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Re: SMALLFARM-MG> Organic Produce
At 03:18 PM 9/23/97 -0400, joel b gruver wrote:
>Hello to all...
>
>The current US approach to OG certification is driven by consumer
>demand for pesticide free food (and phobia of possibly contaminated food)
>and governement interest in
>preventing fraud...
>
>Assisting farmers with implementation of
>sustainable farming systems is not the principle goal of any of the
>current organic certification programs that I am aware of...
>
>I recently heard a description of the privatized extension system in
>Denmark...farmers belong to one of 2 farmers unions and in return for
>membership dues they receive a variety of services
>including a certain number of hours of consultation from the
>extension consultants paid by the union.
>
>An organic certification program designed to serve farmers would
>provide consultation not just regulation. A qualified inspector
>that visits all the organic farms in a region should be aware of all
>the techniques, technologies in use (and coming into use) and should have
>in his mission statement
>to serve as an extensionist not just a regulator.
Good good good. you don t know how it feels to have a man come to your
house to catch you at something and that is the only reason he is there.
This is such a great point. All that organic farmers get now is pay pay
pay and burden herasment and having to prove they are inicent to every tom
dick and organic police man that may stop by. After so many years this
really gets old. And this man is charging you money for his gas , motel
room,time dirving and reading and anything else he choses and you are
forced to pay this man who only perpuse is to catch you up and destroy you.
They are not even allowed to tell you anything that may help you. only
check on you like your a doing something wrong never giving advice and in
fact not allowed to. Hey Joel do you think a farm with 35000 in sells is a
small farm?
>I think this probably is already happening to some degree but I would
>appreciate hearing comments concerning how to redesign OG
>certification so that the focus is serving farmers...
>
>Joel Gruver
>U of MD Agronomy
>
>
>
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