Local vs. Organic Food (Part 2 -Current Debates on Agricultural Production Practices
Why selling locally can be hard for some beginning farmers?
-Lack of farming knowledge -To sell to local schools and grocery chains the product must be GAP (Good Agricultural Practice ) certified -To sell prepared food, a stringent food safety requirement such as the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan must be followed
Organic Meat?
Animals must be raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (like the ability to graze on pasture) Fed 100% organic feed and forage, and administered antibiotics or hormones
What are the sales of organic foods concentrated in the world?
Europe and U.S
Is most organic food grown on small farms?
No! Small farms represent most of organic farms but approximately three quarters of organic production comes from large farms. (i.e Earthbound farm in California has about 50,000 acres)
Are Local and Organic food the same?
Not necessarily
Local Foods
Products produced and sold directly to consumers, retail markets, institutions, or intermediate markets for human consumption
Organic food
- A method of production. ( label) how it's produced determines if organic) *Organic food is produced without any human-made fertilizers, pesticides or preservatives. Examples: Planting legumes that fix nitrogen levels naturally Weeds are controlled with mechanical cultivation -In the early 20th century, all food was organic
What is the USDA Organic INTEGRITY Database?
-A modernized system for tracking certified organic operations in the U.S and around the world. -The database makes it easy for anyone to search for organic farms and businesses by name, certification status, state, country, products, and other factors It provides updated and accurate information about all certified operations. • INTEGRITY will deter fraud, provide data for market research, enable stakeholders to identify market opportunities, support the data needs of international trading partners, and share more accurate and timely data.
What other marketing strategies can benefit local farmers?
-Buy local campaigns -Certified South Carolina Campaign, E.g
History of Organic Farming
-Early figures in the organic movement: Albert Howard, Rudolph Steiner, and Eve Balfour (*WIKI THEM) After the First World War, Rudolph became active in a wide variety of cultural contexts He founded schools, the 1st of which was known as the Waldorf school Now a worldwide school network He also founded a system of organic agriculture (biodynamic agriculture): • Use of composted animal manure and other composted crop/plant residues
LFS Benefits- Professor wrote on board)
-Economic impact -Increase Cooperation between local organizations and local leaders *food deserts -Increase social capital? -Improve the quality of life
What is one of the most common marketing outlets for local foods?
-Farmers' Markets Are all foods local in these markets? • Most farmers markets require all local or largely local food, but the definition of "local" may vary
USDA Defnition of organic food?
-Food grown and processed according to federal guidelines involving: -Soil quality, animal raising practices, pest, and weed control, and use of additives - Food grown based on natural substances and physical, mechanical or biological farming methods as much as possible. - It needs to be certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applies for 3 years prior to harvest -Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides -if a synthetic substance is needed to achieve a specific purpose , it must be approved based on its effects on human health and the environment.
U.S organic market
-It was only the late 1980s that the organic market growth "took off" • Sales grew in the late 1980s as consumer concern over chemical residues on foods grew and the number of organic farms increased. • Sales continued to increase by approximately 20% each year after the passage of the Organic Food Production Act in 1990. • Since USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) implemented the organic regulations in 2002, the U.S. organic sector has tripled in size to over 22,000 certified organic operations with over $43 billion in U.S. retail sales. • Demand for organic products is expected to continue growing. • This strong consumer demand outruns supply, providing market opportunities within the organic sector. 14
How to compare organic farming to conventional farming?
-U.S National Academy of Sciences • "Any farm, be it organic or conventional, can only be deemed sustainable if it produces adequate amounts of high-quality food, enhances the natural-resource base and environment, is financially viable, and contributes to the wellbeing of farmers and their communities" Sustainability metrics: Production Environment Economics Social Wellbeing
When did food become "not local"?
-With the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century People started migrating to cities and new means of transportation became available and cheaper.
What is the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system?
-management system where food is assessed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards From raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product. (FDA) • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) require mandatory HACCP programs for food and beverages. • Meat HACCP systems are regulated by the USDA, while seafood and juice are regulated by the FDA. • All other food companies in the United States and firms outside the US that export food to the US, are transitioning to mandatory HACCP plans.
4 social movements and the emergence of the organic food market in the USA
1.) The first social movement is linked to soil conservation and alternative production technologies - Key figures within this movement: Edward Faulkner, Jerome Rodale. Louis Bromfield and Aldo Leopold 2.) Promotion of "pure" food. Scholars and journalists within this movement are primarily concerned with the contamination and adulteration of foods. 3) The ''hippie" counterculture attempted to distinguish the differences between organic and natural foods 4) Beginning with Rachel Carson's (1962) Silent Spring, the environmental movement's focus on sustainable development has led to indirect influences on organic practices and markets • Questioning the role of various dietary choices, considering appropriate technology and bioregionalism, and determining how energy is linked to agricultural production
History of Local Food Gov't Support
1976 Congress passed a "Farmer to Consumer Direct Marketing Act" • USDA to offer funds to states supporting farmers markets and to train market managers. • Goal was to help small growers not to provide local food. • Reagan stopped funding in the 1980s. • More support to local food production was given during the Obama administration.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
A producer-consumer local production and marketing partnership that involves a subscription-based contract for the delivery of seasonal products from the farm. Farmer share of harvest Stable amount of money Sharing risk of production with consumer • A typical CSA offers a mix of between 8 and 12 types of produce and herbs per week per shareholder throughout the growing season.
Why would individuals want to promote local food?
Consumers: • Support for local farmers. • Know the source of the product. • Food safety concerns. • Concern for the environment. • Relationship with producers. • A 2018 survey by The Packer found 55 percent of consumers made a conscious effort to buy locally grown food. • 48 percent purchased more local produce as compared to 2013. • Producers: • Many individuals and beginning farmers are interested in becoming local producers. • Beginning farmers, or those who have operated a farm for 10 or fewer years, generally have lower rates of business survival than more experienced farmers. • A higher share of beginning farmers sell directly to consumers, and those beginning farmers are more likely to remain in business.
What are intermediate and institutional markets?
Farm-to-schools, grocery stores, restaurants,hospitals,prisons, food hubs, cooperatives,etc
Organic movement in the U.S
Jerome Irving Rodale published the "Organic Gardening and Farming magazine." -This diffused and popularized organic farming in U.S Rachel Carson publishes the Silent Spring and stimulated widespread public concern over the dangers of improper pesticide use and the need for better pesticide controls • DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was an insecticide used in agriculture then. • The United States banned the use of DDT in 1972. • Some countries outside the United States still use DDT to control of mosquitoes that spread malaria. • DDT and its related chemicals persist for a long time in the environment and in animal tissues.
What is the difference between "natural food" and "organic food"?
Natural Food- "food that does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances." (FDA) -Not regulated by the USDA Organic Food- Contains no toxic pesticides or chemicals, no synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics, no GMOs, no artificial additives or preservatives, and is grown /raised using organic farming methods. • Organic is always natural and non-GMO, but the opposite cannot be said. • Organic farmer can't plant GMO seeds, an organic cow can't eat GMO alfalfa or corn, and an organic soup producer can't use any GMO ingredients according to the USDA regulation.
What is a locavore?
New Oxford American Dictionary: A person whose diet consists only or principally of locally grown or produced food (within a 100-mile radius)
Why do the "social" organic food movements have in common?
The concern about: -How food is produced, processed, and distributed •How food production/consumption affects natural resources and human health.
Current Regulation
The present U.S market for organic food is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) -housed in the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which sets the standards for the production and labeling for organic goods. • Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. • The organic standards describe the specific requirements that must be verified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent before products can be labeled USDA organic.
What is the GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) certification?
They are based on voluntary audits that verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards -In 2021, USDA performed GAP audits in 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, covering over 90 commodities. •It is a long checklist (more than 30 pages).
What is local?
USDA "Locally or Regionally produced agricultural food product" less that 400 miles from its origin, or within the state in which is produced Canada: 50 km radius Whole Foods: Less than 7 hours of travel (@65 miles/hour= 455 miles) What is the issue with these definitions? Fail to capture many consumers' beliefs regarding "what is local".
What were the "Victory Gardens"? Why were they implemented ?
Vegetable , fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Germany during World Wars I and II - 1944: 20 million "victory gardens" were supplying more than 40% of fresh fruits and vegetables
The first social movement's primary concern was that conventional farming could result in environmental disasters such as the Dust Bowl, what was it?
What circumstances conspired to cause the Dust Bowl? Economic depression coupled with extended drought, unusually high temperatures, poor agricultural practices and the resulting wind erosion all contributed to making the Dust Bowl.
List 3 questions you may have which are related to organic food
i. Why do condumers buy organic foods ii. Is organic food more nutritious and safer? iii. Is organic farming better for the environment
