12/01/08 Certifying Organic

Certifying Organic. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The popularity of organic products is gaining momentum as more and more producers are coming on board and offering organically produced fruits and vegetables. What was once relegated to a corner of the supermarket is now being prominently featured. But getting to that point of growing organic is not as easy as it might seem. Miles McEvoy, Program Manager for the Washington Department of Agriculture's Organic Food Program says even with more producers the requirements will stay the same. McEVOY: The standards are going to retain the same level. The process actually is getting probably a little more rigorous in terms of the certification process. McEvoy describes the process. McEVOY: The first part is filling out a farm plan that describes your organic practices from soil management to pest control to how you identify and keep the identity of the organic product through harvesting and transportation, all the way to the marketplace. Once certified organic McEvoy says it's not that difficult to retain your certification but there are other issues coming up that may change the way organic is handled. McEVOY: The U.S. has the National Organic Program in place and other countries are putting in similar programs. Canada will have a Canadian Organic program standard in place this December so organic fruit that is being exported to Canada will have to be certified in the Canadian standards. They are in the process of setting up that certification. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.