11/21/05 The impact of Harvey on fruit

Some in the organic industry have expressed concerns over the last two months on an amendment to the recently adopted fiscal year 2006 federal agriculture appropriations bill, and the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. That measure allows organic products to contain non-organic substances. The changes to the Act were a direct response to a lawsuit filed earlier this year by a Maine blueberry farmer, Arthur Harvey. A federal judge ruled in favor of Harvey's contention that U.S.D.A. rules at the time went against the Organic Foods Production Act. The case and the update to the Act have resulted in debate between segments of the organic foods industry. But what does it all mean, especially from the standpoint of the organic fruit industry? David Grannestein of Washington State University's Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources says not much. GRANNESTEIN: Most of this applies to processed foods. Therefore, impact on tree fruit is relatively minimal although there could be some post-harvest issues but for the most part it's aimed at processed foods. In fact, many analysis of the Harvey case say the Organic Foods Production Act still protects the organic produce and grain grower, as at the time of its crafting fifteen years ago, organic growers were more experienced in those realms. But as organic processed foods and livestock production has taken off in recent years, some say those areas needed to be addressed as well.