Q&A

DEAR NEW FARM:

We are lettuce producers (hydroponic method) and we want to export our production to the USA. How I can obtain the “Certified Organic” status in the United States in order to export my lettuces?

Thank you,
Luis Desme

DEAR LUIS:

We asked our friend Jim Riddle, chairman of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), for his help on this one. Here’s what Jim had to say:

“The USDA presently has no standards for hydroponic ‘organic’ production. The Crops Committee of the NOSB has placed hydroponics on its work plan, but no draft standards have been developed yet.

If Luis has suggestions for organic standards for hydroponic production, or examples of standards used by other organizations or governments, please have him send them to me.”

NF

Editor’s note: Please send any suggestions to daniel.sullivan@rodaleinst.org and we’ll forward them to Jim.

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