What does the Future Hold for Organic Food Sector?

Users have long heard allegations of counterfeit organic grain entering the market abroad, pushing down prices for American farmers.

Fremont, CA: As the organic industry in the United States has topped $60 billion in sales in recent years, organic farmers, businesses, and activists have been involved in a fierce dispute concerning the strength and integrity of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic standards.

Now, the government has begun to take action to close some of the gaps that campaigners have long pointed out. However, for the rising number of groups pressing ahead with plans to increase the reach of various "add-on" labels that incorporate higher criteria, it may be too little, too late.

Users have long heard allegations of counterfeit organic grain entering the market abroad, pushing down prices for American farmers. However, the USDA issued a widely anticipated regulation to handle imports last week, which raises unannounced inspections, improves record-keeping standards, and demands supply chain audits for select enterprises.

Dave Chapman, co-director of the Real Organic Project (ROP) and a Vermont farmer, was less enthused. They regard organic certification of hydroponic gardens that do not cultivate plants in soil and vast industrial meat operations that cage thousands of animals as antithetical to what organic stands for.

Interestingly, exactly Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) label, a complementary organic certification that debuted with ROP, has developed in the other manner. It began with more foreign credentials and is now establishing itself more on American farms.

ROP worked with a coalition of other groups the previous year to rally support for those farms, encouraging its farmers to sign petitions and contact their officials while accusing Danone of abandoning organic values. While payments may help farmers soon, Chapman believes that cracking down upon the new generation of giant organic dairies that confine thousands of cows indoors would accomplish considerably more. After all, big farms are helping drive down costs, making it hard for more miniature farms breeding pasture-raised cows to compete.

However, with several alternative viewpoints on what organic should and shouldn't be, numerous interests engaged, and a government body that moves slowly, the future appears far more problematic.