Organic farmers say there should be more oversight into what is actually natural
As their food market continues to grow, many organic farmers are urging to have more oversight on what actually is organic after two fertilizer companies sold synthetic product under a natural label.
California organic farmers who unknowingly used the synthetic fertilizer won't be penalized by the California Certified Organic Farmers according to the Associated Press, but many fear they have done damage to their crops, their soil and their industry.
"It brings the term [organic] and the industry down a couple notches," Phil McGrath, an organic farmer told the AP.
Many other farmers in California are angry that they purchased fertilizer that they can't even use. Judith Redmond, who owns Full Belly Farms near Sacramento told the news provider that she bought $2,000 on fertilizer that is not suitable for use and says she's also angry at the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
"We were sold a product that wasn't what they said and the CDFA was asleep at the wheel," she said.
Last year the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed guidelines that would close a loophole in the definition of organic milk and would now require the milk to come from cows who grazed at least 120 days per year.
