I think that you make some really great points around standards here. This whole notion of organic is nice, but the methods deemed "organic" is not always goin

I think that you make some really great points around standards here. This whole notion of organic is nice, but the methods deemed "organic" is not always going to produce the best yields or quality of product. I appreciate the awareness that the organic movement has brought to the mainstream but it is not the panacea. Farmers who use environmentally sounds methods that are not "organic" are becoming more of the norm and I am seeing more "clean" food being promoted because I think the organic movement has swung too far to the other side of the pendulum. The answer will be somewhere in the middle. I grew up on a farm and my dad produced the best beef I've ever eaten year in and year out. Nothing I can buy from my grocery store or even my local butcher can compare. While we were never certified organic we used sensible methods of raising our animals. We knew the farmers we bought our corn from that we use to make the feed. We bailed our own hay, chopped fresh grass, and yes - fed them grain. None of it certified organic but all very clean. Organic standards are such a mess that it doesn't mean a whole lot anyway as many of the food labels in the US. Anyway, long rant, sorry. Great post. I really hope somebody steps up and can bring a movement forward that lets transparency back into our food markets again. That will do more for the quality of our food that most of the techniques since the worst offenders will be forced to change or go out of business to have the gaps filled with better providers. Keeping the costs down will be the big hurdle.