Ask Professor Produce

Can you explain what happened with the organic standards in February? I heard that organically raised chicken can now be fed conventional feed. Is that true? -Jay, Minneapolis

Yes, a provision was passed to allow such irresponsible behavior, but that provision will be very short-lived, in the Professor's opinion. Here's an update on the issue, which also serves as a sobering description of how bare-knuckled democracy works.

Organics got caught in the crossfire when the Federal Budget battle at the beginning of the year caused a delay in spending appropriations. On February thirteenth, an Omnibus Spending Bill was passed - a routine measure to keep money flowing in Federal arteries while lawmakers continue their slap-fights over the budget.

Here's the catch: Appropriation bills get passed without discussion. So Georgia congressmen Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., and the state's other seven Republican House members, attached a piece of legislation called a "rider" to the Omnibus package quite literally in the middle of the night. They did so with the help of House Speaker Hastert of Illinois.

The rider made a special allowance for organic chicken, saying that certified organic livestock operations could use conventional feed, unless a report prepared by the Secretary of Agriculture confirms that organically produced feed is commercially available at no more than twice the cost of conventional feed. Rep. Deal justified this move by saying it "levels the playing field" for poorer farmers who want to sell organic chicken.

Hey, Nathan Deal! George Orwell called. He wants his double-speak back. Organic chicken isn't organic if you feed it conventional feed. Capiche?

But here's the good news. As in 1998, when the first USDA Rule on Organics was struck down with a record number of negative responses, the Organic Movement rose up immediately to protest the rider (a.k.a. Section 771). Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) proposed legislation to overturn Section 771 in the Senate, and Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA) and Ron Kind (D-WI) did the same for the House. Jim Riddle, Secretary of the National Organic Standards Board, said that, in the days after the Omnibus Spending Bill was passed, D.C. congressional offices were swamped with people showing up to register their outrage over the rider.

As of March 15, when this article was written, the two bills had garnered solid bipartisan endorsement, with over one hundred Senators and Representatives supporting Section 771's repeal. Heavy-hitting supporters now include John McCain, Richard Lugar, Hillary Clinton, Arlen Specter, and Joseph Lieberman. And I'm proud to report that all senators from Wisconsin, Iowa, North and South Dakota, and Minnesota (yep, even our newbie Coleman) have signed on as sponsors.

Four of Minnesota's eight congressmen sponsor the bill, too - Sabo, Oberstar, Kline, and McCollum - but more support is needed. This is where you come in. If you live in any of the districts below, you can contact your representatives to urge their support of HR 955 to repeal Deal's lame rider. Pass this info along to friends who live in these districts and beg them to make a call on behalf of organic standards:

• Gil Gutnecht, 1st District (Rochester, Fairmont) - (800) 862-8632 in MN
• Jim Ramstad, 3rd District (Minnetonka) - (952) 738-8200. Fax: (952) 738-9362
• Mark Kennedy, 6th District (Anoka, Buffalo) - (763) 684-1600. Fax (763) 684-1730
• Collin Petersen, 7th District (Hutchinson, Willmar, Bemidji) - (218) 847-5056

When you reach a staff person, tell them what organics means to you and explain why Section 771 is an insult to organic shoppers who pay a premium price expecting to get thoroughly organic product for the expense. Tell them how this undermines the hard work of Minnesota's organic farmers, too. And while you're at it, ask them why they've been dragging their heels on this political no-brainer when even Arlen Specter is on board.

Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin has called for the creation of a Congressional Organic Caucus to defend against this kind of end-run in the future, which would be a good measure, since this certainly won't be the last attack on the Organic Rule.

Fortunately this means little to nothing for organic chicken shoppers at The Wedge. "This won't be affecting us at all," Meat and Seafood Czar John Jaksa assures the Professor. Nonetheless, Wedge Meat Buyers will be double-checking with our vendors to make sure no organic chicken is coming to us from Georgia.

Is all genetic engineering of produce a bad thing? -Jen, Minnetonka

Let's just say it's a bad thing to put these products on the market without thoroughly testing what the constant consumption of genetically engineered food might do to the population.

But maybe it's not all bad. Here's something from the Professor's Getta-Loada-This File.

CNN reported last October that researchers at one of Japan's largest food companies, House Foods, have identified the enzyme that causes people to cry when they chop onions. They report that the enzyme lachrymatory-factor synthase causes the production of propanthial S-oxide, an onion's tear inducing culprit.

Fish genes in tomatoes make no sense and anti-malarial drugs in bananas make the Professor wonder what will happen to non-human banana eaters in the jungle. But hey. If I can stop chopping onions with a bag on my head and a mouthful of bread, would a tearless onion be such a bad thing?