Close Window
Organic food is currently a $14 billion industry, accounting for about 2 percent of total retail food sales in the United States. That number is projected to grow to as much as $23.8 billion and 3.5 percent of the U.S. food market by 2010.
To meet USDA standards, organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products must come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic crops must be produced without using synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, sewage sludge, bioengineering or ionizing radiation.
"This is a historic hearing," said Subcommittee Chairman Cardoza. "Today marks the first hearing ever in the House Committee on Agriculture dedicated to a substantial discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing organic agriculture. It was clear from the testimony that, while organic agriculture is certainly flourishing, we must ensure a steadfast commitment to the integrity of the program. I look forward to working with the organic community as we continue our work on the upcoming Farm Bill."
"The National Organic Program has proven to be a successful voluntary marketing program. Through standards that all producers and processors follow and a certification and enforcement process, consumers know that when they purchase products with the USDA organic seal, they are purchasing food that has been grown or raised in a certain manner," said Subcommittee Ranking Member Randy Neugebauer.
Witness testimony is available on the Committee website: http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html. A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website in 4-6 weeks.
Witness List
Ms. Caren Wilcox, Executive Director, Organic Trade Association, Greenfield, Massachusetts
Mr. Robert B. Marqusee, Director, Department of Rural Economic Development, Woodbury County, Sioux City, Iowa
Ms. Bea James, Category Leadership Program Manager, National Cooperative Grocers Association, St. Paul Minnesota
Mr. Mark Lipson, Policy Program Director, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Santa Cruz, California
Mr. Manuel Vieriera, A.V. Thomas Produce, Livingston, California
Ms. Mary-Howell R. Martens, Lakeview Organic Grains, Penn Yan, New York
Mr. Scott Lively, President and CEO, Dakota Beef, LLC, Howard, South Dakota
Mr. Robert Pike, Vice President/General Manager, Braswell Foods/Glenwood Foods, Nashville, North Carolina
Ms. Sandra Marquardt, President, On the Mark Public Relations, Silver Spring, Maryland, on behalf of Ms. La Rhea Pepper, Chief Executive Officer, Organic Essentials, Inc., O'Donnell, Texas
Mr. Lynn Clarkson, President, Clarkson Grain Company, Inc., Cerro Gordo, Illinois
Mr. Rich Ghilarducci, President and CEO, Humboldt Creamery, Fortuna, California
Ms. Nicole Bernard-Dawes, President and COO, Late July Snacks, Hyannis, Massachusetts