Is it really just too hard and expensive to produce organic food? A group of market analysts and public officials in California say it is. In response, the state and federal government have approved a half million dollar grant to begin certifying food products to a lesser standard with a new "Sustainable" label. Although organic farmers say this will weaken demand in the organic market and confuse consumers, proponents of the new label say it provides consumers with an affordable alternative to pricey organic products.
The new certification system has requirements for wildlife protection and soil/water management but allows the use of pesticides and a wide gamut of synthetic processing agents. As always, the OCA recommends consumers look for the "USDA Organic" label on their products or, better yet, buy local and regionally produced organic products from farmers you can meet in person at farmers markets or through direct buying in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects.
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