Hello,

My name is Andrew.  You may remember me from such rants as not agreeing, on principle, with organic certification and needing approval and validation by the government to sell “organic” food.  Is my produce any less “organic” because it doesn’t have the CCOF seal of approval.  What a bunch of balooney…at least that’s what I said.

As of Ferbruary 17thish, 2009, Four Frog Farm became a real organic farm, according to CCOF and our beloved government.  Even though our government may have its issues, it can sure as heck specify what an organic farm is and is not.  I love that I now share such hallowed ground with Earthbound and Grimmway.  We are, like, best buds. We’re doing lunch next week with some organic carrots and lettuce mix from Mexico.

So, we’re in the club!!! Yay for us!!! Yay for $950 spent with CCOF!!!  Yay for being overcharged on our inspection!!!  

Okay, I think I’m done with the sarcasm.  I’m actually interested to hear what other people have to say about being certified organic.  On one hand it protects the consumer. Example:  last year at our local farmers’ market, a grower from the valley would routinely say that their produce was organic (though not certified!!!) when asked by a customer.  For several reasons, I had some serious doubts that their produce was organic (or even their own produce!).  So, in that case, you can trust the certification (and what that certification means, I’ll leave up to you).

On the other hand it gives out government a level of control that makes me even more resentful and rebelious than I already am.  I mean, I have a hard time taking a certification from a government that says organic isn’t better than chemical ag, just different.  They are beholden (dems and republicans alike to be sure) to their constituents, who often times are the likes of ADM, Cargill and Monsanto.

Anyway, we are certified organic by CCOF…we just need to pay the whopping inspection fee.

Adios,

Bothered in Penn Valley

Monsanto is the largest seed company in the world now, having acquired Seminis in 2005.  Monsanto not only sells more Biotech (GMO) seeds than any other business, but now (with the acquisition on Seminis) sells more garden variety (non GMO) seeds than any other company; and it is a multi-billion dollar business for them. Popular Monsanto Seeds include Big Beef Tomato, Gold Rush Zucchini, Beefmaster Tomato, Ambrosia Melon…the list really does go on and on and on. These seeds produce great… Read the rest of this article »