Understanding the Meaning Behind USDA’s Organic Label
A scholar contends that the USDA’s organic label veils corporate shortcuts and diluted standards.
In the United States, consumer demand for organic products surpassed $69 billion in 2023. Researchers expect the global organic market to reach $484 billion by 2030, with large companies dominating the sector.
Consumers often purchase organic food to support "small, local farms," but many fail to recognize that large corporations have come to dominate the organic food sector.
Sarah Morath of Wake Forest University School of Law identifies a growing rift between traditional organic and industrial organic practices.
Traditional organic practices aim to produce nutritious food and engage in environmental stewardship, often exceeding federal regulations, such as raising livestock on open pastures from birth.
Author's summary: USDA's organic label hides corporate shortcuts.
- USDA's organic label
- Corporate shortcuts and diluted standards
- Traditional organic practices
- Industrial organic practices