Northwest Horticultural Council

Organics

The trustees of the Northwest Horticultural Council (NHC) voted on July 2, 2021, to oppose H.R. 2981, the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act, in its current form. Specifically, the NHC is concerned that this bill would inappropriately elevate the role of the National Organic Standards Board in the establishment of organic policy by giving it authority far beyond that of other advisory committees, and may require USDA to act on policy recommendations that the NHC opposes. The NHC is committed to working with the bill’s sponsors to seek improvements to the bill.

Growers in the Pacific Northwest produce more than 93 percent of the United States’ organic apple crop and are significant producers of organic pears and sweet cherries. The NHC has long been engaged in organic policy, both with Congress and the USDA National Organic Program.

8/24/21