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<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks for your kind attention. </DIV>
<DIV>Jennifer Chesworth</DIV>
<DIV>Sombra Buena Organic Forest Products</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>