A series of decisions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is weakening organic standards, making it easier for huge corporations to cut corners, jack-up prices, and market "organic food" containing non-organic inputs and imported ingredients with questionable certification. And USDA decisions have opened the door for factory farm-style organic operations that will put the squeeze on small family farmers.

"We have lost confidence in the ability of USDA to protect the integrity of organic agriculture," says Mark Kastel, of The Cornucopia Institute, a new organization working on food and farm policy issues. Many of the recent loopholes created by USDA staff are at odds with recommendations from its National Organic Standards Board and long-held beliefs of the organic community.

Among the loopholes granted by the USDA are these:

"It’s time," says Kastel, "for organic consumers and farmers to draw a line in the sand and defend the food they have chosen to eat and the production system that supports it."

The Cornucopia Institute has launched a campaign for this purpose. On April 30, the group helped coordinate public testimony in defense of strong organic food standards at the semi-annual meeting of the USDA’s National Organics Standards Board in Chicago. The group partnered organic farmers who couldn’t attend the meeting with supportive consumers willing to read brief statements on their behalf. This led to an unprecedented 4.5 hours of testimony during the public comment period.

Nathan Hetrick, who’s family operates an organic dairy near Nelson, Wisconsin, had his statement read by one consumer. Said Hetrick: "Our farm and families are our biggest pride and joy. The Hetrick family is very proud to work hard together to provide a better product for the consumer. The family is also proud to provide a healthier environment for the next generation to come.… We work very hard to ensure that the consumer gets the highest quality organic product we can provide. Keep the standards high so other farmers do the same."

Jim Koan, a Flushing, Michigan apple grower, said in his testimony offered by an other consumer, that his AlMar Orchards "uses very friendly chemicals like hot pepper juice, soap, garlic, vinegar, neem oil, molasses, liquefied fish and seaweed, insect mating disruption, diatamous earth, and kaolin clay. Our farm is now teaming with wild life because of the absence of harsh chemicals.… Organic farming is part science and part religion. Probably only other organic farmers truly comprehend that statement. One cannot be close to God if you are out there poisoning his Earth."

One farmer who was able to directly testify was Jon Cherniss, an organic vegetable grower from Urbana, Illinois. Cherniss noted that "every time the National Organic Program grants an exception that violates the spirit of the rule, it degrades the term ‘organic’ and chips away at its legacy and erodes it traditional base of support. What are consumers supposed to think? How can I convince my colleagues, experienced organic practitioners, not to walk away from organic?"

The National Organics Standards Board — a volunteer body made up of leaders from the organic community and appointed by Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman — responded to the strong public testimony and passed their own resolution. Their act condemned the USDA’s National Organic Program staff for bypassing the Board’s legal authority on organic rules and regulations.

According to Kastel, USDA staff "have created an adversarial environment and have lost the respect of the organic community." The answer, he explains, is "regime change" in program management. The Cornucopia Institute has called upon Secretary Veneman to make the needed changes.

The Cornucopia Institute is asking for letters to USDA chief Ann Veneman supporting strong federal regulations for organic food and farming practices, and requesting a change in program management and philosophy for this purpose at the National Organics Program. Letters should be sent to: Secretary Ann M. Veneman, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Rm. 200-A, Washington DC 20250.