We Need Big Business Helping Farming, Not Hurting

As many folks know, "organic" is not the answer to all our of food related problems here in the US (or anywhere for that matter), but it IS a step in the right direction. Unless of course the term "organic" continues to be abused.

I recently read BBC News article about how Wal-Mart's chief executive officer stepped down after overlooking an error in the labeling of conventional pork (coming out of China) as organic FOR TWO YEARS.

As a farmer who is current striving to be able to label our products as 'certified organic,' hearing things like this make me really hesitant to join the club. Getting a basic organic certification is daunting enough, but maybe their should be a more strenuous process out there that captures bio-intensive, sustainable growing practices?

When Wal-Mart started buying organic products it instantly became the largest purchaser of organics in the world. This is great because it's helping make 'organic' more accessible, but is it also hurting the cause?