The reply by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (Certificate required to prove food is organic; May 8) to the letter (Who checks on claims of foods being organic?; April 29) raises even more concerns and questions on the authenticity of food labelled and sold as organic in Singapore.

I have seen organic corn that is supposed to be grown locally, but there was no mention on the label as to who certified that farm to be organic.

A conventional farm needs to undergo three years of stringent and expensive checks by certifying bodies in order to be qualified as organic.

There are organic vegetables in our supermarkets that are imported from as far as Holland and Peru, aside from Australia, Malaysia and Thailand.

So my questions are:

Is it not possible for a certified organic farm to produce a small amount of organic food for show and authentication purposes, but then supply many tonnes more from an adjacent non-organic farm and lump them all together as organic?

Is it not possible for the suppliers to Singapore supermarkets to import a small amount of certified organic produce, and then mix this with non-organic produce and label all as organic? Who checks on this aspect and how is it done?

As an agronomist, I can safely say that it is technically and agronomically near-impossible to produce truly organic food consistently, season after season and year after year, and in large amounts.

This is especially true in the tropics where pressures from diseases and pests are extremely high, as there are no cold winters to break their life cycles. The limited arsenal of organic pesticides is not robust and efficacious enough.

The AVA says original organic certificates are needed for verification and even then, "when required".

This can certainly lead to fraudulent behaviour along the organic food supply chain.

The AVA needs to have a more drilled-down and robust system to ensure the organic food that consumers are paying for is indeed organic.

Liew Ching Seng

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More stringent checks needed on organic food - The Straits Times

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the popularity of organic food continues to grow, so too will the challenges associated with maintaining organic food supply chains. Organic food supply chains are too often faced with heavy pressure to increase their output to keep up with consumer demand for organic food products, and supply chain management is becoming increasingly complicated.

This is according to SpendEdge, in their blog titled Challenges in Maintaining Organic Food Supply Chains.

A major hindrance to supply chains, says SpendEdge, is the complexity and risk that comes with organic farming. They say, In addition to the real physical risks posted by the increased threats of pests and other crop-destroying influences, its costly and time-consuming for farmers to convert to organic farming. In the US, land used for organic farming cannot have had prohibited substances, including many pesticides, used on it for a period of 36 months before produce grown on it can be sold as organic. There are less organic farmers than non-organic farmers, and that it is more of a challenge to find reliable and steady suppliers of truly organic produce that can meet industry demands.

SpendEdge continues, The seasonality of certain organic crops and the inability to grow sufficient amounts to meet customer demands in specific regions is also a challenge for the supply chain Often, businesses will have to use multiple suppliers in order to procure all of the ingredients, crops, or products that they need.

For more insights, get in touch with SpendEdge procurement market intelligence experts

Businesses must optimize their food supply chains and procurement strategies in order to remain successful and generate profits from organic food products.

Read the entire blog here: https://www.spendedge.com/blogs/challenges-maintaining-organic-food-supply-chains

More information on the latest procurement trends and how Fortune 500 companies are adopting procurement intelligence to their advantage can be found using resources from SpendEdge. These resources are compiled from SpendEdges team of 500+ procurement solutions experts.

About SpendEdge

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are a preferred market intelligence partner for leading Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across a variety of industries. Our strength lies in delivering actionable insights that help sourcing and procurement professionals get the right information in the right format, without any unnecessary frills.

Our procurement market intelligence coverage extends across critical processes of sourcing strategy planning and helps clients achieve more than just monetary savings. Our procurement insights are well-defined to meet the information needs of procurement organizations, and are aimed at helping category managers extract hidden values out of sourcing teams, suppliers, contracts, and processes.

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Organic Food Supply Chain Management Becoming More Complex ... - Business Wire (press release)

Emily Drooby

May 12th 2017 11:34AM

There are several reasons why it's best to buy organic, but buying organic may not always be best!

You might be used to paying extra for avocado, but don't buy organic. According to Cheat Sheet, their thick skin protects them from pesticides.

The same goes for pineapple, cantaloupe, and kiwis. Lisa Lee Freeman, a savings expert at Flipp, says never buy organic seafood either -- because organic seafood is farmed, not caught, wild-caught fish is healthier.

Pests don't like the bitter taste of asparagus, so it's less likely to need pesticide protection. It's also why Cheat Sheet suggests not buying organic onions.

So, what should you buy? Freeman suggests buying grass-fed meat.

Related: Food shopping on a budget

26 PHOTOS

How to Buy Organic Foods on a Budget

See Gallery

The Environmental Working Group has identified 12 fruits and vegetables you should be buying organic and 12 fruits and vegetables that are least likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues.

Peaches: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Stuart Minzey/ Getty Images

Apples: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Digital Vision/ Getty Images

Sweet Bell Peppers: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Steve Wisbauer/ Getty Images

Celery: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Ursula Alter/ Getty Images

Nectarines: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Rosemary Calvert/ Getty Images

Strawberries: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Lew Robertson/ Getty Images

Cherries: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Chris Stein/ Getty Images

Pears: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Sasha Bell/ Getty Images

Grapes: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Echo/ Getty Images

Spinach: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Rob MacDougall/ Getty Images

Lettuce: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Visuals Unlimited Inc./ Inga Spence/ Getty Images

Potatoes: Buy Organic

Image Credit: Adam Gault/ Getty Images

Papaya: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Riou/ Getty Images

Broccoli: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Mint Images/Tim Pannell/ Getty Images

Cabbage: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Mint Images/ Tim Pannell/ Getty Images

Bananas: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Andrew Dernie/ Getty Images

Kiwi: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Paul Frederiksen Jr./ Getty Images

Frozen Sweet Peas: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Kroeger Gross/ Getty Images

Asparagus: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Bill Deering/ Getty Images

Mango: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Rosemary Calvert/ Getty Images

Pineapple: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Rosemary Calvert/ Getty Images

Frozen Corn: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Richard Clark/ Getty Images

Avocado: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Rick Lew/ Getty Images

Onions: Don't Buy Organic

Image Credit: Phillip Hayson/ Getty Images

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7 foods you should never buy organic - AOL

Dive Brief:

Organic grain-based food producers are struggling to keep up with U.S. consumer demand, according to Food Business News.

Suppliers of organic wheat, yeast, dough strengtheners, oils and other ingredients have implemented strategies to boost acreage and specialty ingredient production, but organic demand is so strong that hardly any domestically grown organic wheat, corn or soybeans is exported.

Organic food sales are expected to see a CAGR of 7.6% to 2025, according to Rabobank figures although it warns the lack of an established supply chain could restrict further growth. John David Roeg, senior consumer foods analyst for Rabobank said:Food producers should increase their focus on organic, through new products and brands, or through the reformulation of existing products to help grow their top lines. This will also help them to position themselves as responsible businesses.

There is now more organic farming in the United States than ever before. The number of organic operations increased 12% in 2015 from the prior year, according to USDA figures, and is up nearly 300% since 2002. However, farms classified as organic still account for just 0.7% of the total operations in the U.S.

The main problem for farmers is that converting from conventional to organic farmland is time consuming and expensive. It takes at least three years, during which time farmers must use organic practices but are not paid organic prices.

There are plenty of incentives for U.S. farmers to make the switch to organic farming, including the USDAs Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)which offers first-time organic farmers technical assistance as well as a one-off payment that varies by region. Food manufacturers and retailers also have put programs in place as they struggle to meet their needs for organic ingredients and products. Stonyfield Farms, Organic Valley, Whole Foods and Natures Path Foods are among those who have offered grants and technical assistance to farmers in an effort to boost supply.

For many manufacturers it is often a challenge to source organic ingredients, whether they be specialty ingredients like organic herbs and spices, which may not be grown in the U.S., or mainstream commodity crops like wheat. Digital platforms have been set up to help, such as GreenTrade.net or Mercaris Auction Platform, which claims to have traded 280,000 bushels of organic grain so far this year more than what was traded during the whole of 2016.

The Organic Trade Association also provides a range of resources for suppliers and manufacturers alike, including pricing and market data, and a directory of certified organic suppliers.Shortages of some organic products have cause price spikes. In some cases, livestock producers, hungry for organic feeds, have imported it from overseas because they can't find enough domestically.

Some grocery stores and restaurants have worked closely with farmers and ranchers to give them an idea as to how much of the product they will need in the future. Wal-Mart, for example, works with farmers and other suppliers to outline its organic needs several years in advance..Elevation Burger, which sells organic, grass-fed, free-range beef, shares information like growth projections and store openings with its suppliers.

Top image credit: Food Dive

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Growing demand for organic ingredients leads to supply challenges - Food Dive

Jammu: J&K that was growing completely organic foods till 1960s on Thursday started its first organic food Nimbark.

Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu threw open the store at Channi Himmat and termed it a milestone in states gradual return to the great organic days.

The store that has more than 100 organic food items from rice to various spices is the initiative of Sarveshwar Overseas, the major player in the Basmati business with roots in Jammu and interests in most of the Northern region. He is the only major exporter from J&K to West including US and Europe.

It is just a small beginning, Rohit Gupta, the MD of the Sarveshwar told the inaugural gathering. My belief is that we can be Indias No 1 in organic produces.

The company, he said is pan-India but has a good presence in the exports. All our products are approved by the US and EU systems. I was so keen to see Dr Drabu inaugurating this initiative because he is the person who has promoted me throughout, Gupta said.

Terming the initiative as wonderful job, Drabu said he has seen two special qualities in Gupta. He has diversified within his area and is perhaps the only major who grows, processes, sells and exports, Drabu said, adding the integrated diversification is a great example, especially in J&K. Second he is keen to take his company to the stock market. Right now, he may not have been able to do it but I respect his aspiration to take his company to the Luxemburg exchange.

Drabu said the state government would do everything possible in facilitating businesses and industry without getting into the business. He appreciated Guptas efforts in working enormously in R S Pora, for which the state government had announced a Basmati village to help processing, branding and marketing. He said the village must offer adequate facilitation; R&D and other basics that will help the sector grow.

Finance Minister said that J&K would have to make a serious effort to get the naturally organic crops declared as formally organic. In my constituency there is a lace called Sangarwani, Drabu said. This belt has never used a fertilizer but still its products are not certified as organic because we have not followed the process.

Drabu made a special mention of the branding of product and said the Serveshwar has done its homework well by knowing why they have named the brand Nimbark. SP Gupta, Chairman of the group detailed the entire tale that is behind the name, which means the sun in the Neem tree.

A senior Sarveshwar official said they are growing most of the products for their store within the state, as few are being grown in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh. The company is also working with the farmers in Kashmir on Mushq-e-Budj, the fragrant rice that is being grown in in South and Central Kashmir.

It takes 250 chemical test in a span of three years to get organic certification for a product, the official said. This is because the massive use of fertilizers have made the land hugely poisonous.

The introduction of the fertilizers was started from Punjab, in Bathinda region, after the high yielding hybrid crops were introduced. Its overuse have led to massive cancer crisis in the belt as now a train that goes to Jaipur hospital is named as cancer train. The new research has found that certain birds using huge fertilizer induced grains are unable to create shell for their eggs, the official said. This poison is gradually becoming part of our body and threatening the very existence.

India is gradually emerging as a major organic crops producer even though the market within India is still small at around Rs 4000 crore. Kashmirs walnut and almonds are the major naturally organic fruits but lack adequate certification.

The rest is here:

Drabu throws open J&K's first organic food store - Business ... - Kashmir Observer

Organic food & beverages market is forecast to touch USD 9.49 billion by 2022, owing to upsurge in the number of diseases caused by consumption of conventional food & beverages grown with more chemicals and pesticides, growing awareness resulting into change in consumers' taste and preference and increasing number of specialist organic stores. France organic food & beverages market is highly competitive market with large number of organic food companies.

In 2016, Organic Dairy Products' category accounted for the largest market share in the country's organic food & beverages market, and was closely followed by Organic grocery products including sweet and salty groceries. North West region is the largest regional market for organic food & beverages in France, as it is home to tens of millions of French consumers with high personal disposable income.

French organic food & beverages industry saw strong growth, owing to institutional support from French Government as well as European Union. Moreover, improvements in macro-economic policies, like moderate inflation and low interest rates also boosted consumers' sentiments and organic industry emerged as one of the beneficiary.

This report elaborates the following aspects of organic food & beverages market in the country:

Key Topics Covered:

1. Product Overview

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Global Organic Food & Beverages Market Overview

5. France organic Food & Beverages Market Outlook

6. France Organic Dairy Market Outlook

7. France Organic Grocery Market Outlook

8. France Organic Fruits & Vegetable Market Outlook

9. France Organic Bread & Bakery Market Outlook

10. France Organic Meat Market Outlook

11. France Organic Beverages Market Outlook

12. France Other Organic Food Products Market Outlook

13. Supply Chain Analysis

14. France Organic Food & Beverages Market Dynamics

15. France Organic Food & Beverages Market Trends & Developments

16. Policy & Regulatory Landscape

17. France Economic Profile

18. Competitive Landscape

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/w5b5fc/france_organic

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/france-organic-food--beverages-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2022---research-and-markets-300455390.html

SOURCE Research and Markets

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France Organic Food & Beverages Market Forecast and ... - PR Newswire (press release)

Why is it so hard to find organic products from your favorite local store?

The simplest answer is scale. If every Walmart decided to sell a wide variety of certified organic foods, there would be a severe shortage on the shelves. Organic products are growing by leaps and bounds in quantity and availability, but theres still a long way to go. In many areas of the country, you simply cant get certain products.

The best alternative is to buy your organic and natural products online. Especially if you have no nearby organic grocer, or if they charge exorbitant sums (often the case), the best option is often to use the internet and just order from home. Let the mailman deliver your groceries and get what you really want. Buying online has the advantages of convenience, variety, and cost savings.

Vitacost

Vitacost is known for its extensive vitamins and supplement line, though they also carry specialty food selection and assorted organic foods. They have the top organic brands Lundberg Farms, Marys Gone Crackers, Theo Chocolate, Bobs Red Mill, Big Tree Farms, Natures Path, Braggs, Eden Foods and much more.

Amazon

At Amazon, you have access to a wide selection of organic foods at very good prices. You can also save more by subscribing to the save features when on offer. Amazon doesnt carry everything, but they are the leader in online retailing for a reason.

Thrive Market

Thrive Market can be described as an online warehouse of natural food, like Costco but carrying only natural and organic products. With a low annual fee of $59.95, a large family can benefit from their program because you will be ordering more, and therefore gaining the most from the great prices. They add new products every month to widen the selection for everybody. Any order from $49 get free shipping, and you can order anytime you want. They also have a variety of house products that they produce and cannot be found elsewhere. We found a great comparison of these first three options here.

SunFood

At SunFood, you will find premier health foods including organic, raw and non-GMO superfoods. Some examples include: sweeteners, spices, sea vegetables, olives, nuts and seeds, fruit powders, dried fruits, chocolates, coconut oil and cacao butter.

Boxed

This is the definition of eating organic with help from the web. You can buy some wholesale items at members store prices even without being a member. They dont require you to place a certain amount of order annually, and you also get free shipping on orders above $50. Boxed has a limited line of organic items but are excellent at what they have.

Azure Standard

This is not your usual online store. You can ONLY place large orders. They dont get shipped to your door; they are shipped to the nearest drop off center for you to pick at a given time. This may seem like an inconvenience, but compared to not being able to get your organic food around, this is ok. You can also visit them if you live near, the prices will amaze you.

Tropical Traditions

This is an umbrella of 4 sites that offer organic food, organic skin care products and organic cleaners. They have good prices and a referral program.

For the Gourmet

This shop caters for chefs and restaurants since they sell organic foods in bulk. It is a great place to find anything you want in case you want to cook some amazing delicacy. Purchasing by the case can also save you a lot of money compared to buying small quantities at other online stores. They stock flours, nuts, rice, beans, and lentils among other selections. They also have cheeses, chocolates, seafood, exotic fruits, and meats.

Greensbury Market

The Greensbury Market is the place for carnivores to get the best organic meats at the best prices for that category. The beef is 100% grass-fed. Buy ground beef, roast, tenderloin, skirt steak, flank, filet mignon, New York strips and others. Their pork comes from heirloom variety raised in the Midwest with no antibiotics or hormones.

Cultures for Health

For those who want to start making yogurt, cheese, kombucha and tofu among other fermented foods, this is the place to find all that you need. Even though not all their products are organic, you will find organic vegetables, organic sprouting seeds, organic bone broth, and organic rice koji among many more products, told and equipment related to the organic movement. Visit Cultures for Health.

3 Bears Organic

This Portland-based online store deals in organic and natural food. You will find most of the major organic brands here. They only sell by the case, which is a good thing for those with large families and wants to save. They carry hundreds of products including sauces, pasta, beans, rice, vinegar, spices, nut butter, jams, olives, vegetables, canned fruits and flours among much more.

Now you have no excuse to get exactly the foods you need to eat a super clean diet. Everyone can get their preferred organic food and ingredients easily from online shops no matter where they are located. So start surfing around to find what you need today!

See more here:

Seeking Organic Foods Get Help from the Web - South Florida Reporter

Should we only buy organic produce? There is not a definite yes or no answer to this question. There may be important time periods at which people are more vulnerable to the potential harm of pesticide residues on our food: just prior to conception, during pregnancy, and during early childhood.

There is evidence that organophosphate pesticide exposure during these time periods is associated with deficits in cognitive and behavioral development in children.

There are some clear environmental benefits to buying organic produce. However, it is unclear whether there are health risks to consumers from ingesting pesticides from conventional produce.

Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases their Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists. Using pesticide residue data from the USDA, the EWG ranks the highest and lowest pesticide fruits and vegetables.

The 2017 Dirty Dozen list contains strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, celery, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and potatoes. The 2017 Clean Fifteen list contains sweet corn, avocados, pineapples, cabbage, onions, sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, honeydew, kiwi, cantaloupe, cauliflower, and grapefruit.

EWG recommends buying the organic versions of the fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list to minimize exposure to synthetic pesticides.

Organic agriculture utilizes crop rotation, compost and manure as fertilizers, soil and water conservation practices, natural methods for managing pests, and no synthetic pesticides. Some of the goals of organic agriculture, according to the USDAs organic program, are to promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.

Pesticide exposure: The Environmental Protection Agency sets limits for safe consumption of pesticides; they estimate an exposure level called the chronic reference dose, the amount of a chemical a person could be exposed to daily throughout life without any harmful effects.

A 2011 study estimated typical amounts of exposure to synthetic pesticides based on the USDAs pesticide residue data for fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list. They found that most pesticides were present at amounts one thousand times smaller than the chronic reference dose.

Even the highest pesticide residue detected was only 2 percent of the chronic reference dose. This puts the Dirty Dozen list in perspective: it means that even the highest pesticide conventional produce is very low in pesticides.

Is that small amount of synthetic pesticide any risk to consumers? Some scientists think that pesticide residues do not pose health risks, because humans and other animals are exposed to small amounts of naturally occurring toxins in every plant food we eat. The body regularly breaks down self-produced metabolic wastes and naturally occurring carcinogens in foods, as well as pesticides, and excretes these harmful substances.

Greater concentrations of urinary breakdown products of synthetic pesticides have been found in frequent consumers of conventional produce compared to frequent consumers of organic produce, and several short-term studies have shown that switching conventional foods for organic foods reduces urinary pesticide metabolites.

However, evidence is lacking whether the consumer gains any significant health benefit by eating organic instead of conventional produce.

What about people who work with pesticides in agriculture? Studies suggest a link between pesticide exposure and brain cancer, Parkinsons disease, multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the stomach and prostate.

A study comparing several markers of DNA damage in blood samples of conventional and organic farmers found evidence of greater DNA damage in conventional farmers. This suggests supporting organic agriculture can help to reduce the harmful effects of synthetic pesticide exposure for those who work in agriculture and are exposed to very high doses.

There are environmental advantages. Organic agriculture avoids conventional fertilizers, aiming to prevent harmful nitrogen runoff into waterways. Avoiding synthetic pesticides prevents pesticide contamination of groundwater.

Although organic pest management methods may not work as well as conventional in some cases, there is a great deal of evidence that organic crops bring better soil quality, less soil erosion, more plant diversity, and more diversity in insects, soil organisms, and birds.

Regarding nutritional differences, there appears to be a small increase in antioxidant content in organic fruits and vegetables compared to their conventional counterparts.

There is growing evidence that exposure to a mixture of synthetic pesticides is harmful to the bees we depend on as pollinators for many crops.

A shift toward organic agriculture could help to alleviate some of the stress on bee populations.

Note that the Dirty Dozen are not our major dietary source of exposure to harmful chemicals. Exposure to persistent organic pollutants such as organochlorine pesticides and PCBs occurs primarily via fatty animal foods like fish, dairy products, and meat.

Also, glyphosate, an herbicide linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers, is present primarily in processed foods.

By centering your diet on unrefined plant foods, you will automatically reduce your exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals. The large volume of studies performed on typical, pesticide-treated produce has demonstrated that consumption of produce, whether organic or not, protects against chronic diseases.

For your health, consuming a diet of vegetables, beans, fruit, nuts, and seeds is the most important action you can take. If you are able to buy organic vegetables and fruits, that is preferable, especially for our children, the environment and for farmers.

Dr. Fuhrman is a New York Times best-selling author and a board certified family physician specializing in lifestyle and nutritional medicine. The Eat To Live Cookbook offers over 200 unique disease-fighting delicious recipes and his newest book, The End of Heart Disease, offers a detailed plan to prevent and reverse heart disease using a nutrient-dense, plant-rich eating style. Visit his informative website at DrFuhrman.com. Submit your questions and comments about this column directly to [emailprotected]

Excerpt from:

Kemmerer Gazette | Is buying organic produce always the way to go? - Kemmerer Gazette

Danes are voting through their wallets and sending a clear signal that they want a food production system more in harmony with nature and with fewer chemicals being used.

Figures just released from Danmarks Statistik show that sales of organic food increased by 15 percent during 2016. In other words, every Dane consumed organic food worth 2,000 kroner last year.

It is still items such as milk, cheese and eggs that are the most popular, but sales of organic vegetables increased by 26 percent.

READ ALSO: Arla to produce more organic milk

Now, organic foods count for 9.6 percent of total food sales in Denmark.

The figures show clearly that Danes are now ready for even more organic food. Supermarkets have been competing with each other to have the broadest range of organic foods, explained Kirsten Lund Jensen, the head of the organic section at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council.

In total, 334,900 tonnes of organic foodstuffs with a value of 8 billion kroner were sold in 2016. Of this, milk, cheese and eggs accounted for almost half.

See the article here:

Danes increasingly acquiring a taste for organic food - The Copenhagen Post - Danish news in english

For brands in the $40 billion U.S. market for organic food and beverages, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Organic seal is more than just another call-out for product packaging it defines their position in the retail landscape.

The integrity of the USDA Certified Organic seal is critical to the industry as a whole, and a reason why a recent article in The Washington Post is raising concerns from some members of the organic dairy community about how the practices of some large scale organic dairy operations may be affecting other brands and companies working within the space.

Nate Lewis, Farm Policy Director at the Organic Trade Association (OTA), told BevNET the group supports investigations into any allegations of wrongdoing across the supply chain, citing the need to assure the public trust in organic certified products.

The message were hearing from our members is sort of alleging that the whole system is broken because of the potential for or allegations of wrongdoing really does a disservice to the thousands of operations, inspectors and certifiers that are doing a really good job safeguarding the organic seal, he said.

The allegations Lewis refers to originated in a May 1 article by Post reporter Peter Whorisky, titled Why your organic milk may not be organic, which examined several large scale organic dairy operations and found critical weaknesses in the unorthodox inspection system used by the USDA.

The agencys guidelines for organic certification of dairy livestock requires for cows to be grazed on pasture during grazing season and to be kept in healthy, low-stress environments, as well as other provisions. Any organic operation with sales in excess of $5,000 per year, as well as companies that wish to sell products to be used as organic ingredients, need to be certified by a USDA-accredited agent.

In its reporting, The Post visited a facility run by Aurora Organic Dairy in High Plains, Colo. over eight days last year. Reporters at no point observed more than 10 percent of the herd, or a few hundred cows, grazing on pasture. In addition, tests conducted for The Post by scientists at Virginia Tech showed that Auroras milk matched conventional milk rather than organic when examined for a key indicator of grass-feeding.

A spokesperson for Aurora denied the accusations, telling The Post: The requirements of the USDA National Organic Program allow for an extremely wide range of grazing practices that comply with the rule.

Discussions with people in the organic food and beverage community about the revelations detailed in The Post drew a range of responses.

In an e-mail to BevNET, Beth Unger, regulatory engagement manager at Organic Valley, an independent cooperative of organic farmers based in Wisconsin, echoed those feelings. If a producer isnt following the rules, there is a process for investigating and revoking their certificates, protecting those who are following the rules, she said.

A spokesperson for Horizon Organic, which partners with over 600 family farms in 23 states to supply the majority of its milk, said in an e-mail that the company was focused on promoting the benefits of organic by building solidarity and collaboration in the industry.

We rely on consumer confidence in the organic seal for its success in the marketplace, and this confidence is intrinsically linked to a rigorous system of audits, inspections, and monitoring of all certified operations to organics clear and strict standards, said the spokesperson.

In an interview with BevNET, Errol Schweizer, a former vice president of grocery for Whole Foods and a board member for several companies in the natural food space, emphasized that the issues discussed in the Post article did not reflect a larger concern across the organic industry and that the operations highlighted in the story are the exception rather than the rule. Yet he noted that mass scaling in organic, which has brought lower prices and broadened consumer access to such products, may have enabled a looser interpretation of standards.

I think theres a problem with the scale creating a race to the bottom in terms of quality, unless theres really strong check and balances in the system. Schweizer said. When youre able to sell organic products cheaply, I think its important as a retailer or a customer that you have to scrutinize your supply chain. We have to appreciate that it is accessible and available and theres many more people consuming organic, but I think there is some price to pay here because what you see probably doesnt meet the expectations of what most consumers would consider organic.

Expanding beyond individual operations, the Post story also detailed issues related to the organic certification process, in which USDA-accredited agents private companies and organizations hired by individual farmers make annual inspections. The USDA reviews the records of each inspector every 2.5 years.

In its review of Auroras practices, The Post found that staff from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, at an annual cost of $13,000, conducted an inspection after the conclusion of grazing season in November. The USDA requires all inspections to take place during grazing season, which typically runs from spring until the first frost. Sanctions can include financial penalties of up to $11,000 per violation and potential revocation of the farm of businesss organic certificate.

According to a list published on the USDAs website, the most recent U.S. accreditation firm to lose its accreditation was Organic National and International Certifiers in April 2014.

Im not a regulatory expert, but I do feel that theres probably a loose interpretation of the standards here and theres definitely some responsibility on the shoulder of the certifier, said Schweizer. I have a hard time understanding how these types of farms are passing the audit, and then that the USDA is continuing to allow these farms to pass an audit based on their production methods. So I see it mostly from the retail point of view, but my gut says theres something wrong there.

Exerting influence over regulatory bodies is one way in which brands and trade organizations are taking action to safeguard and improve organic standards. Lewis said that the OTA seeks to influence regulatory guidelines through its involvement with the National Organic Standards Board, the body which advises the USDA on organic guidelines.

I think our main objective [at OTA] in that real is to ensure that the organic standards are scale neutral and consistently applied across the board regardless of size or location of operation, he said, adding that the organization advocates for strong funding of the National Organic Program as well as the USDA. Having a level playing field for all types of producers is really the best way to ensure integrity, maintain public confidence and to allow all types of operations to succeed in the organic marketplace.

We are on record supporting stricter standards especially for animal health and welfare, such as the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rule, said Unger, referring to a comprehensive set of federal standards for on-farm welfare currently being deliberated. We believe the standards should optimize animal health and maximize their opportunities to express their natural behaviors.

While pushing for gradual improvements on a regulatory level, Schweizer said that the most immediate way of addressing issues related to organic certification was for the industry to scrutinize itself more closely.

I just think that there needs to be an effort on the part of the organic community and that includes both producers, consumers and retailers to police their own, he said. I think democracy in the marketplace and transparency and making sure that folks are all playing by the rules is as important as the enforcement on the regulatory side from certifiers as well as agencies. I want to emphasize that there needs to be scrutiny from the organic community and the organic industry on folks that are playing loose and fast with the regulation that we all have to follow to maintain the integrity of the marketplace.

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Organic Dairy Industry Responds to WaPost Story on Certification Issues - BevNET.com