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Post by oliverman on Jun 20, 2016 23:19:44 GMT -5
I came across this after receiving an email from the marketing agent for the organic farmer's cooperative I belong to. This year, prices for organic grains have dropped dramatically, almost entirely due to imported organic grains. The rapid growth of organic production in the developing world seems far in excess of the abilities for regulatory authorities to verify that it is indeed organic. Along with that, the countries with the most growth in "organic" production have very corrupt governments. It is apparent that whatever the case, these imports are not produced with the same level of scrutiny that producers in this country are subject too. I have no objection to free global trade, but any time a product comes here and is marketed under the same label as if it were produced here, it should have to meet the same regulatory requirements. By allowing these cheap imports, organic agriculture here is threatened, as there is less incentive for conventional farmers to transition to organic, and organic farmers may revert back to conventional methods to stay in business. So, if anyone has time to send a message to your representatives, asking them to contact the USDA to demand that organic imports be held to the same standards as domestic production, it would be much appreciated. www.contactingthecongress.org/ is where you can find the contact information for your congressman and senators. www.forbes.com/sites/stevensavage/2015/06/03/is-the-organic-brand-at-risk/#23b1988f5979
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Post by desertwoman on Jun 20, 2016 23:22:30 GMT -5
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Post by kimmsr🕊 on Jun 21, 2016 5:12:39 GMT -5
Big Ag business, Archer, Daniels, Midland, General Mills, etc. have entered the "organic market" which should be an indication that maybe even the standards in the USA are not what they should be. I have always been quite leery of "organic" products in the market place, especially if from a distant source, or if touted as the latest, greatest thing to come down the pike. Use local as much as possible and do not purchase from far away if you cannot verify the source.
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Post by brownrexx on Jun 21, 2016 8:57:46 GMT -5
Another example of "you get what you pay for". Thanks for bringing this up. I really had never thought about it.
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Post by oliverman on Jun 21, 2016 13:21:12 GMT -5
brownrexx, the trouble is the big import/export companies are buying low and selling high. So the end consumer doesn't even get to pay a much lower price in the end.
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Post by octave1 on Jun 21, 2016 21:34:49 GMT -5
I am inclined to think that imported organic grains may indeed be organic because they are grown in places where people do not have a lot of money to buy chemicals. On the other hand, I also think that the same crops may be contaminated by pollution, human/animal waste, and heavy metals. I would not buy it.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Jun 22, 2016 17:16:06 GMT -5
I'm with Octave on this, organic or nonorganic. Too many countries don't have the standards, control or inspection methods.
I recall reading that after one particular chemical (I don't remember which one) was banned here, the manufacturer sold it overseas. If that produce was exported back to us, we're still getting the unhealthy food, and perhaps with less inspection standards than if it had been grown here.
I love celery and eat a lot of it, but the organic celery in the stores is disgusting looking - brown and rusty. I wonder if the store produce transit mechanisms just don't care for it properly, or just don't make an effort to keep the stock fresh.
And as to Oliverman's post, I really wouldn't have much confidence in foods produced abroad unless they were from one of the developed countries. I never buy anything from Peru or Chile, and generally the out of season fruits are from there or Mexico. Nothing against the countries - I'm just not comfortable that there's enough of a standard to be safe.
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Post by desertwoman on Jun 22, 2016 18:36:52 GMT -5
I recall reading that after one particular chemical (I don't remember which one) was banned here, the manufacturer sold it overseas. there were/are many. DDT and BHC first comes to mind. There was book published in the early 80's about this Circle of PoisonUnder the guise of some "regulations" it is still being done today.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Jun 22, 2016 21:56:02 GMT -5
I think it was DDT. desertwoman , what kind of regulations are addressed in the Circle of Poison book? Are these regulations allowing specific toxins to destroy specific insects, for example? I had thought DDT was banned in the US. It wouldn't surprise me though if the manufacturers of these toxins convinced someone in government that their use was necessary, perhaps for some specific insect that was a threat to either crops or humans.
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Post by desertwoman on Jun 23, 2016 0:31:37 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️ I haven't read that book since it first came out, so I don't remember details. DDT is still banned in the US What I meant by "still being done today" is that there are some other chemicals that are not used (banned or strongly controlled) here but "allowed " to be sold to developing countries. That's the circle of poison: banned in US , passed off to other countries, contaminated food returns here (or it is brought in with wind)
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Jun 23, 2016 21:59:38 GMT -5
desertwoman, seems like those chemicals can follow us through life, whether here or from another country. Thanks for that clarification.
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Post by kimmsr🕊 on Jun 24, 2016 6:18:40 GMT -5
While DDT is banned for use in the USA it is a very common pesticide every where else and especially where malaria is very common. DDT is cheap and is easily sprayed even though it is not all that effective in control as is evident in the many species of mosquitoes that are not controlled by the stuff. Now it is the spray of choice where the Zika virus is prominent.
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Post by rjmaan on Mar 21, 2018 0:28:27 GMT -5
Yeah, no one can surely say whether its organic or inorganic. Do share your findings here.
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