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 Mr.
Allen Shainsky's Letter to CustomersPetaluma/Shainsky references(in red) 1) New York Times click here 2) Organic Valley News click here
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New York Times on Web USDA to Allow Meat to Be Labeled Organic January 15, 1999 U.S. to Allow Organic Label on Some Meats and Poultry By MARIAN BURROS WASHINGTON -- The Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that it would allow farmers who raise meat and poultry without pesticide-treated feed, growth hormones or antibiotics to label their meat "certified organic." That meat will be the only organic food with a certification process approved by the Federal Government. State regulations for years have allowed organic labels on many other foods, but meat and poultry have always been in a different category, subject to more stringent Federal labeling regulations. The Federal rules go into effect immediately, and need no legislative approval. They are welcomed by companies that produce organic meat, who have been frustrated in attempts to market a premium product. Many foods labeled organic sell for 10 percent to 50 percent above the price of similar nonorganic foods. For decades, the Agriculture Department treated the organic food industry as if it did not exist. But as sales grew more than 20 percent a year through the 1990's, organic food came to account for $1 of every $100 spent on food, and in 1997 the agency took notice, proposing national organic standards for all food. The proposal met with stiff resistance from more than 275,000 people who said they opposed the Federal standards because they would lower the state standards already in place. In an unusual move the agency withdrew the proposal. An Agriculture Department spokesman described the new meat and poultry policy as "an interim step," until national standards exist, which may come next year. "This is a boon for small companies like us," said Allen Shainsky, owner of Petaluma Poultry Processors in Petaluma, Calif. Shainsky's company sells around 120,000 birds per week, and he said he hoped to be selling 15,000 organic birds a week within a few months. Allen Moody, a feed coordinator for the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool, or Cropp, in LaFarge, Wis., which sells its products under the Organic Valley label, said: "This means a lot to us. We have not been able to get full value out of our beef cattle, our dairy cattle." In terms of going out with a national marketing program, it has been impossible, and we have not been able to realize the true value of our animal production," Moody said. "It has held the livestock industry back." Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman said he hoped Thursday's announcement would also help the meat industry, particularly hog farmers who have seen prices for pork as low as 9 cents a pound. The current price is 28 cents a pound for live hogs, compared with 35 cents last year. Ultimately, Moody said, there is more profit in organic meat than in conventional meat. He said he expected to sell organic pork for 60 to 70 cents a pound. The Agriculture Department will rely on state and industry certifiers as it allows producers to use the organic label. Those standards require third-party certification that the meat and poultry are raised on organic feed, without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones, that they have access to the outside and that there is a manure management plan. If an animal becomes ill and must be given antibiotics it can no longer be sold as organic. I think this announcement is a sign that organic is one of the Secretary's top priorities," said Katherine DeMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association in Greenfield, Mass., "that he is serious about working out details of the final rule for national organic standards. The Secretary has seen that this will create new opportunities to help small farmers." Glickman acted after a letter-writing campaign in the fall from small meat and poultry producers. Opposition from the national beef industry was quite mild. Alisa Harrison, a spokeswoman for the National Cattlemen's Association, said the association was "generally supportive of niche marketing and giving consumers a choice." Our only concern, Ms. Harrison said, "is that consumers understand that products labeled organic are not safer than products that are not labeled organic." Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company return to top  ®(Washington-AP)-- Look for the organic label, coming soon to your local meat and poultry shelves. The Agriculture Department has agreed to allow the labels for meat and poultry products while the agency continues work on national standards for all organic foods. Organic certification generally means no pesticides, herbicides or preservatives have been sprayed on the growing fruits or vegetables. For livestock, organic producers mostly shun the use of antibiotics and confined feeding areas, favoring access to the outdoors, fresh air and sunlight for their animals. Naturally grown fruits, vegetables and other products have been allowed to carry the organic label for some time. The organic industry has grown in recent years as more and more consumers worry about health effects of pesticides and other chemicals in food and about Earth's ability to sustain conventional farming.Copyright 1999& The Associated Press. All
rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or
redistributed.
U-S-D-A to OK Organic Meat Label... AP 16-JAN-99 (Washington-AP)-- The Agriculture Department will let organic labels go on naturally produced meat and poultry products. Organic producers can apply for the label, and an industry official says consumers may see it in stores this spring. Organic livestock producers shun antibiotics and confined feeding areas. They give their animals access to the outdoors, fresh air and sunlight. The Agriculture Department is still developing overall rules for organic food. But aides to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman say the overall rules are taking longer than expected to develop. And they say he chose not to make beef and poultry producers wait.Copyright 1999& The Associated Press. All rights reserved. WIRE:Jan. 15, 1:34 a.m. ET USDA to allow meat to be labeled organic AP News ServiceWASHINGTON (AP) _ Consumers who want to expand their menu of organic foods soon will find organic meat and poultry products on store shelves. The Agriculture Department agreed Thursday to allow the labels while the agency continues work on national standards for all organic foods. ``This announcement means more information and more choice for American consumers,'' Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said. ``It will help organic family farmers and ranchers further expand their already growing markets.''Organic certification generally means no pesticides, herbicides or preservatives have been sprayed on the growing fruits or vegetables. For livestock, organic producers mostly shun the use of antibiotics and confined feeding areas, opting instead to give organic animals access to the outdoors, fresh air and sunlight. Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association, called the decision ``a victory for the organic industry and consumers.'' ``We've been working on this issue for about eight years,'' DiMatteo said. ``I think people have an interest in having choices in the marketplace.'' DiMatteo said consumers will see the first organic meat, poultry and egg products in stores by early spring. Certified organic meat processors will have to apply to USDA for label approval. Naturally grown fruits, vegetables and other products have been allowed to carry the organic label for some time. Until Thursday, USDA had prohibited the label for meat, which is more strictly regulated. To alleviate the disparity and respond to a growing organic industry, USDA is developing national standards to cover the entire industry. The rules would replace a hodgepodge of state and private certification programs that sometimes differ on their definition of organic. Glickman chose to allow meat labels in the interim, partly because development of national standards is taking longer than expected, officials said. Aides said he also thought the rule would provide a boost for organic farmers, who tend to be smaller family farmers. The organic industry has grown in recent years as more and more consumers become worried about health effects of pesticides and other chemicals in food and about Earth's ability to sustain conventional farming. The Organic Trade Association estimates that the organic industry is growing at least 20 percent a year, with current overall sales of about $4.2 billion. Copyright 1999 AP News Service. All rights reserved. “www. organicvalley.com” USDA Approves Organic Meat Label USDA Authorizes Organic Label For Meat & Poultry Products Organic Valley CEO George Siemon, who serves as Chair of the Organic Trade Association Livestock Committee, today learned that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman has authorized the use of a certified organic label for meat, poultry, and egg products, the only agricultural categories currently prohibited from carrying that distinction. Organic labeling will be allowed, effective immediately. "After fifteen years of waiting and working with the USDA, we are delighted and proud to be among the first to label our meat products certified organic,・ states Siemon. "In rendering this decision, Ag Secretary Glickman has recognized the enormous contribution of the fast-growing organic agriculture sector in helping family farmers survive and thrive."Organic Valley spearheaded a national campaign to encourage this policy change within the USDA, joined by farmers and processors, organic certifiers and associations, retailers, and consumer groups nationwide. The decision promotes consumer choice, giving buyers the security provided by premium quality certified organic meats and poultry products. Organic Valley certified organic livestock are raised without hormones and antibiotics, fed organic grains and forage grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and never fed rendered animal by-products. In addition, Organic Valley follows standards for adequate space and access to the outdoors set by the Humane Society of the United States. Headquartered in the Wisconsin hamlet of La Farge, Organic Valley opened its doors in 1988 as the first national organic dairy co-op. Today, it markets organic dairy, eggs, vegetables and beef. For the near future, certified organic meat products will carry the Valley Finest label. The co-op will gradually expand its line under its Organic Valley label to include organic pork, poultry, and other certified organic meat products. The USDA decision most immediately impacts organic family farmers and small processors who’ve been scrambling to survive. It will reverberate much further, as feed grain and forage producers, and feed mills, expand certified organic production. This helps round out the organic agricultural sector, providing markets for cover crops and nitrogen-fixing legumes, and encouraging sustainable, environmentally sound organic production on significantly larger acreage. Organic diversification is beneficial to our soil and our economy.Organic livestock production stands in great
contrast to the emergence and growth of environmentally harmful feedlot production
facilities, which have contributed to the demise of the family farmer. Indeed, farm prices
have dropped to historic lows. "We have not seen farm prices like this since
1960," says Tom Frantzen of Iowa, a prominent organic pork producer. "Marketing
pork of the highest quality under an organic pork label is a critically needed component
to ensure the future of our farm and family." Organic Valley Siemon sums it up: "The USDA ruling in favor of the organic label will assist hundreds of family farmers, and thereby contribute to the health and vitality of their rural communities. All cooperative members standing behind our Valley Finest and Organic Valley labels thank Secretary Glickman and all USDA staff who worked extremely hard to bring this much-needed change to fruition. Now consumers will reap the benefits of the fine efforts of our nation organic farm families." For further information on this decision, its impact and implementation, please contact George Siemon, Organic Valley CEO, Chair OTA Livestock(608) 625-2602 Allen Moody, Pam Saunders, Organic Valley (608) 625-2602 Tom Frantzen, Iowa pork producer (515) 364 6426 Allen Shainsky, Petaluma Poultry (707) 763 1904 Katherine DiMatteo, Organic Trade Association (413) 774 7511 National Organic Standards Board Chair Fred Kirschenmann (701) 486 3579 USDA Press Contact Andy Solomon (202) 720 4623 return to top USDA Press Release on Web ORGANIC LABELING CLAIM ALLOWED ON MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS Release No. 0015.99 Press Contact: Andy Solomon
(202) 720-4623
This announcement means more information -- and more choice ? for American consumers," said Glickman. "It will help organic family farmers and ranchers further expand their already growing markets." Meat and poultry products will be labeled "certified organic by (name of the certifying entity)" if processors seek prior label approval from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the claim meets certain basic criteria. Specifically, to use the claim in labeling, processors will need to show that products have been certified as organic by an authority or entity that certifies products as "organically" produced. That entity must have standards that define "organically produced" and a system for ensuring that products it certifies meet those standards. There are 33 private and 11 state organic certification entities, as well as a number of smaller entities that provide self-certification. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is currently revising its proposal standardizing use of the term "organic." This proposal will be available for public comment before it becomes final. But today's announcement means that meat and poultry products can be labeled as organic in the interim. Fruits, vegetables and other products are already permitted to carry an organic label if they meet standards set by independent certifying agents. The new policy is effective immediately.
More information for producers is available on the FSIS homepage at www.fsis.usda.gov and
from the Labeling and Additives Policy Division at (202) 205-0279. |
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