Organic Produce Association Endorses the Meeting Demand for Organic Produce Act
December 12, 2024The Organic Produce Association (OPA) is proud to endorse S.5475, the Meeting Demand for Organic Produce Act. This bipartisan legislation will provide farmers with additional flexibility while they transition to organic production and will help to meet the growing demand for organic produce.
“The introduction of this bill, allowing a test-out option for the organic three-year transition period, represents a transformative step for farmers and the organic produce industry. We applaud Senator Braun and Senator Kelly for their continued effort to help the organic industry. For the Organic Produce Association, this is a win-win—supporting producers committed to organic principles and meeting USDA’s gold standard requirements for the organic seal, while ensuring a robust supply of certified organic products to meet growing consumer demand.” said Skip Hulett, General Counsel of OPA member company NatureSweet.
The OPA believes this act will significantly contribute to the continued growth of the organic sector in the United States, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment. In September 2024, OPA released a comprehensive economic analysis outlining the potential impacts of giving farmers the opportunity to test out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) three-year organic transition rule. The study revealed that modernizing the organic certification process would increase organic transition among farmers, provide more affordable organic produce for consumers, and provide economic benefits to both consumers and producers of organic produce. Specifically, the Meeting Demand for Organic Produce Act would:
- Allow farmers an option to test their soil or growing medium, with a testing method approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
- If testing proves there are no prohibited substances in their soil or growing medium, farmers are allowed to continue the organic certification process immediately, eliminating the three-year transition process.
- Producers will still be required to meet all other organic certification requirements.
Background: The three-year organic transition period refers to the period during which a farm or agricultural operation transitions from conventional to organic farming practices. Throughout these three years, the farm must adhere to organic farming methods without using prohibited synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms. During this period, the land is treated as if it were already organic, but the certification is granted only after successfully completing the transition and meeting all organic standards.
The organic three-year transition period was put in place to ensure that farms undergoing a shift from conventional to organic practices have sufficient time to meet the organic standards set by regulatory bodies, specifically to ensure that any residual synthetic substances used in conventional farming are eliminated from the soil during those three years. However, since its enactment in the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, the agriculture and organic industry has changed substantially in regard to innovation, production, and sustainability. Many of the harsh chemicals that once were used in the 1990’s are no longer being used, and the three-year period has little scientific backing.
For many organic farmers, waiting three years is not financially feasible, especially if the soil or growing medium has never been introduced to prohibited substances. With the technology we have today, farmers should have an option to test out of the three-year transition period, if they meet all other organic certification qualifications. The Meeting Demand for Organic Product Act will provide that option to all producers.