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NOFA-NY
Policy Resolutions
Preamble
The
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York is formed for the
following purposes:
Educating
ourselves and the general public as to the benefits of natural,
organic, ecological agriculture, including its implications for the
health of all life;
To
provide non profit cooperative marketing and agricultural buying
service for organic growers;
To
act as a means for intercommunication for the dissemination of
information pertaining to the natural husbandry of the earth;
To
promote the growth of local cooperative farm organizations;
To
demonstrate through pilot projects the feasibility and benefits of
restoring local agriculture;
To
provide organic farm certification services to organic growers,
processors, and handlers with third party independent verification of
organic practices.
Purpose
To
be a voice which defines and expresses the issues and concerns of
the natural farming community; to promote the increased awareness of
the public, government, industry, agriculture, and commerce of the
need for food production methods which are conservative, biological
and ecological; to encourage and initiate projects which demonstrate
the effective application of natural farming principles, philosophy
and practices at local, regional and state levels; to provide
educational, scientific and informational services about natural
farming to individuals and organizations; to support the development
of natural farming practices both in individual and in social and
economic systems; to conduct meetings, forums and other events which
educate the public about natural agriculture and small farms; to
nourish the evolution of cultural as well as technological aspects of
natural farming; to facilitate the formation of stable
infrastructures through which natural farming can become established;
to obtain funding, grants, loans, contributions and other finances
necessary to support these purposes; and to do any and all else
necessary to further these purposes.
The
Mission Statement
NOFA
NY is an organization of consumers, gardeners, and farmers working
together to create a sustainable regional food system which is
ecologically sound and economically viable. Through demonstration and
educational opportunities, we promote land stewardship, organic food
production, and local marketing. NOFA NY brings consumer and
farmer closer together to make high quality food available to all people.
All
active members of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New
York are encouraged to submit proposals for NOFA-NY Official Policy
Positions and participate in open discussions at our annual
membership meeting. A 2/3 majority vote is necessary for
passage of a resolution. Following is a list of Policy
Resolutions which have been passed by our Membership from 1998 though
the present.
2008
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The
members of NOFA-NY hereby resolve that we
would like our organization to work for the implementation of local
fair trade. We believe that everyone involved in the organic supply
chain from seed to plate is entitled to living wages, a safe
workplace and respectful treatment. Farm prices should enable
farmers to cover the costs of production, sustain their families and
farms, including a living wage for all farm workers, and additional
revenues to ensure the continuing development of the farm. Farm
workers should enjoy the rights to freedom of association that are
protected by law for workers in other sectors. Fair and
transparent negotiations should provide long-term contracts between
the buyers of organic products and farmers, and between farmers and
farm workers.
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Whereas
a few large corporate retailers are claiming that their corporate
organic plan ensures that every branch store is in full compliance
with organic standards in order to take advantage of the grower
(farmer) group clause in the National Organic Program regulations to
cut certification costs by avoiding annual inspections of every
branch store and,
Whereas
the National Organic Program requires annual inspections of all
certified entities,
The
members of NOFA-NY therefore
resolve that:
The
grower (farmer) group regulations should apply only to groups of
small farms that are geographically proximate, organized into
cooperatives that have strong internal control systems and marketing
similar crops as a group.
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Whereas
after years of repeated consumer complaints about the farming
practices of mega-dairies that have managed to qualify for organic certification;
Whereas
a few certification Programs that have certified these mega-dairies
appear to be held to different NOP standards than the vast majority
of certification programs;
The
members of NOFA-NY therefore
resolve that:
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We
believe that the National Organic Program should write a proper
procedures manual as required for the proper functioning of an
accreditation system that protects organic integrity and is necessary
for ISO compliance; and
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That
the National Organic Program should implement accreditation in a
fair and even-handed way.
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Whereas
the negotiations and the resulting Consent Agreement between USDA
and Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD), after USDA issued a Notice of
Proposed Revocation to AOD, were completely outside the procedures
for noncompliance spelled out in 205.662 of the National Organic
Program Regulations;
Whereas
the Consent Agreement allows AOD to continue to be certified and
produce organic milk after 14 "willful violations" were
listed in the document attached to their Notice of Proposed Revocation;
Whereas
these actions exhibit disregard by USDA in following the
regulations, demonstrates special treatment afforded very large scale
operations, reveals uneven and unfair enforcement of the regulations,
and jeopardizes the integrity of the USDA organic seal;
Whereas
organic rules are meaningless without scale neutral, unbiased,
proper enforcement;
Whereas
improper enforcement of the National Rule undermines consumer
confidence in the USDA organic label, and proper enforcement remains
one of the primary responsibilities of the USDA;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
The
US Government Accountability Office (GAO), the audit, evaluation,
and investigative arm of Congress, should undertake a thorough,
systemic investigation into the compliance and enforcement procedures
and practices of the USDA with regard to upholding strict
organic standards.
2007
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The
members of NOFA-NY resolve that we oppose
the National Animal Identification System because it would be unduly
intrusive and burdensome to family farmers.
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The
members of NOFA-NY resolve that we oppose
the proposed National Uniformity for Food Act because it takes away
the right of states to protect their food and citizens.
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The
members of NOFA-NY resolve that we believe
if a farm that does not intentionally grow GMO crops becomes
contaminated with GMO genetic materials, the farmer should not be
held liable for possession of that GMO genetic material. Liability
for contamination should be the responsibility of the manufacturer of
the GMO seeds.
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The
members of NOFA-NY resolve that we call
upon the FDA to ban the use of animal clones in food production until
the food safety and animal cruelty problems in cloning have been
resolved, and until public discussions have addressed the troubling
ethical issues that animal cloning brings. In the event that those
conditions can be met, we call upon the NOP to consider cloning among
the excluded methods.
2006
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The
members of NOFA-NY resolve that we condemn
the unilateral and surreptitious method used by the Organic Trade
Association (OTA) to amend the Organic Food Production Act. NOFA-NY
is a dues-paying member of OTA and has depended upon the
organization, comprised of individuals, farmers, food processors and
organizations, to represent our interests, NOFA-NY believes that to
maintain organic integrity and consumer confidence in the organic
label, it is essential to preserve high standards. We affirm that any
changes to the OFPA must occur through an open and participatory
process that includes all stakeholders in organic foods.
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The
members of NOFA-NY resolve that we believe
the NOSB should review all substances to be used in organic
processing through the national list process. As in organic
production, there should be a very limited list of categories of
allowable substances, including ingredients. NOFA-NY further resolves
that the Secretary of Agriculture should not have the power to allow
emergency use of non-organic agricultural ingredients, if organic
forms are not commercially available, thus by-passing the NOSB
process. And NOFA-NY resolves that once a dairy herd has converted to
organic production, organic management from the last third of
gestation should be required for all replacement livestock.
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The
members of NOFA-NY resolve that we
strongly support rescinding the 2005 state law, which prohibits the
sale of un-pasteurized cider as of January 2006, to once again allow
the direct sale by producers of un-pasteurized cider to the general public.
2003
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Whereas
the cultivation of Industrial Hemp was ended in the United States
with the passage of the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act; and
Whereas
Industrial Hemp is the same species as marijuana (Cannabis sativa),
but does not have enough of the psychoactive ingredient, THC, to
intoxicate people; and
Whereas
Industrial Hemp was grown for hundreds of years throughout the
colonies and the United States to meet diverse needs of the American
people; including rope, paper, fabric, fuel and food oil; and
Whereas
many times more pulp may be harvested from an acre of Industrial
Hemp than an acre of managed forest, and this pulp may be used to
make high quality paper without the ecologically unfriendly bleaching
process required of pulp from timber; and
Whereas
hemp cloth is one of the strongest plant fibers on earth three times
stronger than cotton, but unlike cotton, now the most herbicide and
pesticide intensive crop on the planet, hemp needs no pesticides or
herbicides to cultivate; and
Whereas
there are thousands of uses for Industrial Hemp and many more would
be discovered if farmers, private investment and the imaginations of
the American people would be allowed to produce Industrial Hemp to
meet the needs and demands of the market; and
Whereas
Canada, the European Union, Australia. Russia, India, China and many
other nations produce Industrial Hemp, much of which is imported into
the United States in the form of clothing and paper; and
Whereas
worldwide Industrial Hemp sales have grown from 5 million dollars in
1993 to approximately 500 million dollars in 2000; and
Whereas
Industrial Hemp also incorporates more phosphorous in its harvested
product than most crops, and this ability to uptake phosphorous makes
Industrial Hemp the ideal crop to plant in the New York's watersheds
where the water quality is suffering from an excess of phosphorous, and
Whereas
the future of rural America should be tied to sustainability;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
NOFA-NY
calls upon the New York State Legislature and Congress to legalize
Industrial Hemp.
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Whereas,
the plants, animals and microorganisms comprising life on earth are
part of the natural world into which we are all born, the conversion
of these species, their molecules or parts into corporate property
through patent monopolies is counter to the interests of the peoples
of this state, this country and of the world. With the
temporary exception of a patent on an original cultivar of a plant,
no individual, institution or corporation should be able to claim
ownership over species of living organisms. Nor should they be
able to hold patents on organs, cells, genes, or proteins, whether
naturally occurring, genetically altered or otherwise modified;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
As
part of a world movement to protect our common living heritage, we
call upon the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to
change existing law and override judicial interpretation of this law
to exclude living organisms and their component parts from the patent system.
2002
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Whereas
foods produced with chemicals banned for use in the United States
are regularly imported into the USA and consumed by the American
people; and
Whereas
the forbidden chemicals that produce these foods originate both in
foreign nations and in the United States (nine tons of domestically
banned pesticides are produced in the United States and shipped
overseas for use on foreign lands every day);
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
NOFA-NY
supports an Act of Congress that would prohibit the import of food
produced with chemicals banned in the USA.
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Whereas
organic farmers whose farms are certified organic have more in
common with organic farmers who have not certified their farms than
they have differences; and
Whereas
the implementation of the Organic Food Production Act may cause
hardship for uncertified farmers because they will not be able to
describe themselves as organic in commercial speech; and
Whereas
the justification for Federal control of the word organic is not
based on food safety;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
NOFA-NY
favors amending the Organic Food Production Act because this Law
replaces voluntary organic certification with mandatory
certification, and prohibits the use of the word "organic"
for commercial use if farmers are not certified organic by USDA
accredited organic certifiers. We believe this is a violation
of free speech, and has the effect of turning the use of the word
organic into a mandatory licensing fee. We believe that the
National Organic Program's Final Rule undermines communication
between farmers and consumers, and will hurt many of the farmers and
consumers that have participated and encouraged the growth of organic agriculture.
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Whereas,
our government has been engaging in secret trade negotiations with
the other governments of this hemisphere since 1998 to expand the
North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to include 31 countries of
Central and South America in the Free Trade Area of the Americas
(FTAA); and
Whereas,
the NAFTA promised an increase of 200,000 jobs in the United States,
but resulted in a job loss of over 250,000; and
Whereas,
since the NAFTA, imports of fresh produce from Canada and Mexico
have grown faster than US exports to those countries resulting in
serious economic damage to the farmers of the North East; and
Whereas,
the FTAA may allow corporations the right to sue legal local, state
and national governments for control of public resources, such as the
fresh waters of the Great Lakes; and
Whereas,
the FTAA may allow corporations to sue legal governments for the
removal of standards or laws designed to protect public health and
safety if those laws or standards increase corporate operating costs;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
The
United States government should withdraw from the FTAA negotiations,
and that our representatives in government should vote against
ratifying the FTAA.
2001
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Whereas
the vast majority of New York farmers are self-employed and the
economic viability of the self-employed is directly related to the
regulations covering the self-employed; and
Whereas
the right to be one's own boss is as fundamental to American
democracy as the right to privacy; and
Whereas,
today's agricultural economic climate is one of increasing corporate
concentration and record low commodity prices, forcing more and more
farmers to sell their produce to large scale processors, brokers and
retail chains, which have much greater economic power than any
individual farm;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
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NOFA-NY
policy towards all legislative and regulatory changes shall be
shaped by their impact on the self-employed, and the rights of the self-employed
shall be one of our highest priority issues; and
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We
support the strong enforcement of antitrust laws; and
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New
York State should pass legislation that will protect the right of
farmers to form bargaining associations or cooperatives to negotiate
contracts, and ensure that processors, brokers and retail chains
bargain with the farmers in good faith. The legislation should
make it an unfair practice for processors to retaliate or
discriminate against farmers who exercise their rights and/or join
farmer associations. Contracts should be in plain language, be free
of confidentiality clauses, and disclose any material risks.
Contract growers should have a three-day contract review period.
Contractors should be obliged to negotiate any changes in contracts
with the farmers. The legislation should guarantee farmers a
first-priority lien on payments should the contractor go out of
business. The Department of Agriculture and Markets should
accredit the voluntary associations of farmers, provide mediation to
resolve impasses in bargaining, investigate instances of unfair or
deceptive practices on the part of processors, brokers or retailers,
and protect producers from having contracts terminated for no real
reason as a form of punishment of some kind.
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Whereas
addressing the need for both farmers and farmworkers to gain
institutionalized rights and dignity in their workplace is vital to
the future sustainability of our food system; and
Whereas
"small farmers will earn fair incomes only if farmworkers on
large farms are paid fair incomes," (from A Time to Act, the
USDA National Commission on Small Farms report);
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
NOFA-NY
supports amending the National Labor Relations Act to include
agricultural workers under its collective bargaining protections.
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Whereas
the increase of food borne illnesses has led to an increase in
government regulations aimed at eliminating pathogens by using high
tech methods, instead of cleaning up the large scale industrialized
food production system that causes the increase of pathogens in foods;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
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NOFA-NY
is opposed to the use of ionizing radiation, and opposes any laws
requiring the mandatory irradiation of food; and
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NOFA-NY
opposes the mandatory processing of fresh juice and vegetable
products, such as the pasteurization of apple cider.
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Producers
should follow strict food safety guidelines based on the organic
principle of reducing "pollution that may result from farming
and processing systems" (NOFA-NY 2000 Certification Standards,
p. 2).
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Whereas,
the spraying of pesticides by county and municipal authorities to
attempt to control the mosquitoes which carry West Nile Virus
threatens the integrity of crops on New York State farms, and may
destroy the farmer's ability to market those crops, whether organic
or conventionally grown;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
Local
and county authorities should maintain lists of all farms and be
obliged to notify those farms of any planned pesticide spraying.
We oppose spraying by government or other entities of synthetic
chemicals on people, their dwellings and their property without their
consent. We also oppose spraying crop land without explicit
permission from the farmer. Local, county and state authorities
should invoke the precautionary principle in dealing with public
health emergencies. We support protecting the public from
mosquito borne illness through 1PM practices
2000
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Whereas
Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO/GMO's)* may affect our lives
and the environment in many ways: The science of Genomics is in its
infancy, despite the disproportionate investment of public research
dollars in this area, to the detriment of ecological
alternatives. While scientists may have identified the function
of particular genes, there is very little understanding of the
complex interrelationships of genes, and there has been very little
research done to assess the health and safety implications to humans
from ingesting genetically engineered organisms. Genetic
engineering may result in the creation of new toxins (examples
already exist). Unexpected allergic reactions can be triggered
(a Brazil nut gene inserted into soya resulted in a reaction in
people allergic to nuts). There are concerns that genetically
engineered soya may contain higher estrogen levels. There is a
risk of increasing the incidence of antibiotic resistance in humans
and livestock; and
Whereas,
due to current Food and Drug Administration labeling policy,
consumers have lost their right to choose whether or not to eat
products that contain genetically engineered ingredients; and
Whereas
genetically engineered material can be transferred to other crops
and weeds, but once released it is impossible to "clean up"
any unforeseen consequences, and no legislation exists to protect the
crops of farmers who want to stay GEO/GMO free from GEO/GMO tainted
pollen, resulting in all crops being contaminated over time; and
Whereas
genetically engineered plants which are designed to kill pests can
kill beneficial insects and other organisms as well, and thus
genetically engineered crops may have unpredictable effects on the
ecological balance; and
Whereas
genetic engineering to develop insect resistant crops is expected to
destroy the usefulness to organic and conventional farmers of natural
biological pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
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There
should be an immediate moratorium on the planting of Genetically
engineered crops; No new genetically engineered crops should be
commercialized until such time as adequate research has been done to
assure the safety of such crops to humans and the environment; and
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The
Food and Drug Administration should require the labeling of all
foods containing genetically engineered ingredients, as they are
already mandated to do for food additives. These labels should
state precisely what genes have been added. The federal
government should develop a comprehensive framework for the
regulation of genetically engineered organisms that protects the
natural environment, the farm environment and public health.
*The
following definition of Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO/GMOs)
has been recommended by the NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD (NOSB)
and adopted in the American Organic Standards of the Organic Trade Association:
Genetically
engineered is defined as: made with techniques that alter the
molecular or cell biology of an organism by means that are not
possible under natural conditions or processes. Genetic
engineering includes recombinant DNA, cell fusion, micro- and
macro-encapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing a
foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes. It shall not
include breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in-vitro
fertilization and tissue culture.
1999
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Whereas
consumers have the right to know what they are eating, where food
comes from and how it was produced; and
Whereas
we want to be able to vote with our dollars for a sustainable,
regional food system;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
All
foods sold in the United States should be labeled as to country of
origin, any irradiated ingredients, any ingredients derived from
genetically modified organisms, any foods grown on sludge-amended
soils, and, for dairy, any products from cows treated with synthetic
bovine growth hormone (Bst or rBGH).
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Whereas
in New York State, 360,000 dry tons of sewage sludge are produced
every year; and
Whereas,
the Clean Water Act amendments (Federal Code section 503) passed in
1992 lower the standards for land-application of sludge, allowing
higher concentrations of heavy metals to be applied to soils; and
Whereas,
unlike the organic components of sludge, the heavy metals do not
decompose, but remain in the soil, accumulating to levels that
eventually make the soil unfit for food production; and
Whereas
in addition to heavy metals, sludge may contain a host of synthetic
organic compounds, including dioxins, PCBs, and pesticides; and
Whereas
heavy metals and synthetic organic compounds accumulate and
"biomagnify" in the food chain, and livestock eating
forages grown on sludge-amended soils can absorb these substances,
including dioxins and PCBs into their fat and transfer these
chemicals to their milk;
The
membership of NOFA-NY therefore resolves that:
Industries
should be required to remove all chemical pollutants from any waste
stream that enters sewage treatment systems. In addition,
manufacturers should be required to remove hazardous ingredients from
household products that make their way to drains and sewage treatment
systems. Until that is done, sewage sludge should not be used
on land for crop and forage production, or for grazing. The
sale of all sewage based biosolid products should be prohibited.
As an alternative to this source of contaminated biosolids, farmers
should be encouraged to use green manures, cover crops, and animal
manures through tax exemptions or other incentives.
1998
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Whereas
for 11 years, the NOFA-NY Organic Certification Program has
certified organic farms and processors according to clear, high
published standards that earn the confidence of NY consumers; and
Whereas
the National Organic Program Proposed regulations threaten the
integrity and the very existence of the NOFA~NY Organic Certification Program;
The
membership of NOFA-NY
therefore resolves that:
USDA
should withdraw the proposed regulations and rewrite them
fundamentally following the recommendations of the National Organic
Standards Board, adhering to the Organic Food Production Act and
consistent with accepted organic principles.
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