What is Organic?
The main components of organic farming are avoiding the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, and the use of crop husbandry to maintain soil fertility and control weeds, pests and diseases in place of chemical methods used in mainstream intensive farming.
In order to qualify for the status of “organic”, produce must come from a certified producer who has grown it on certified land using approved methods and who’s processes are inspected and approved by the certifying body.
Non organic land can be upgraded to Organic Status by applying for conversion but this process takes two years from application to one of the certifying bodies, and the farmer must show evidence of strictly adhering to organic methods during this period.
Once a farmer has adopted the principles of organic farming can the output from his farm be sold as Organic?
No Any crops harvested from seeds sown before the full 2 year conversion period has been completed can not legally be sold as Organic Produce.
What does in conversion mean?
After the first 12 months of the conversion process has been followed the produce from this land may be sold as a “Product under conversion to Organic Farming”. This produce can not legally be described or sold as organic it is merely an indication that the farmer has committed to a programme to achieve Organic status and has not applied the chemicals and fertilisers associated with chemical farming for a period of at least 12 months.
