“Defend the organic standard and evolve the ethic.” – Andrew Kimbrell at Taste3, July 2008
There still exists a – sometimes contentious – dialogue around big organic. The debate typically falls into one of two areas - pragmatists vs. purists, or family farm vs. corporate farm. This year’s Organic Summit unintentionally evoked that discussion at the start with John Ikerd and Tom Philpott in the Evolving Cultural Views of Organic plenary. While John sermonized on local being at the heart of organic, Tom raised the contradiction of factory farms and smiling cows. By the end of this session, there was no shortage of hurt feelings and indignation. At the same time, others cheered the views set forth by these passionate contenders. Both groups looked to other like-minded souls to gloat or lick-their-wounds in the networking time following.
How do we move beyond the “us against them” mentality and rally together for the future of organic? How do we move towards collaboration and celebration? In the month that has passed since the discussion at the Organic Summit I have posed this question to others in the industry. I am here to tell you, we don’t know. Everyone laments the schism, yet no one (myself included) knows how to rally without having a place to point our (collective) finger.
Last week the seed of a solution appeared. Rather, it was vocalized by Andy Kimbrell from the Center for Food Safety. Thrown almost off-hand, this statement, sticks. While we may not all see it the same way, we can agree in preserving the organic standard while evolving the ethics that are unanimously heralded – soil integrity and a safe food system now and for the future.
How do we evolve the ethic? Fair trade is one area that has been suggested. As defined by Transfair USA, fair trade principles include fair pricing, fair labor conditions, direct trade, democratic and transparent organizations, community development, and environmental sustainability. In the spirit of evolving the ethic, I would also add the accessibility of good, clean, healthy food to all.
The session, Speed D(eb)ating: Defining Domestic Fair Trade -- led by Fred Kirschenmann, Cate Baril, Steve Gilman, and Kevin Brussell – asked participants to brainstorm how fair trade principles might be applied in the organic industry in the USA. The session utilized the frenetic and streamlined approach of speed dating to volley questions and ideas. After an introduction of key fair trade issues, participants split into groups with the speakers rotating from table to table to engage them.
As a participant in this session, I can verify that not only was this a diverse group of participants, there was a noticeable absence of vituperation. I believe on some level it was because we are all invested in evolving the ethic. When we do so, the discussion moves away from finger-pointing and becomes both productive and collaborative.
The following are the ideas and questions that came out of the d(eb)ate:
· Fair trade strengthens the relationships between farmers and buyers
· The baseline standard of living in the US is very different· Slow and careful process. We want things done quickly· How do you set a fair base price?· Does a fair trade standard vary geographically?· Organic is vital to fair trade. Spraying poison is not social justice· How do you certify connections with workers?· Is domestic fair trade only viable for fresh produce?· Cooperative and democratic control pricing: can it be done domestically? By region (i.e. northeast)?· Where does animal husbandry fit-in?· Fair trade - start with the soil –forward it to employees, energy, etc· If farms can’t pay themselves a fair wage, how do they pay their workers fairly?· What about migrant workers? Standards need to include them. Migrant workers do not want to be traced back to the farm· In international fair trade all groups participate in standard(Farm-processor-manufacturer-retailer-consumer)· Should domestic fair trade go all the way from the farmer to the shelf stocker’s wage?· Manufacturers need to be dynamically involved in process of ingredient choice
What are the other issues that we might consider in defining a domestic fair trade policy? Is this an area where we evolve the ethic of organic?