Category: Regulations
Michigan disaster relief available for 2023 storms
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is making federal disaster assistance available to the state of Michigan to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from Aug. 24-26, 2023.
USDA awards organic certification organizations
The USDA National Organic Program has recognized the work of accredited organic certifiers with awards for extraordinary support of the National Organic Standards.
GFVGA asks for more transparency for H-2A wages
The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) has filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Department of Labor (DOL) regarding wage rates for workers in the H-2A temporary visa program.
USDA gives Organic Trade Association export market boost
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has received more than $1 million from the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) to promote U.S. organic products around the world in 2024.
Organic Trade Association expands leadership team
Organic Trade Association OTA management organic
California seeks definition of ‘regenerative’
With companies increasingly using the term “regenerative” to sell their products, there’s also growing pressure to nail down what this latest farming buzzword means.
Comments due soon on organic certification info
Organic growers have until Jan. 22 to comment on the burdens and costs of collecting the information required by organic regulations.
Florida event focuses on organic food, farming
Florida Organic Growers (FOG) is offering discounted early registration to the 2024 Organic Food and Farming Summit.
Whole Foods adds pollinator policy for produce suppliers
Whole Foods Market has a new pollinator policy for its fresh produce and floral purchasing.
Summit panel addresses intersection of organic, regenerative
Though a group of panelists agreed that organic farming practices must be the baseline for any official regenerative ag certification, one member of the panel said he does not expect that to happen.
NCAE petitions labor department on H-2A wages
The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is petitioning Acting Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su to amend the regulatory methodology for determining adverse effect wage rates (AEWR) for H-2A workers.
Panelists: The sooner, the better for SOE certification
Panelists at the Organic Grower Summit on soon-to-be-implemented Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) urged companies to get certified and start the process immediately.
NOP adds climate-smart practices to Organic Integrity Learning Center
The USDA Organic Integrity Learning Center recently added updates on Climate-Smart Agricultural practices and the services available through the center, including online training.
$3.5 million grant aids organic growers in food safety efforts
The University of Rhode Island and The Organic Center, along with co-investigators from three other universities, were recently awarded a $3.5 million USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) grant to help reduce food safety barriers for organic specialty crop growers.
AgroFresh Contol-Tec equipment receives European organic certification
AgroFresh Solutions Inc., which specializes in post-harvest produce freshness and quality solutions, has received CAAE certification for certain solutions from its Control-Tec equipment line.