Certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Civic Agriculture Essay

Certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Civic Agriculture - Essay Example Fair trade foods have entered the market in response to socially conscious advocates that promote the long-term economic well being of farmers in developing countries or disadvantaged areas. Civic agriculture has responded to the call of local community groups and consumer cooperatives that seek to link food to local production as an alternative to the mass-produced and distributed food chain. Organic foods, fair trade products, and civic agriculture all serve separate demands in the marketplace, each with differing drawbacks and a limited ability to serve the needs of the world's demand for food. Organic foods are a specialty type of farming that has risen in popularity in recent years as a response to the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides that are used in commercial farming. Many of these products have been linked to cancer and a variety of childhood ailments. Controlling weeds and pests in organic farming is accomplished through alternative methods that rely on weed control, instead of killing, and natural pest repellent systems. In addition, under the Federal Organic Food Production Act of 1990 fertilizers are strictly limited and prohibit the use of "fertilizers containing synthetic ingredients or any commercially blended fertilizers containing materials prohibited", such as "phosphorous, lime, potash, or any materials that are inconsistent with the applicable organic certification program" (Federal Organic Food Production Act of 1990). To be labeled as an organic food, it must be grown in accordance with US Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines and certi fied by the Department. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "More than 40 private organizations and state agencies (certifiers) currently certify organic food, but their standards for growing and labeling organic food may differ. For example, some agencies may permit or prohibit different pesticides or fertilizers in growing organic food" (Organic Farming). The rigid guidelines and lack of standards has made organic foods difficult to market, and added complexity and confusion to the consumer wishing to consume organic foods. The organic foods market has been developing for over fifty years in the US, and while it has experienced significant growth, it is limited in its scope as a source of food. The low prices that are paid in the US for food have come about as a result of large scale and high production farming techniques. These agricultural practices are not conducive to organic methods and they rely on the significant applications of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. In addition, much of our agricultural production goes to animal feed. The millions of acres of corn and soybeans that cover the Midwest could not be organically grown. Organic foods are an excellent product for the home gardener that is concerned about the risks of agricultural chemicals, or the small producer that is serving a niche market. The EPA states that "the industry has grown from experimental garden plots to large farms with surplus products sold under a special organic label. Food manufacturers have developed organic pro cessed products and many retail marketing chains specialize in the sale of "organic" products" (Organic Farming). However, these products are located on specialty shelves in the supermarket, are more expensive, and the