Loading...
The Rural Voice, 2005-04, Page 6Inflexible standards undermine organic growers My name is Alvin Filsinger, proprietor of Filsinger's Natural Foods and Orchards. For those who don't know me, we have been responsible for harvesting and production of apples and other fruits and vegetables for over 65 years. Since 1939, our life's work has been, and continues to be, to bring the consumer the safest and most nutritious food possible. We have invested many hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and hard labour to achieve this goal. We have studied the land and the work of other pioneers in this field, and we have conducted continuous ongoing research of our own to achieve this goal. In 1952, long before there were Organic Certification Boards, we decided to forego the use of harsh chemicals and pesticides and concentrate on the organic approach to farming and nutrition. We have been at the forefront of the health food movement in Canada long before it was fashionable or in the news. We were enthusiastic about, and supported wholeheartedly, the creation of Standards and Certification boards, so that other farmers could have guide- lines to produce better quality food and so that consumers could buy a better product in confidence. In 1982 we joined the Organic Crop Improvement Association (O.C.I.A.), and later the Organic Crop,+�Producers and Processors (V.C.P.P.). It all seemed like a great idea at 2 THE RURAL VOICE Feedback the time, but unfortunately severe problems have developed with the rigidity of the system, and we are just one of the many organic farms that have experienced a no-win situation. We lost 700 apple trees by following the rules of the O.C.I.A. (no copper or boron was allowed, which was needed to make the trees more winter hardy). Now, we have been seeing declining production year after year under the rules of the O.C.P.P. who have little experience with apple scab and the cooler, wetter climates like Ontario and Quebec because their rules emanate from California, where different climactic conditions produce different problems and different solutions. Because we've been at it longer than most, it's our opinion that those farms in this climate that are not currently experiencing problems will face the same difficult choices that we've had to make in their future. It's simply a matter of time. In the meantime, hundreds of honest, hard- working organic farmers will go broke and give up by simply following the rules. This is not good for our industry, the nutritional content of the food produced or the cost and availability of produce. The organic certification rules are not working because the certification organizations are too stubborn and political to adapt or change course when they are wrong. Repeated requests for assistance and my suggestions for a remedy were met with "Just follow the rules". My research, and the research of others, have proven that some of the materials prescribed by the O.C.P.P. for apple scab, although organic, are, damaging the soil balance and producing somewhat safer but far less nutritious food than is possible, as well as declining yields. What began with such noble intentions has degenerated into a stubborn, inflexible, impractical ideology. My regret is not that I was honest and up front about what I was doing, but that I believed that the O.C.P.P. would see and understand the evidence and evolve and adjust from a made - in -California, one -size -fits -all approach. To the uneducated, this denial of certification makes us look like we don't know what we're doing. I can assure you, we know exactly what we're doing, and we'll prove it. In 65 years of farming, with over 50 years in organic, we've learned a thing or two about how to grow things. We need adjustment and more regional flexibility in certification boards now, before it's too late — before the disillusioned consumer takes their business elsewhere and we lose their trust forever. I had a difficult choice to make, follow the certification rules and go broke, or do my homework and try to find an answer for myself and others in the same situation. It is very troubling that the Organic Regulatory Agencies are still not aware of sophisticated research carried out over 10 years at the New York Environmental Society that shows that some of the most soil - damaging materials to use for apple scab, are the ones recommended in the Organic Certification Standard Book (e.g. sulphur). The product that I decided to use was not on the approved list, but was 10 times less damaging to the soil, being used far less often, and being more helpful in allowing fruit to set. Also, the contradictory guidelines as to the use of some materials in the Organic Certification Standard Book are further indications of their poor judgement. This is very troubling indeed. I made my choice. With the health of the soil, the ultimate nutrition of the produce and my lifetime legacy at stake. The final word on sustainable organic agriculture has not yet been written, but our recent work has produced some truly astonishing breakthroughs in the health of our orchard. In the near future, we will invite all competitors, organic or conventional, to match the nutritional content of our produce and the balanced health of our soil. — Alvin Filsinger, Proprietor Filsinger's Natural Foods and Orchards. Est. 1953 RR 3, Ayton.