Organic Certified, Misleading labelling.

Are you referencing the lack of a global 'Organic' standard?  My understanding is that 'Organic' in the U.S. has very specific standards, regarding the growth of produce, raising cattle, as well as 'processed' foods. 

Care to comment about the USDA standards for 'Organic' passed in 2002 (I think that's the righ year)?

Thanks for the wake up call. It makes sense. Locally grown is something to consider. Like the 100 mile diet.

Great post, Paschen. You're absolutely right, there is simply no global consensus on standards for organic products — and local food, if it's available, does appear to be the best option in terms of health and environmental benefits.

my son and daughter-in-law are partial to organic and are looking for organic foods here in china too. i also supported the idea...that is until i read your post paschen. thanks.

If you want it done right you gotta do it yourself !

We support organic farming here in Israel. It is really becoming popular. The one advantage being a small country is that when we buy at the farmers market generally our produce is only a day or at the worst two days since picking. Pretty fresh by most standards. I hope that we can get an international standard developing that would help all of us. Also, there are framers that are not officially organic but use minimum chemicals for production.

I had a small farm once in the State of Maine in the US back in the 80's and farmed organically. It was quite a project. Often my veggies looked mighty weak along side my neighbors sprayed produce. But ours were generally sweet and raising young kids at the time we felt good about minimizing  the amount of chemicals in our produce.

Great article Paschen.

Good post, nice looking house, it that the new bathroom on the right? What crops will you grow? Rice?

You are absolutely right, Paschen. In Britain there is more so called organic food produced than there ia amount of farming land devoted to it!  The Soil Associatioon here certifies organics but we the consumer never get to see the certificates!  And the Soil Assocn. has \been p[rosecuted for giving 'misleading' (ie lying) information!  Different countries have different definitions.  It makes me very sceptical!

In the UK some certification is under the remit of the soil asociation and suppliers are expected to demonstrate that their proudce conforms to quite strict standards.

Herbicides and pesticides have always been a controversial area because much of oyr fresh supermarket product (and wines and beers) will have been liberally sprayed with these in the growth phase.   

It is a pity though that many people struggling in the "credit crunch" simply cannot afford organic produce, anyway, except now and again.

Good stuff, Paschen!

Good informative post Paschen.  I've enjoyed the read. A few years ago, I questioned the whole organic thing as have many local growers here on the Island.  In doing so, the local food has dropped in price, increased in quantity and amazingly both cucumbers and tomatoes have flavour again when in season.  The growers are not all certified as organic, but they have an open door policy to their methods of agriculture, so as consumers we are much more asured as to the quality.  The one common factor that's driving their growth seems to be quality as opposed to greed.  What a concept.....a business driven by a virtue as oppossed to a vice.

that is great info i thought organic satisfied was the it.

The group fights for the organic cause and truth in labeling.

You can sign up for their newsletters and legislative action alerts.

Yep organic is not always real organic. That is the problem with most labels.

When can you be sure? We have a nice guide:

Know what's in your food:

http://www.stichtingmilieunet.nl/andersbekekenblog/?p=1377

Hi there Paschen.. nice to post comment again..

Organic Farming in my our area is purely Synthetic Free nor use a checmical Fertilizer.

For example,In my farm, we use natural fertilizer coming from animal manure and the reason why its expensive is because the production is limited due to limited source of natural fertilizer rather than when we use insecticides and chemical inducers..

On the other hand, in my mango farm, we tried to induce  flower to selected trees by means of burning its leaves under the tree but it produce lesser than when we use chemical inducer.

CLUE to MANGO LOVERS --Choose the ones with dirty skin rather than clean and smooth ones because when the skin of the fruit has dark spots around its crown, its an evidence of its cleanliness and sweetness and insecticide free...^^

organic is just a scam = lower production per hectare than by controlling weeds and pests using a few chemicals

I see you do really know a lot about it. And sound science and facts wont help most likely to debate this here. Thanks for the visit matte, much appreciate.

Great post Paschen!

Very interesting, Paschen! Thanks!

yes i work in ag science area and know that often organic production is in also all cases more environmentally unsustainable than using modern agricultural techniques.

Soil fertility decline is just one critical aspect. It is virtually impossible to get enough nutrient into the ground through mulching and spreading animal waste.

Great matte, then you may be interested in this Post as well.

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/farming-out-drugs-and-pesticides-possible

I have been doing this for a very long time and if you like we can debate this respectfully and based on Science and studies.

Thank you for the comment.

There is a and are standards with in each and every country as well as state or Provinces, however their are variable and no uniformity, we do not have international standards nor do we have sound controls of the existing standards. If a product is certified in one place and then sold to another place where it is mixed with another product that was certified as well yet some where else and then sold to the consumer in yet another State, Country or province where yet other standards apply the consumer has no idea any longer nor can verify if this product he just bot is actually Organic or just certified Organic yet contains GMO and may be produced in a way he or she would not realize nor assume. 

In some cases By laws have been passed or amendment to allowing up to 15% GMO to the existing regulations. This the consumer does not know nor realize and is there for miss lead and in a way it is fraudulent, there for criminal. Yet legal.

Thank you Amy, Very much appreciated and yes it is in a way a scam and miss leading consumers as well as stealing money from consumers since we know people try to do their best and it is being exploited shamelessly.

Thank you Rhonda. Much appreciated.

Seem to be true in this case, sadly so though. Thank you for the read and comment here Emilio.

I think this was started in the UK in the 80th if i recall this correctly, It is actually a great Idea and well worth practising. It does pay off to since we get to know the people that do the work and produce the product. I do this when ever I can for all things even the Mechanic or parts and when ever possible. Thank you Sara for the Visit and comment.

That is a good way to practice it, I think, When ever available affordable and doable. Thank you Jarrett for the visit and comment here.

Thank you for the visit here and comment, Much appreciated.

Thank you for the visit and comment here Rumana I do appreciate it.

Indeed, there should be more uniform global standards and greater accountability in the accreditation process.  Still, I find that the current situation (at least in the U.S.) isn't completely useless, and I would make the point that though it make have its flaws it still serves to deliver what it promises in the majority of the cases.  But sure, unfortunately as greater and bigger corporate entities become involved in this process, it becomes more difficult to uphold the current standards, much less improve them.  More than likely we will have to focus on fighting the battle on not allowing any further loosening of the current standards.