Alphabet Soup NOP - National Organic Program NOSB - National Organic Standards Board OFPA - Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 USDA - United States

Transcription

1 Organic Certification of Mushrooms Tina Ellor Phillips Mushroom Farms

2 Alphabet Soup NOP - National Organic Program NOSB - National Organic Standards Board OFPA - Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 USDA - United States Department of Agriculture AMS - Agricultural Marketing Service

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4 What is Organic? A production system that is managed in accordance with the Act and regulations in this part to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. (65 FR )

5 What organic isn t It is not a substitution or testing standard. You can only call your product organic if you are certified by a certifying agent accredited by the USDA National Organic Program.

6 What is the Act? The Organic Foods Production Act of OFPA [As Amended Through Public Law , November 10, 2005]

7 Is there a rule book? Yes. The National Organic Program Regulatory Text

8 Where do I find this Rule Book? You can also find a certifier here-there are currently 98: 54 in the U.S. and 44 abroad.

9 Mushroom Organic Standard There is no Organic Standard specifically for mushrooms

10 Mushrooms are currently certified under the Crops Standard through

11 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard. This part of the standard contains rules governing manure and composting as well as the allowance for uncomposted plant materials.

12 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard. Refers to the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production

13 REMEMBER: Pesticides are NOT certified organic. Food is certified organic. Pesticides are either synthetics allowed for use in organic crop production ( ) or they are non-synthetic prohibited for use in organic crop production ( )

14 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard. Contains allowances for mined substances of low solubility

15 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard. Contains allowances for mined substances of high solubility provided that they are used in compliance with the conditions established on National List of nonsynthetic substances prohibited for crop production

16 Nonsynthetic Substances Prohibited For use in organic crop production. Ash from manure burning Arsenic Calcium Chloride, brine process is natural and prohibited For use except as a foliar spray to treat a physiological Disorder associated with calcium uptake

17 Nonsynthetic Substances Prohibited for use in organic crop production. Lead Salts Potassium Chloride-unless derived from a mined source And applied in a manner that minimizes chloride Accumulation in the soil Sodium Fluoaluminate (mined)

18 Nonsynthetic Substances Prohibited for use in organic crop production. Sodium nitrate-unless use is restricted to no more than 20% of the crop s total nitrogen requirement Strychnine Tobacco dust

19 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production. Much longer list than Includes Chlorine materials provided that run-off does not exceed safe drinking water standards Hydrogen peroxide As disinfectants and sanitizers

20 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production. As disease control Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrated lime

21 Seeds and planting stock practice standard. Covers requirements for spawn

22 Crop rotation practice standard. Does not really apply to Mushroom growing

23 Crop pest, weed, and disease management practice standard. Very general list of practices written for field crops, but applicable to mushroom growing in many cases. Wide variations in interpretations amongst certifiers.

24 Will there ever be an Organic Mushroom Practice Standard? Yes. Within the next couple of years we (the NOSB) hope to have a formal recommendation to send to the NOP for rulemaking. Rulemaking may take From 18 months to many years.

25 How can I get involved? Go to the NOSB meetings. They take public testimony and input twice a year. They do listen, and they do act on input from the public.