Media Alert: Organic Label Remains Trustworthy and Relevant

Organic Trade Association refutes inaccuracies in Washington Post article

GREENFIELD, Mass., July 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Organic Trade
Association (OTA) and its members are organic advocates. We believe in,
support, and advocate for the integrity of the organic label and strict
enforcement of federal organic standards because this is fundamental to living
up to the contract with consumers who choose or who are considering choosing
organic products.

At the June 17, annual meeting of the OTA membership, Kathleen Merrigan,
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture announced "thenew era of equivalence and
enforcement of organic standards." She was met with a standing ovation from
the packed house.

It is unfortunate the Washington Post article, "Purity of Federal 'Organic'
Label Is Questioned", July 3, 2009, focused on old news and urban legends. The
article also chose to reinforce rhetoric that is not only inaccurate but
serves a narrow agenda whose motivations go unquestioned in the article.

OTA, on behalf of its members, would like to correct some inaccuracies and try
to move the debate beyond narrow rhetoric and toward a more fact-based
perspective.

From the article: "Relaxation of the federal standards, and an explosion of
consumer demand, have helped push the organics market into a $23
billion-a-year business, the fastest growing segment of the food industry."

The federal organic standards have not been "relaxed." Rigorously enforced
standards can and do go hand-in-hand with growth. The author and those
pitching this story have generously borrowed the rhetorical technique of
setting up a false choice. The industry and OTA pushed for national organic
regulations that consumers could rely on. Organic agriculture and products
remain the most strictly regulated, as well as the fastest growing, food
system in the United States today.

From the article: "But the USDA program's shortcomings mean that consumers,
who at times must pay twice as much for organic products, are not always
getting what they expect: foods without pesticides and other chemicals,
produced in a way that is gentle to the environment."

In fact, if this is what someone expects from food, his or her best bet is to
purchase organic.

Organic agriculture protects the health of people and the environment by
reducing the overall exposure to toxic chemicals from synthetic pesticides
that can end up in the ground, air, water and food supply, and that are
associated with health consequences from asthma to cancer.

Extensive pesticide residue testing by the U.S.D.A. has found that
conventionally produced fruits and vegetables are, on average, three to more
than four times more likely to contain residues than organic produce, eight to
eleven times more likely to contain multiple pesticide residues, and contain
residues at levels three to ten times higher than corresponding residues in
organic samples.

From the article: "Several groups have filed complaints with the USDA saying
they think the inclusion of fatty acids in organic products violates federal
rules and laws 'This is illegal rulemaking -- a complete violation of the
process that is supposed to protect the public,' said Gary Cox, a lawyer with
the Cornucopia Institute."

The accusations are unfounded and reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of
the process by which organic regulations are made. Contrary to what is implied
here, there is a very specific process that materials must go through before
they are permitted for inclusion in organic products. In regards to fatty
acids, the USDA regulators followed the recommendation of the National Organic
Standards Board (NOSB).

NOSB, a citizen advisory board, consists of four farmer/growers, two
handlers/processors, one retailer, one scientist, three consumer/public
interest advocates, three environmentalists, and one USDA-accredited
certifying agent. These volunteers assist the Secretary of Agriculture with
the overall implementation of the National Organic Program (NOP).

NOSB conducts an extensive review of materials that are petitioned for
inclusion in organic, solicits public comment, and makes a recommendation to
NOP as to whether a material should be allowed. The NOP implements NOSB's
recommendation.

This process ensures that materials are NOT haphazardly permitted for use in
organic production and reinforces the principles of transparency and integrity
around which the organic system was built.

Because the position of the reporters' sources did not 'carry the day' in this
public review by no means makes the process illegal, and to characterize it as
such is a great disservice to the public.

From the article: "Consumer groups and organics advocates are hopeful that the
Obama administration will bolster the program. In his proposed budget, the
president has doubled resources devoted to organics and installed USDA leaders
who support change."

The organic industry itself has long advocated for increased resources to
support USDA's National Organic Program and for parity for organic farmers
within US agricultural policy. OTA and its members are thankful to have this
support and are pleased by the important gains and intentions of USDA.

OTA members on March 26 called on 34 Senate and House offices advocating for
OTA-endorsed FY2010 appropriations requests.

What exactly did OTA and the organic industry ask for?

-- $6 million for NOP to better fund enforcement of the NOP regulations
and
strengthen certifier accreditation and training.

-- $5 million for USDA Extension farming research; geared towards
increase
transition of acreage in the U.S. to organic production for the
betterment of the environment.

This is consistent with OTA's agenda since the NOP was fully implemented in
2002. OTA has always supported a strong NOP capable of clarifying,
developing, and strictly enforcing the organic rule.

OTA and its members are pleased that the Obama administration, Secretary of
Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan are supporters
of organic agriculture and have expressed a commitment to ensuring the
integrity of the USDA organic label.

Despite the misleading portrait painted in the article, organic agriculture
and products offer lasting hope for better environmental and personal health.

Who we are:

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business
association for organic agriculture and products in North America. Its members
include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations,
distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's
Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is
to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment,
farmers, the public and the economy.

Two-thirds of OTA members are small businesses with under $1 million dollars
in annual organic sales. Nearly half of OTA members report under $100,000 in
annual organic sales. All trade members have one vote, regardless of size.

SOURCE Organic Trade Association

Laura Batcha, +1-413-376-1227, lbatcha@ota.com, of The Organic Trade
Association