This post contains content sponsored by the Organic Trade Association. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not necessarily represent those of the Organic Trade Association. For more information on the Gro-Organic Check-Off Program, please visit the consumer action page at GROorganic or Mamavation’s article.
We real foodies always say “real food doesn’t have bar codes,” and I often add to that, “or a marketing budget.”
That is – amazingly – about to change.
If we’re willing to support it.
Organic Supply and Demand
I see things moving in the right direction in our culture (as far as food goes), don’t you?
More parents worry about what their kids are eating.
Grassfed beef is becoming less “boutique” and more mainstream – no longer just for the rich. People are understanding the value of caring about what our food eats.
Healthy eating in general is becoming more “whole food” and less “follow whatever current marketing says for the next packaged weight loss product.”
And organics are definitely starting to get a foothold.
But if all this – the way I try eat at home most of the time and the way we really think is healthier for our kids – if it really becomes part of the culture and suddenly “everyone is doing it…” Will there be enough?
Organic needs support.
And the government might be in a position to help.
What If…?
…we could support new transitioning organic farmers with 25 organic specialists in the U.S. dedicated to farmers instead of the current number: one.
…future ag leaders were educated about organics in a comprehensive, intentional way? What if scholarships could be given for college students to learn about organic farming?
…TV and media advertising actually promoted ORGANIC FOOD? Wouldn’t that make you proud? Just like the old “Got Milk?” commercials, we could actually see something like, “Got Organics?” on TV!
…funding was available for research on the impact of organic foods (and spreading the findings via media)? We always say, “There’s no money in healing through plain old food, just pharmaceuticals.” That may have hope for reversal!!!
These are just some of the things the Organic Check-Off Program could do.
What is the purpose of the Organic Check-off?
An Organic Check-off program would generate money for the organic sector to:
- Educate consumers about what organic is and its benefits
- Distinguish organic from lesser claims and unregulated seals like “natural”
- Confirm the science behind the environmental and public health benefits of organic
- Undertake research to solve problems such as invasive pests and weed control
- Bring new farmers into organic production through information and technical assistance
- Reduce the supply crunch by transitioning farmland to organic production across the U.S.
The Organic Check-off would raise over $30 million per year for promotional, educational and research activities. Over time, this would be a game-changer for the organic sector.
Farmers are behind the movement, and it would help both small and large producers. Each organic stakeholder will only contribute one-tenth of 1% of their organic sales, so costs for consumers should not see an increase because of this. Farmers will hold at least half the seats of the check-off board making decisions.
This is a great thing! Please let your voice be heard by commenting here or right below! If you have concerns or questions, I have more information that I didn’t include in the post and will be happy to answer your comments.
Comment Easily Here!
Tracy says
No for me on this. I don’t want more government. There is now no choice in the Where’s The Beef campaign. It is just taken. From what I hear, this has backing mainly by BIG organic. Not the small farmers like us and our neighbors.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Hi Tracy – I am hopefully optimistic, maybe to a fault, that smaller farmers will benefit too. If not, any farmer with under $250K in organic sales is able to opt out, so they’re not affected. It’s hard to know what will happen in reality, but I’d rather have gov’t $ going to organics than some other things we might spend it on….
I understand you not wanting to support it though – thanks for your comments!
🙂 Katie
Tracy says
Farmers “used to could” opt out of other check offs that they can’t now. Why would this be different? More government is really never the answer. They have their place, but it’s not here.
I would also rather see money go to organics than other things, but it’s not that they are diverting money from something wasteful or morally wrong to do this. It’s new money.
Optimism can be good, but I see any optimism this as misplaced. Foxes do not need to be in the hen house. Like others commented, if they’d lay off some of their stupid regulations and fees and bla bla bla, maybe people could afford organics. Both on the farming and consumer level.
Amy says
Interesting idea! I was curious about how the check-off works, so I went to the Regulations.gov site to read more. Now, I’ve decided not to support it and wanted to share what I learned here in the discussion.
Looks like this program is funded by charging a mandatory fee to certified organic farmers. Here’s part of one farmer’s comment:
“Promoting organic food is good, so is more funding for organic research, which has always been the ugly stepchild of conventional agricultural research. However a national checkoff on organic producers to raise money for these efforts is not the solution.
Since a checkoff would be operated through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, (AMS) any comparison and claims that organic food is superior to conventional food would not be allowed that is a fact.
To me it makes more sense to let processors do their own promotion for their own brands, with their own money instead of jumping on the sweating backs of farmers for a mandated checkoff.”
You can read the entire comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=AMS-SC-16-0112-1898
Before you add your voice to support, I encourage you to go read more, too.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Amy,
Thank you very much for sharing this – I’m sure there will be concerns on both sides, and I’m just not sure how to balance them all. I am hopefully optimistic, maybe to a fault, that smaller farmers will benefit too…
I understand you not wanting to support it though – thanks for your comments!
🙂 Katie
Amy P. says
I can honestly say that up to this point I have always been in agreement with what you of posted. But I cannot support you on this. I love organic food. It is all that my family eats. We buy plenty, we raise some, and also occasionally sell some. Organic food is a passion of mine. BUT again I cannot support this. Anytime the government gets involved, they mess it up. So I am not sure why you want the government messing more with our organic food. Second, but most importantly, why should the organic farmers have to give a portion of their hard earn dollars to a checkoff program. This is America. We should be able to buy what we want when it comes to food and we should be able to spend our income as we see fit. Are you willing to give a small portion of your income to a blog checkoff to promote and support blogging? I am guessing not. I do not think we should force organic farmers to pay for promoting organic foods.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Thank you so much for your comments and concern, Amy, and even more for growing organic food! Hooray! That’s something I only aspire to do.
As far as small farmers go, any farmer with under $250K in organic sales is able to opt out of the program. Perhaps I’m too optimistic, hoping that gov’t *won’t* mess it up this once. ???
I understand you not wanting to support it though – thanks for your comments!
🙂 Katie
Becca @ The Earthling's Handbook says
While this might be a step that would accomplish some good, I don’t see it as really the right thing to do. As other commenters have said, requiring certified organic farmers to contribute money to this effort will ensure that only big businesses can afford to be certified, contributing to the bigness of agriculture and continuing the confusion of, “Can we trust this farm? He says his practices are organic but he can’t afford certification….”
What I’d like to see in government involvement is funding that research you talked about–not making organic farmers pay for it, but paying for it with our tax dollars via National Institutes of Health and other government agencies that sponsor health research. We are way overdue to get serious about studying the changes in our food system that are likely causes of the vast increase in food allergies and gluten intolerance. The government should fund this in the interest of all citizens’ health.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Hey Becca,
I agree with you 100% that I’d like to see more PUBLIC dollars going toward research, but at least this feels like a step – I believe half of the check-off money goes toward research, which is awesome. (25% to local and regional research, with farmers on the board deciding how to allocate the funds, 25% to bring new farmers into organic production)
I also don’t think that farmers who opt out of the check-off can’t be organic certified, but I’m checking on that for you because I can’t find it exactly in the literature I have (and actually many small organic farmers already can’t pay for certification, so it may be a moot point as far as consumer trust – the smart ones like us know to TALK to the farmer about growing practices anyway!). As for smaller farmers, everyone involved would have equal votes (no voting blocks allowed) and also early in the process, surveys conducted among all certified organic growers whoed twice as many supporting than opposed – still a larger # opposed than I’d like personally, but not terrible.
I’ll get back to you on that certification question! Thanks for ringing in – 🙂 Katie
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Becca – here’s the answer I got:
“No, participation in the check-off does not affect anyone’s ability to become or remain certified organic. And, Organic Check-off funds could not be used to increase USDA staff or the number of organic certifiers. The program dollars have very specific usgae criteria related to promotion, research, and info sharing.
For farmers who make under $250K it’s an opt in, not an opt out process. No one is really allowed to opt-out (unless they are part of another federal check-off, like the Milk Board, and choose to support that check-off instead of the organic one).”
Sounds both good and bad – I’m just really hoping this check-off program is different than others!
Tracy says
Problem is, it won’t be.
Pat says
I am worried about the organic check-off….please, everyone, take the time to research check-off programs. Especially the ones for farmers…it looks like funds may be misappropriated and taxes placed on the wrong incomes.
I live in a farming community of both organic farmers and others. They all work hard, but I fear the small organic farmers that supply our area with wonderful food will be hurt by this check-off. Don’t just support without researching first!
Blessings to all,
Pat
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Anyone with under 1/4 million in sales will have to opt-in to the program, Pat, so I’m thinking that will really protect small farmers. It’s supposed to be a quite different kind of check-off compared to others…fingers crossed?
Lindsey says
I have to agree with the other comments. This seems like a wolf in sheep’s clothing to me. Supply will catch up with demand like it has up to this point.
What really needs to happen at the government level is to get rid of food subsidies for corn and soy that make junk food cheaper.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Amen to the corn and soy subsidies!!!!
Julie says
Sorry, gal, but the government has given itself the black eye when it comes to spending others’ money. I can no more hope they will suddenly wake up and do right on an issue than I could leave money lying around in the presence of a known thief and expect it not to be stolen, regardless of how much better I want to think of that person. History trumps optimism.
The free-market enterprise system and good ol’ capitalism will right the ship without Big Brother’s interference. IF Big Brother could help, it would start out by reducing silly (ludicrous, non-science-based) EPA mandates. That is something that might actually happen under Scott Pruitt’s direction.