What does the USDA organic seal really mean? The USDA organic seal represents decades of organizing within the agricultural community to establish a codified system of principles and practices for crop and food production that works in partnership with nature, rather than against it. In this episode, Kate speaks with two long-time organic advocates and farmers about the effort to establish and uphold a national standard for organic foods and the value of the USDA organic seal for the consumer and producer.
The Taproot Podcast is an initiative of the Midwest Transition to Organic Partnership Program, a project funded by the USDA National Organic Program to support transitioning and organic producers with mentorship and technical assistance and to grow the greater organic community. Learn more at organictransition.org.
Follow and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Guest Bios
Mac Stone was Executive Director of Marketing for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. He administered the Kentucky Proud Program and helped establish the USDA National Organic Program organic certification accreditation. He was the Certifier Representative on the National Organic Standards Board and is now Chair Emeritus. Mac recently retired from Kentucky State University, where he administered a grant program for small-scale farmers after 20 years of managing their research farm. He now focuses on farming and marketing organic foods with his family on Elmwood Stock Farm.
Harriet Behar has visited thousands of organic farms across the upper Midwest in her role as an organic inspector, educator, advocate, and conservation coach. Since the mid-1990s, she has taught inspectors, farmers, processors, government officials, bankers, and more about the organic regulations. Her 216-acre farm has been certified organic since 1989, selling bedding plants, vegetables, herbs both fresh and dried, and small grains as well as honey and eggs. She served on the National Organic Standards Board, with one year as the chair. She currently works with the Organic Farmers Association.
Helpful Links
Credits
This work was funded and supported by the USDA National Organic Program, Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)
Produced by Kate Cowie-Haskell
Podcast art by Geri Shonka
Music
- Ghost Solos by Lucas Gonze, from the Free Music Archive
- Chasin It by Jason Shaw, from the Free Music Archive
