Every year for the past 18 years, Georgia Organics has held a Conference & Expo to educate, network, and provide resources for all things Organic. It was as great thrill to attend this year, 21 February! The hundreds of people from across Georgia from all walks of life, and across all demographic profiles was certainly heart-stirring. It made me realize that in this era, Organic isn't just a Hippie thing, granola and dread-locks, but that we are all becoming more integrally aware of our health, and the affect of our farming both upon our health and the health of this planet we call home. Honestly, most of us can't afford to shop exclusively in the Organic Section, but I think that we are, most of us at least, wanting to head in this direction, where it is a gut instinct or from careful research. I was behind a lady in the grocery store the other day, her cart laden with junk food and sodas, but there lay at the end of the conveyor, bags of Organically Produced apples and pears. I'm not sure if folks think that such will counter act the junk food or what, but it hit a soft spot. We really must think that there's something to Organic.
This is a bit of a monumental year for Georgia, in that the State has decided to grow by 100 organic farms in 2015. Organic, meaning, subscribing to the USDA-NOP standards. This is all nice and rosy, and surely, the little green and white label is a safety belt for many consumers. These USDA standards are a tough-pill to swallow for Mom and Pop, who are just beginning, or don't have the resources to go through the certifying process, which costs a few thousand dollars. So, for many of us small producers in Georgia, and across the nation, we have recognized the customer's want for certification, and have chosen to go a more community-based, small-farm direction, aligning ourselves with Certified Naturally Grown.
Many will ask, what's the difference. Basically, the difference is in the paperwork and fees. Certified farms still have all the NOP standards to follow, like no GMOs, organic sources for fertility and pest management, and no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. But, Uncle Sam doesn't come out to inspect, one of our peers (ahem, competitiors?) will give us an annual inspection, and we sign a legal declaration that we are adhering to organic standards. So, when you see the Certified Naturally Grown label, you can think Organic. We just can't say it.
This is a bit of a monumental year for Georgia, in that the State has decided to grow by 100 organic farms in 2015. Organic, meaning, subscribing to the USDA-NOP standards. This is all nice and rosy, and surely, the little green and white label is a safety belt for many consumers. These USDA standards are a tough-pill to swallow for Mom and Pop, who are just beginning, or don't have the resources to go through the certifying process, which costs a few thousand dollars. So, for many of us small producers in Georgia, and across the nation, we have recognized the customer's want for certification, and have chosen to go a more community-based, small-farm direction, aligning ourselves with Certified Naturally Grown.
Many will ask, what's the difference. Basically, the difference is in the paperwork and fees. Certified farms still have all the NOP standards to follow, like no GMOs, organic sources for fertility and pest management, and no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. But, Uncle Sam doesn't come out to inspect, one of our peers (ahem, competitiors?) will give us an annual inspection, and we sign a legal declaration that we are adhering to organic standards. So, when you see the Certified Naturally Grown label, you can think Organic. We just can't say it.
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