Rising consumer demands aids organic industry sway

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON (AP) - The organic food industry is gaining influence on Capitol Hill, prompted by its entry into traditional farm states and by increasing consumer demand.

That's not going over well with everyone in Congress.

Tensions between conventional and organic agriculture boiled over this week during a late-night House Agriculture Committee debate on farm legislation that for decades has propped up traditional crops and largely ignored organics.

When Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., a former organic farmer, offered an amendment to make it easier for organic companies to organize industry-wide promotional campaigns, there was swift backlash from some farm-state Republicans. One lawmaker said he didn't want to see the industry get a free ride and a second complained about organics'"continued assault on agriculture."

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130517/DA6B5DQG2.html

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In this Feb. 22, 2009, file photo, bottles of Heinz organic tomato ketchup are on display inside Costco in Mountain View, Calif. The organic industry is gaining clout on Capitol Hill, prompted by rising consumer demand and its entry into traditional farm states. But that isn’t going over well with everyone in Congress. Tensions between conventional and organic agriculture boiled over this week during a late-night House Agriculture Committee debate on a sweeping farm bill that has for decades propped up traditional crops and largely ignored organics. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

[wordpix]

1. the repukes support pink slime ag - how dare those organic co's put Monsanto out of business?

[silvershadow]

2. " One lawmaker said he didn't want to see the industry get a free ride and a second complained

about organics'"continued assault on agriculture."

Yes. Tell me how organic farming is assaulting the rights of big agriculture. This guy and his thinking is a true perversion.

[wordpix]

3. Lobbyists for 2012 "ag business as usual" farm bill: $173+ million included just $269K from organics

http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/07/agribiz-bought-farm-bill
snip:

And, of course, it's precisely these corporate interests that fuel the gusher of lobbying cash. Consider that of the $173.5 million total lobbying expenditures, organic interests spent just $269,000—an amount nearly offset by the Fertilizer Institute's $245,000, and dwarfed by Monsanto's $2.46 million outlay. Altogether, Monsanto and its peers spent $9.9 million on lobbying; ethanol and other biofuel interests spent $23 million; commodity interests including Archer Daniels Midland spent $17 million; industrial meat packers, led by Tyson and JBS, dropped $5.7 million; and food manufacturers like Kraft spent $11 million. snip

[TygrBright]

4. "Organic Food Industry": What's wrong with this picture? n/t

[msongs]

5. ah, the golden days of yesteryear when all food was organic instead of chemically manufactured nt

[Cha]

6. Yep, and I've been buying and supporting since the '70s. You can

imagine how much change I've seen across the country.

thanks Steve

[freshwest]

7. I choose organic every chance I get. So I want labels and no discrimination against organics.

It's my body.

It's my choice.

Is it too much to ask agribusiness bullies to respect my choice?

To every argument against, I still say:

It's my body.

It's my choice.

Not your body.

Not your choice.

[cui bono]

8. I get nervous seeing those corporate labels saying "certified organic".

Call me crazy but I just don't trust those big corporations. The organic bananas I get at Trader Joe's and the organic pineapples I get at the health food stores are Dole. I don't know... but I don't like it. I mean I love organic, just don't know about how organic those corporate foods really are.

Also, keep in mind, while that Heinz ketchup may be organic, that doesn't mean it doesn't have sugar and other crap in it. I'd find a brand that doesn't.well I'd prefer to support smaller brands anyway when possible.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

10. Along with buying organics

I only support start ups. If from inception a companies philosophy isn't organic I won't buy it. That way I am not increasing influence of corps like dole that are guilty of crimes against humanity(use of pesticides on and around farmers w/out warning them resulting in mass sterilization and miscarriages)

[fwm]

11. I make my own

I grow Italian Plum tomatoes. Just 3 plants usually is enough in a good year. You can blanch tomatoes, take the skin off and freeze them for a day when you have time to make the catsup and process in a water bath. It's not hard. It just takes some planning and time.

[cui bono]

15. Phew! I was worried you were going to say

you made your own "corporate labels saying "certified organic"."

Good idea on the homemade catsup, and welcome to DU!

[NCarolinawoman]

14. I do a lot of online research in what is REALLY organic.

One thing I have found out is that Horizon milk is NOT organic. Yet it is always in the organic section competing with the real organic milk, of course at a much lower price.

Tom Harkin once called these guys out, and specifically named Horizon. Harkin said he was going to do something about it....then NOTHING. Must have gotten pressure from somebody.

[cui bono]

16. Are they labeled organic? n/t

[roody]

18. Yes. They cheat.

[NCarolinawoman]

19. They are constantly being sued to get the organic label off the cartons.

But the label still stands. After doing a little online research, it looks like Vilsack may have been involved in squelching Harkin's good intentions. Harkin had made it very clear that he was going after Horizon.

[Beartracks]

9. "Dammit, now they want to redefine 'food'!!!" n/t

in case anyone missed it.

====================

[L0oniX]

12. Yeah well let me know when yer Monsanto buddies decide what you will be complaining about next...

For fucks sake "organics'"continued assault on agriculture" WTF!

[lovuian]

13. Americans and the world have awakened

they are smarter and one thing they have learned ....the Government lies

[Marrah_G]

17. One of the best things you can do is buy from local organic farms

It's good for you and for the local economy.