Appeal from an Adverse Action under the National Organic Program – a...
“I never made a mistake in my life; at least, never one that I couldn’t explain away afterwards.” ― Rudyard Kipling, Under The Deodars Everyone makes mistakes, right? Even the National Organic Program...
View ArticleSubstantive Review of NOP Appeals and the Resolution of Appeals
In our last post, we discussed the procedural requirements necessary to pursue an appeal of an adverse action taken by the NOP, a State organic program, or an organic certification agency. To greatly...
View ArticleMediation of NOP Disputes
A judge I very much respect once told me that a successful mediation is one in which the dispute gets settled and while no one leaves happy, everyone can look themselves in the mirror the next morning...
View ArticleAn Interview with Betsy Rakola: A focus on transitioning farmers and organic...
The following interview with USDA Organic Policy Advisor Betsy Rakola comes via Melody Meyer’s wonderful blog, Organic Matters. Melody is the Vice President of Policy and Industry Relations for United...
View ArticleAn Interview with Betsy Rakola: A focus on transitioning farmers and organic...
Here is part 2 of Melody Meyer’s interview with USDA Organic Policy Advisor Betsy Rakola via Organic Matters. (Part 1 is available here). Melody is the Vice President of Policy and Industry Relations...
View ArticleGot Organic? Organic Checkoff Program Moving Forward
“Got Milk” and “Beef It’s What’s for Dinner” are just two of the now iconic advertising slogans which resulted from USDA mandatory checkoff programs. Following the Organic Trade Association’s proposal...
View ArticleThe US Needs More Organic Products!
This week, HighQuest Group held its inaugural “Organic and Non-GMO Forum” in conjunction with the 10th annual Oilseed and Grain Trade Summit, and Women in Agribusiness Summit. This exceptional forum...
View ArticleTo market, to market (to buy an organic product)
One of the most common questions we get asked is “How can I use the organic seal to market my certified-organic products without running afoul of the organic regulations?” Until today, that question...
View ArticleOpen for Comment: Draft Guidance on Organic Product Calculations
Recognizing that “certifying agents have interpreted the requirements for calculating the percent of organic ingredients differently,” the USDA recently published its draft guidance “Calculating the...
View ArticleLand in Transition: A “New” Certification Option?
The required three-year transition to convert a conventional field to organic can be a deterrent for some would-be organic farmers. Those 36 long, long months often put the farmer in the worst of both...
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