I don't know how this discussion track morphed into OGM bashing but I
would like to add some comments.
For many years OGM was a wonderful organization. Depending on the chapter,
of course, members were willing to share knowledge and even markets with
newcomers, and it was entirely through these meetings and discussions that some
of us made the decision to transition to organic and get certified. There were
always some members who were reluctant to share and a few who were downright
hostile to new farmers and outsiders.
There were some chapters that had few meetings, so not a lot of sharing.
They existed mainly to get members in the area certified because at the time all
certifications were chapter based.
There was also a chapter apparently formed with some serious flaws and used
for personal reasons of a small group of growers. Rumors about what that chapter
actually did came to us at the time they disbanded, but could not be adequately
investigated by OGM. The way that particular chapter treated growers not part of
their "in group" was not good, but please don't judge the whole of OGM by that.
It was never true of all chapters.
OFPA and NOP are what changed OGM. Certification became the only focus
because there was no time and energy left after dealing with the changes wrought
by government involvement. While I understand the need for a uniform standard
for organic production, the process of getting that standard was difficult for
all of us, and the final result - not to mention changes to it that keep
cropping up since - was less than ideal.
Organic became politics and we all have different political opinions.
That's what it boils down to. Just as some individuals opt out of other
government processes and services, some growers have opted out of the NOP
organic certification process. The reasons are political and philosophical,
personal and religious. But we still live in America, by gosh, so they have
that right. It is not really our place to criticize that decision, as it is not
for us to criticize religious decisions.
They also have the right to establish an alternative system to recognize
the way they farm. Certified Naturally Grown came to be for that reason. As it
is now, it functions the way much organic certification did 25 - 30 years ago.
And yes, it is a lesser inspection and certification process; and yes, there is
misuse and fraud going on within it. But I've got news for you all: There is a
great deal of misuse and fraud going on in the NOP's organic certification
system also!
Our farm has maintained organic certification consistently since we began
it 19 years ago. It has changed a lot, continues to change every year and boy,
does it cost a lot more. But in order to sell organic field crops we have to be
part of that system. If we were only producing crops for direct sale, we might
feel differently about certification, might even opt for something like
CNG.
The local vs organic debate will no doubt continue for some time. I like to
hope that local organic will win out over California
organic and international organic and China organic. Some means to differentiate
the local organic is needed. Some means is needed to differentiate not
certified organic but grown to a high standard local produce from run of the
mill conventional locally produced produce.
We gain nothing by bickering with each other over this. We have a lot to
gain by working together as we used to. All that energy that once went into
arguing about changes in organic standards could go into creating an
additional "system" that promotes local
organic and maybe also local ecological for farms that
choose not to be part of the NOP.
Pat Whetham