Organic Products Retailer : Organic Viewpoint

Organic Viewpoint — In Good Hands © OPR

As a relative “newbie” to the organic industry, it was a real pleasure for me to draft the “Tribute to the OTA”. I had an opportunity to speak with individuals closely involved with the organization’s conception and efforts, and to hear how the OTA has personally helped them as a farmer, like Matt McLean with Uncle Matt’s Organics, or as a professional seeking a greater understanding of the science behind organics, like Theresa Marquez, member of the OTA board of directors and liaison to The Organic Center. Learning about the roots of the organization, how it came together and all the work it’s done to better the organic industry was truly eye opening. This is clearly a very passionate industry—one that is moved to make the world a better, cleaner, safer place—and OTA has strove to not only grow consumer awareness, but it’s fought tirelessly in the halls of DC government to create national standards that will further protect and promote the positions and practices of organic farmers, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers. Efforts to Regulate Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act as part of the 1990 Farm Bill. It was a victory, but one that has required OTA’s constant attention to protect what was achieved. OTA continued to push for national organic standards that were finally implemented in October 2002. The organization played a key part in what is considered a breakthrough in the industry. “Before the law was passed, there were individual definitions of organic, with each state having its own laws and regulations. These were voluntary standards, which were confusing for the consumer and they limited what one could do in interstate commerce,” said Caren Wilcox, OTA’s executive director. Now, local dairy labeling laws have the potential to damage or interfere with national organic labeling regulations that OTA has worked so hard to get in place. The organization has issued a position statement about a proposed state regulation in Ohio and Utah, and bills that have also been introduced in Indiana, Kansas, Vermont and Missouri, and has once again been a presence in Washington. For the second time in less than a month, the 1,650-member OTA presented testimony against Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) proposed rule on dairy labeling (proposed revised Administrative Rule 901:11-8-01) and its “emergency” implementation by Ted Strickland. OTA launched an online letter-writing campaign opposing these state actions, which can be accessed by visiting OTA’s Advocacy Action Center at www.ota.com. More than 2,441 letters have been sent from concerned citizens to Ohio’s governor, Joint Committee of Agency Rule Review chairman and director of agriculture, to express their desire to continue to receive information about organic production on the labels of their milk in Ohio. “This proposed rule prevents organic farmers and processors from truthfully communicating with consumers about federally regulated organic production practices and denies consumers the right to receive information about organic production on the labels of their milk in Ohio,” said Wilcox in her testimony. From a retailer perspective, it’s never a bad idea to source local, organic milk, but you will want to source from producers who are adhering to national organic regulations. When states issue their own versions of organic rules, it makes it harder for producers and retailers alike to do business. Similar to trying to sell organic spirits where Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws are localized, it just adds to the existing consumer confusion about what is or is not organic. Milk is already an easy product to sell and consumers are coming around to organic milk, especially now that the price is nearly comparable to conventional and there’s the added benefit of no hormones or pesticides. OPR encourages retailers across the country to write, call and e-mail state legislators to urge them to stay in line with existing federal organic labeling regulations. While many have spoken up, OTA has been fighting for almost 25 years to make sure that the voices of organic farmers, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers can and will be heard. One thing was clear when I completed the “Tribute to the OTA” article: The organic industry wouldn’t be what it is today without OTA’s efforts. In that vein, I agree with something Marquez said during our interview: “The organic industry is still fledgling, representing a very small percentage of US total food sales and acres under agricultural production. It needs a caring parent like OTA,” said Marquez. With a parent like OTA, I believe the organic industry is in good hands. —Kate Quackenbush Organic Products Retailer

Organic Viewpoint — In Good Hands © OPR

As a relative “newbie” to the organic industry, it was a real pleasure for me to draft the “Tribute to the OTA”. I had an opportunity to speak with individuals closely involved with the organization’s conception and efforts, and to hear how the OTA has personally helped them as a farmer, like Matt McLean with Uncle Matt’s Organics, or as a professional seeking a greater understanding of the science behind organics, like Theresa Marquez, member of the OTA board of directors and liaison to The Organic Center.

Learning about the roots of the organization, how it came together and all the work it’s done to better the organic industry was truly eye opening. This is clearly a very passionate industry—one that is moved to make the world a better, cleaner, safer place—and OTA has strove to not only grow consumer awareness, but it’s fought tirelessly in the halls of DC government to create national standards that will further protect and promote the positions and practices of organic farmers, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers.

Efforts to Regulate
Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act as part of the 1990 Farm Bill. It was a victory, but one that has required OTA’s constant attention to protect what was achieved. OTA continued to push for national organic standards that were finally implemented in October 2002. The organization played a key part in what is considered a breakthrough in the industry.

“Before the law was passed, there were individual definitions of organic, with each state having its own laws and regulations. These were voluntary standards, which were confusing for the consumer and they limited what one could do in interstate commerce,” said Caren Wilcox, OTA’s executive director.
Now, local dairy labeling laws have the potential to damage or interfere with national organic labeling regulations that OTA has worked so hard to get in place. The organization has issued a position statement about a proposed state regulation in Ohio and Utah, and bills that have also been introduced in Indiana, Kansas, Vermont and Missouri, and has once again been a presence in Washington.

For the second time in less than a month, the 1,650-member OTA presented testimony against Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) proposed rule on dairy labeling (proposed revised Administrative Rule 901:11-8-01) and its “emergency” implementation by Ted Strickland.

OTA launched an online letter-writing campaign opposing these state actions, which can be accessed by visiting OTA’s Advocacy Action Center at www.ota.com. More than 2,441 letters have been sent from concerned citizens to Ohio’s governor, Joint Committee of Agency Rule Review chairman and director of agriculture, to express their desire to continue to receive information about organic production on the labels of their milk in Ohio.

“This proposed rule prevents organic farmers and processors from truthfully communicating with consumers about federally regulated organic production practices and denies consumers the right to receive information about organic production on the labels of their milk in Ohio,” said Wilcox in her testimony.

From a retailer perspective, it’s never a bad idea to source local, organic milk, but you will want to source from producers who are adhering to national organic regulations. When states issue their own versions of organic rules, it makes it harder for producers and retailers alike to do business. Similar to trying to sell organic spirits where Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws are localized, it just adds to the existing consumer confusion about what is or is not organic.
Milk is already an easy product to sell and consumers are coming around to organic milk, especially now that the price is nearly comparable to conventional and there’s the added benefit of no hormones or pesticides.

OPR encourages retailers across the country to write, call and e-mail state legislators to urge them to stay in line with existing federal organic labeling regulations. While many have spoken up, OTA has been fighting for almost 25 years to make sure that the voices of organic farmers, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers can and will be heard.

One thing was clear when I completed the “Tribute to the OTA” article: The organic industry wouldn’t be what it is today without OTA’s efforts. In that vein, I agree with something Marquez said during our interview:

“The organic industry is still fledgling, representing a very small percentage of US total food sales and acres under agricultural production. It needs a caring parent like OTA,” said Marquez.
With a parent like OTA, I believe the organic industry is in good hands.

—Kate Quackenbush
Organic Products Retailer