Could this note from the USDA use any MORE confusing acronyms? The title: “NOP and NOSB Collaboration on Grower Group Certifications.” Can you name what those N-somethings are for me?
If so, you might be able to figure out this note has to do with the recent news about the USDA’s National Organic Program ruling that would’ve made organic certification pretty much impossible for most small farmer co-ops.
Luckily, Coffee and Conservation’s interpreted the note for the rest of us:
The USDA issued a statement that the rules for organic certification will not change at this time, but that the matter will be discussed further in the fall and amendments to the rules are a possibility in the future.
So it’s good news. It’s just really, really tough to figure out that it actually is good news –
NOP = National Organic Program
NOSB = National Organic Standards Board
The NOSB is a 15-member committee appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to develop standards for substances used in organic production and to advise the Secretary on implementing the national organic program. The NOP is a program within the Department of Agriculture, made up of the whole set of regulations that control certification and accreditation of organic producers and labeling of organic products.
Comment by Ineluctable Moe — May 3, 2007 @ 9:26 am
The only way to wade through the organic and fair trade semantics,marketing jungle is to strait to your supplier and demand transparency.
I am changing my coffee house over to 100% Fair Trade Organic. Dean’s Beans is the answer to my prayers. Complete transparency with spunk to stand up to the big guys exploiting organic and trade semantics.
Comment by Jim Gortner — June 9, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Hey Jim — I’ll add your coffee shop to my list of fair trade coffee shops :) Thanks for dropping by!
Comment by Siel — June 10, 2007 @ 3:30 pm