By Theodora Filis In the US and Canada, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) claims their mission is to promote consumer ethics, protect and promote the benefit of the organic trade environment, and promote the economy of the public and farmers as a whole. OTA is a member of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM). “Organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. It includes a system of production, processing, distribution, and handling to maintain the organic integrity that starts on the farm. Governed by government standards, organic requires that products bearing the organic label are made without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides, synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetic engineering or other excluded practices, sewage sludge, or irradiation. Sixty percent of OTA members are micro and small business trade members. The OTA originally went under the name Organic Foods Production Associa
It is imperative we all pay attention to the impact of our collective and personal actions on the environment. During the next decade, our global community will be unable to deal effectively with the formidable environmental challenges posed by decades of environmental mismanagement. There are many environmental issues I write about in this blog, some will scare you, and it is my hope, these articles will give you a reason to question and search for answers.