To qualify farm products for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification, a
farmer must track and report all related activities, including animal feed and food
crop practices, livestock health and living conditions, and product processing, packag-
ing, storage and shipping. Requirements are rigorous.
Organic farms use 70 percent less energy than factory
farms through careful ecological management that leverages
nature’s checks and balances to solve pest problems and pre-
Organic Farm
serve topsoil from erosion. When we buy from local farms,
we also reduce the distance food travels from field to table.
Certification
In producing, transporting, processing and marketing
food, typical factory farms operate on cheap, nonrenewable
in a Nutshell
fossil fuels. Their heavy pesticide use both contaminates
groundwater and soil and fosters erosion.
specifically:
SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS
When we buy our meat and dairy products from an
Land must have been free of prohib- organic stand at a farmers’ market, we support that farm and
the whole concept of healthy food, ensuring its continued
ited substances for at least three years. availability. If we don’t, we are likely supporting the less
wholesome practices of the multinational food industry.
No harmful pesticides, fertilizers, Buying organic animal products, rather than convention-
al versions, is better for our family’s health, our community
antibiotics or hormones may be used. and our world.
Using sewage sludge as fertilizer is Adapted from: Care2.com/greenliving/why-buy-organic-
dairy-meat.html, an article by Annie B. Bond.
prohibited.
No use of genetically modified or-
ganisms (GMOs) is allowed.
No irradiation of feed is allowed.
There can be no commingling of
organic and nonorganic items at any
stage.
Annual inspections of grounds and
Next Session: November 8th 2008, 10:30 am to 11:30 am
facilities must be conducted by a disin-
terested third party.
The farmer must undergo a detailed
annual audit of purchases, production
and sales.
November 2008 35
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