and the state legislatures catch on to this reality in 2008 or not, the market for this food will continue to grow this year, and where dollars lead, farmers and food businesses will follow. Activists will continue to police the integrity of organic certification to prevent bogus “organic” claims from corporate farms, be they in Colorado or China. Of course, global climate change and increasing oil prices will also have a say in how we produce and purchase food. As the cost of oil shoots past $100 a barrel, the petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides essential to corporate conventional agriculture will become more expensive and scarce. Ready or not, we are going to be returning to local, organic food systems, and this trend will likely accelerate in 2008.

For more information on farms and food production in our area, as well as more information about the experts, visit www.georgiaorganics.org, web.mac.com/danielparson, and www.carolinafarmstewards.org.

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