Opinions differ on organics rule


Theymay agree in principle, but some say provincial certification proposal will bog them down in paperwork.


By Judie Steeves C


ertified organic farmers are lauding the provincial government’s proposal for certification of organic products sold in B.C.


It would require all products marketed as organic in B.C. to be certified under either a provincial or national certification program. However, those who use the ‘organic’ label now, but who do not have certification, are not so enthusiastic about the new


requirement.


For instance, although the name is Kalala Organic Estate Winery and Vineyards, the West Kelowna operation is not certified organic, even though its West Kelowna vineyards are.


Founder Karnail Singh Sidhu explains he began with the vineyard name and then used the same name for the winery when the family opened it.


Even though Sidhu says he follows organic practices, he feels the paperwork is just too costly for small family farm operations to go through. Reducing the paper needed for organic certification would reduce its environmental impact, he believes.


“Lots of farmers say they’re organic, but they aren’t organically certified


because it’s too expensive.” Requiring them to go


JUDIE STEEVES


They both use the term but Karnail Sidhu’s Kalala winery is not ‘certified’ organic, while his West Kelowna vineyards are.


through the certification process to use the organic label will be harmful for lots of small farms, he says.


JUDIE STEEVES


Ezra Cipes of Summerhill Pyramid Winery feels the legislation is long overdue.


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“They produce using healthy, organic ways of growing and producing, but they’re not certified because of the expense. “All growers should be educated to grow organically. I believe in that and I feel the government should focus on it instead of requiring certification.” In fact, he adds, the entire Okanagan Valley should be certified organic, with education provided to help farmers operate using fewer pesticides and chemical fertilizers.


“Much is now wasted. Less is needed.”


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2015


The fees involved in certification now are just too high — based on the operation’s gross, particularly when profit margins are not great, he says. However, Ezra Cipes, CEO of Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna, feels it’s about time such legislation was passed in B.C. “The term has never been regulated in this province,” he adds.


“It’s been a real struggle to be organic here. If I grow potatoes and I think that Roundup is organic, I can claim I’m organic.”


Such people simply don’t know what it means; what the standard is, he says.


As one of only two certified organic wineries in B.C., (Rollingdale Winery in West Kelowna is also certified organic, and Rhys Pender’s Little Farm Winery is transitional and becomes certified this month) Summerhill has been certified organic since 2007 and as of 2012, its Kelowna vineyard is also Demeter-certified biodynamic. The lack of regulation of use of the


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