If you’re farming organically, and you’re not certifi ed, then the acres that you’re farming aren’t included in the research that creates more funding for organic programs in the future. Unless Congress sees a wide range of participation, we may not get our fair share of research dollars and cost-share programs. Plus, those uncertifi ed acres can’t be included when evaluating the environmental benefi ts of organic production.”
Barriers for Small and Mid-Size Farmers
What about the barriers to entry into the commercial organic market for small- and mid-size farmers? Marty Mesh insists that organizations like Florida Organic Growers (FOG) work to reduce barriers for farmers while at the same time maintaining extremely high standards. “Following the necessary regulations,” Mesh says, “makes the farmers better.” Farmers must maintain good records and high standards in order to keep their certifi cation. Rather than trying to skirt the regulations, it is in the best competitive interest of all who produce organically (including the large corporations) to help maintain the high integrity of the standards.
Marty Mesh and Shelley Rogers
Photo Credit: Lance Turner/
photo.latu.net
To aid in reducing fi nancial barriers, the 2007 farm bill introduced cost- share programs that reimburse farmers for 75% of the cost of getting certifi ed up to $750.For conventional farmers wanting to make the switch, Florida Organic Growers offers a transition program, as well. Another big challenge for small- and mid-size growers in the retail marketplace involves regional buying and distribution—which is simpler for large corporate stores. Local growers often cannot provide the price, variety, quantity, and distribution the large retailer desires. But consumers can change that by demanding that their
Kiss-im-mee’s Green Place
for ORGANIC VEGETABLES
local stores make the extra effort to source from local farmers. As one of the experts, Fred Kirschenmann of Leopold Institute, says in the fi lm, “We need to start thinking about the value of community rather than the value of commodity.”
Organic and Beyond:
the Best Possible Choice?
Other skeptics claim that choosing organic over local or fair-trade is selfi sh, benefi tting just the consumer of the product. However, Rogers counters that “Organic is really good, and it’s something that we should believe in and support and promote, but it doesn’t mean everything, and it can’t mean everything. There are other aspects that we all need to keep in mind when we’re trying to be conscientious consumers. I hope the fi lm can begin to raise the questions in folks’ minds: ‘Is this the best choice I could make? Do I know who grew this? Do I know that they were treated fairly and that they weren’t exposed to toxic chemicals?’ We should be thinking about fair, local and organic—not just one or the other.” The fi lm’s thorough exploration touches upon issues related to the
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May 2010
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