Are organic produces at supermarkets eyewash?

Shortage of Organics supermarket
What is Organic?
Organic produces does not fit retailer logistic because the produces are embedded in regional values and traditional knowledge. Long distances from producer to consumer are unavoidable. To supply retailers large unsustainable fields are necessary. Agrarian chemicals are necessary and mechanisation of agriculture increases carbon output.
Organic crop yields [1]
The crop yields of organic farms are much lower as obtained by conventional farming. This means, the prices of these products are higher than conventional prices The difference varies from 20 to 100%. A problem is the low acceptance of the organic products because of their price.

Yields of milk
Conventional 4886 litres/year
Organic breed 4o44 Litres/year

Yields of wheat
Conventional 61 dt/ha
Organic breed 38 dt/ha

Unfortunately a great group of consumer buy organic foods only because of their own health. Comparing prices, the positive impact on environment, ecology and conservation of the countryside are not taken into consideration.
Organics in USA, regulations: According to Ronnie Cummins, writing for The Progressive Populist The USDA is caught in a familiar predicament given the agency's dual role. On the one hand it is set up ostensibly to protect consumers by ensuring a safe food supply and guarantee the economic livelihood of America's farmers, the majority of whom continue to operate small and medium-sized farms. On the other hand, USDA also sees as its role to promote the industrialization and globalization of American agriculture which means working closely with large agribusiness, chemical, and biotechnology corporations. The natural food industry, with its small stores, small family farms, and discriminating consumers, has begun to pose a direct threat to the market share of large-scale agribusiness.

Guidelines like the CAC/GL32 of the Codex Alimentarius wants to protect: [2]
1.Consumers against deception and fraud in the market place and unsubstantiated product claims;
2. Producers of organic produce against misrepresentation of other agricultural produce as being organic;
3.and to introduce inspections and certification of the production, preparation, storage, transport and marketing of these products so that they are socially, ecologically and economically sustainable.
Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of residues, due to general environmental pollution.. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.
More about the principles of organic agriculture please refer to
http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/principles/index.html

Annalists and Retailers are euphoric with booming business with organic produces. They are a bit sad about the shortage of supplies says a new report from Organic Monitor.
In UK and Germany, the biggest consumer of organics, shortage of organic milk is being deplored and importing milk from other countries increasing traffic on German highways and the Channel. [3]
Transitional Organics, Organic import.
Some retailers are making compromise with organic regulations selling 'transitional' organic milk from herds that have not yet completed their organic conversion.
The UK Whole Foods Market, imports organic milk from Europe. Referring to this the Soil Association suggested that produce with air miles and more should not be allowed to bear organic certification.

US retailers handling the problem
In US retailers smelling profit looked at the smiling face of organics. Dairy farmers have rushed to complete their conversion period.

Organic Food without natural composition
Clever manufacturers rely not only on ecology but also on chemistry adding omega-3 fatty acids organic milk, with two marvelous claims "organic" and "fortified" to pep-up nature. New organic yoghurt, ice-creams, and cheeses will come on the US. innovation on nature, and nobody cares about what is real nature and the principles of organic farming.

US abundance or eyewash?
Nobody can explain the sudden US abundance of organics facing the fact that it has only 1.6m hectares certified organic area which is ten times smaller as the organic area of Australia. Because of the sudden abundance of organics in USA Australia which accounts for the largest certified organic surface area, and New Zealand which had supplied USA must suddenly look for Europe to sell their overproduction.

Conference on Marketing of Organic and Regional Values
The 1st IFOAM conference in Swäbisch Hall, Germany 26-28 August 2007 wants to initiate and foster the discussion and knowledge about marketing of organic and regional values, respective tools and frameworks. The conference will consider regulatory approaches to protect regional values and traditional knowledge. [4]




[1] OurFood: Organic
http://www.ourfood.com/Organic_food.html

[2]Codex Alimentarius: CAC/GL 32 Guidelines for organics.
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/standard_list.do?lang=en

[3] Organic Monitor: Organic Food Shortages Curbing Market Growth 25/05/07
http://www.organicmonitor.com/uk.htm#1

[4] IFOAM: 1st IFOAM Conference on Marketing of Organic and Regional Values 26-28.08.2007
http://www.ifoam.org/events/ifoam_conferences/regional_values_2007.html