Why are we certified Organic?

 Last Friday we had our farm inspected by an independent professional organic inspector, contracted by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA). The inspector that came was very pleasant and thorough. The inspection lasted about three hours and consisted of walking the farm, looking in the buildings, storage areas and prep areas, looking at equipment, water sources, buffer areas, and going over paper work.

 The paperwork consists of documenting all purchased inputs, such as seeds sources, fertilizers, crop protection products, etc.  But, also going over planting dates, harvesting dates, yield records, receipts, sales records, and crop rotions to name a few.

 So after the inspector left and all paper work was put back, we sat and talked about the inspection. The question came up (again), why have we been certified for the past 11 years?  Why do we pay $600.00 dollars for an annual application fee?  Spend countless hours on applications and paper work?  Why do we search for products that are organically approved?  Is it for prestiege?  Bigger market share?  Precieved premium on price?  To save the planet?  And it seems this question is on our minds with the market season just ending.

 Since begining the market season in May, we have been asked this question by new and interested customers and potential new farmers. Why be certified? We have heard a similar question asked and answered repeatedly by other farmers selling at markets over the past 13 years. And that question is: Are you organic.?

 We can answer that question almost as well as the farmer who was asked the question " Are you organic? The answers are many: I only spray when needed, I was/or would be but the Goverment got involved, I only grow using organic methods, I only use a little bit of..., I don't want to do the paper work, My customers know how I farm so I don't need to, et. etc. etc.. Now there is an upscale newer market in Cincinnati where market managers claim their farmers use organic methods. What does that mean? If you plant a fungicidal treated GMO seed in soil is that considered an organic method?

 Please don't get us wrong, we know of friends and neighbors that are dedicated to growing organically and are not certified for their own reasons and we commend them for growing organically.  But why are we certified organic?

 We were organically growing for years before we became certified.  One day a certified organic friend of ours from Greene county asked us why don't you get certified?  Before we could answer he stated that he didn't make anymore money being certified, his customers already knew how he farmed and  he felt it was the right thing to do.

 We feel it is the right thing to do also.  We feel it has made us better farmers. We feel it encourages and supports other certified farmers to be it and not just claim it. It let's are children, neighbors, customers, and friends know that these are the standards we agree to follow and hopefully surpass. The rules are not perfect, but we feel only by being involved can we make them better..

 We enjoy answering the question "Why are you certified organic", better than the question "Are you organic"?