[MPWG] QUESTION OF THE MONTH: Certification Schemes

[Center for Sustainable Resources]

Much of what you say is true. I don't agree with less than 1% of farmers 
being aware of organic standards. As I work with farmers regularly I know 
that they know even if they don't want to aknowlede it. The fact is that no 
market exist for these products beyond what you refer to as a niche.
While I have always done things organically for my own purposes it is not a 
mandate that this is better. It is the way I learned and how I prefer to 
manage my land. If I were required by law to do it another way or according 
to certain standards then I will find a way around it.
Yes, it is about justice but for who?
What most of the population does not understand (I won't put definate 
figures on it) is that a farm must be profitable and the only way that can 
happen is if articially low food prices are eliminated and cheap imports are 
stopped, and control of foreign agriculture is stopped. The only way to 
start this process is to stop goverment cost share programs which are 
designed to keep food cheap. Food is used as a weapon around the world by 
USDA and is inturn used as a weapon against farmers here.
We don't need to go down the same path with medicinal plants and forest 
products. Fred Hays

>From: Cafesombra at aol.com
>To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>Subject: Re: [MPWG] QUESTION OF THE MONTH: Certification Schemes
>Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2004 09:32:13 EST
>
>Certification is currently a voluntary process.  So in terms of  needing
>"less government," the organic movement grew for some thirty years  out of 
>private
>growers and agencies who brought it to a point at which 10% of  consumers
>wanted what they had. A "niche" market is defined at under 6% so,  it had 
>broken
>out of the niche catagory. Then the government got involved  and there have
>been problems, in the form of compromises or intended  compromises, ever 
>since.
>The fair trade movement, also voluntary, has been  thriving in Europe for
>over two decades.  Here in the US it isn't taking  hold well, one can only
>speculate about the reasons.  To me, the  fundamental problem is that most 
>people
>simply no longer understand what farming  is about.  Consumers especially 
>in the
>US have no idea what any of the  certifications mean.  Less than 1% of us 
>are
>farmers.  So those  who don't learn more about it decide that certification
>is just a gimmick, a  liberal plot to control everyone, or at best they 
>think
>organic products  somehow protect them personally (no chemicals on their
>apples).  That may  be true.  But the fact is these certifications are 
>about
>justice.   Organic certification is about tending to the earth in a way 
>that merits
>our deserving what we harvest.  Fair trade is about treating people  
>decently
>and making sure that farmers can survive.  The fact that  these things are
>voluntary to me is a crime against the planet and  humanity.  I suppose 
>since I
>live in a free country I am allowed to believe  that.
>Thanks for your kind attention.
>Jennifer Chesworth
>Sombra Buena Organic Forest Products
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