Northwest Horticultural Council
Organics
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The Pacific Northwest is the national leader in the production of organic apples, pears, and cherries. Over 15.5 million boxes of organic apples are now harvested from more than 28,000 acres in Washington state, amounting to over 90 percent of the fresh organic apple crop in the United States. There is also a significant volume of organic pears and cherries grown in our region, with more than 6,500 acres planted across the Pacific Northwest. According to certifier data, an additional 1,000 acres of tree fruit orchards in Washington state were transitioning to organic in 2022.
In many ways, the Pacific Northwest is the epicenter for organic pome fruit and cherry production in the United States. The total value of the organic tree fruit crop for the region topped $756 million in 2021, of which organic apples alone accounted for approximately $668 million. In fact, tree fruit accounted for 50 percent of farm gate sales for all Washington state organics that year.
Washington state hosts 89 percent of the reported organic apple acres in the U.S., producing 97 percent of the nation’s reported fresh organic apple volume. Washington also has 71 percent of the organic pear acreage and grows 60 percent of the volume in the country, and 83 percent of the sweet cherry acreage and 93 percent of the volume (USDA NASS, 2021).
Any operation, or portion of operation, that produces or handles crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be certified organic by a USDA-accredited certifying agent.
I. USDA AMS National Organic Program
The National Organic Program (NOP) develops the rules & regulations for the production, handling, labeling, and enforcement of all USDA organic products. This process, referred to as rulemaking, involves input from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) (a Federal Advisory Committee made up of 15 volunteer members of the public) and the public. The NOP also maintains a Handbook that includes guidance, instructions, policy memos, and other information on the organic standards.
Spanish translations of various organic regulations and other information may be found here.
For those interested in learning about the National Organic Program, including the public comment process, inspections, enforcement, and audits, visit the NOP Organic Training webpage and create an account at the Organic Integrity Learning Center. Registration for the National Organic Program Microlearning course is free and each course can be covered in 10 to 15 minutes. Instructions may be accessed here.
A. National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting Information
The 15-member NOSB meets publicly twice annually (usually April and October) to consider new topics and make recommendations to USDA on a wide range of issues involving the production, handling, and processing of organic products. The NOSB accepts public input prior to the bi-annual meetings in the form of written and oral comments.
The NHC encourages organic industry members to submit comments on materials under review to voice the challenges faced by our organic farmers and stakeholders. Comments can be as simple as a few sentences expressing why these materials are important to Pacific Northwest organic tree fruit production. For an overview of the commenting process and tips for submitting comments, check out the NHC’s article “Commenting 101” in the Good Fruit Grower magazine.
During spring meeting, NOSB members discuss materials under sunset review on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). At the fall meeting, the Board votes to continue listing or to de-list sunset materials. A two-thirds vote (10 members) is needed to remove a currently listed material or to add a petitioned material to the National List. NOSB meetings are free and open to the public, and no registration is required, except to sign up for oral comments.
Spring 2024 Meeting
The NOSB will hold its annual spring meeting April 29 – May 1, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a virtual option for those unable to travel. Public comment webinars take place virtually the week prior on April 23 and 25.
This spring, the NOSB will discuss a proposal regarding “Compost Production for Organic Agriculture.” Additionally, important materials under sunset review from the National List this year include:
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- Ammonium Soaps, for use as large animal repellant only
- Hydrogen peroxide, as a sanitizer/disinfectant and plant disease control
- Horticultural oils, as an insecticide and plant disease control
- Magnesium sulfate, as a plant or soil amendment
- Peracetic acid / Peroxyacetic acid (PAA), for use as a sanitizer on food contact surfaces
- Pheromones, for insect management (mating disruption)
- Potassium bicarbonate, for plant disease control
Click here to see the full list of sunset materials and discussion documents.
The deadline to submit written comments is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Written comments to the NOSB can be submitted via Regulations.gov (Docket # AMS-NOP-23-0075). Tips on submitting comments can be found here.
The Board will hear oral comments via two virtual webinars on Tuesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Use the NOSB’s Milwaukee meeting webpage to sign up for oral commenting and for more information on the meeting. Registration typically fills up fast, so early registration is encouraged.
If you have any questions or would like assistance submitting comments, please contact Dan Langager at langager@nwhort.org or 509-453-3193.
Meeting Resources:
Additional information can be found on the NOSB’s Milwaukee meeting webpage.
Fall 2023 Meeting
The NOSB held its annual fall meeting October 24-26, 2023, in Providence, Rhode Island, and broadcast the meeting virtually. Public comment virtual webinars took place the week prior on October 17 and 19. The NHC submitted written comments, which can be read here, and provided oral comment as well. All submitted comments can be found at Regulations.gov (Docket: AMS-NOP-23-0026).
In 2023, all sunset materials were voted to be re-listed – that is, nothing was removed from the National List. The Board rejected a petition to add potassium sorbate to the List as an insecticide or plant disease control. They did approve new guidance for certifiers in collecting geocodes (parcel location identification) from growers.
Additional information can be found on the NOSB’s Providence meeting webpage.
Upcoming Meetings
This year’s fall meeting is scheduled for October 22-24, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. Meeting locations for 2025 have not yet been announced.
All future NOSB meetings will likely include a virtual option for those unable to travel. It is also likely oral comment opportunities will continue as virtual testimonies held the week before the full NOSB meetings, although some public comment may be allowed at the in-person meeting.
Additional information on the NOSB and its agendas, meetings, and work plans can be found at AMS.USDA.gov.
B. NHC Past Comments to NOSB
NHC Past Comments: | |
Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 |
Spring 2022 | Fall 2022 |
Spring 2021 | Fall 2021 |
Spring 2020 | Fall 2020 |
Spring 2019 | Fall 2019 |
Spring 2018 | Fall 2018 |
Spring 2017 | Fall 2017 |
Fall 2016 |
C. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
The USDA organic regulations allow most natural substances in organic farming while prohibiting most synthetic substances. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances – part of these regulations – lists the exceptions to this basic rule: synthetic substances are prohibited unless specifically allowed, and natural substances are allowed unless specifically prohibited.
II. Pacific Northwest State Departments of Agriculture
A. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Organic Program
The WSDA is accredited as a certification agency by USDA. As a certification agent of the National Organic Program, the WSDA Organic Program’s role is to inspect and certify organic operations, verifying that they are meeting all of the USDA organic standards requirements.
B. Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Organic Program
The ODA is a USDA-accredited certifying agent for organic crop production and organic handling/processing.
C. Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Organic Program
The ISDA is an accredited certifying agent of the USDA’s National Organic Program. ISDA has been serving the state’s organic community since 1990 when the Idaho legislatures passed the Organic Food Products Law (Title 22, Chapter 11, Idaho Code). In 2002, ISDA became one of the nation’s first accredited certifying agencies.
III. Links
NHC Science Advisory Committee – Organic Subcommittee Members
Inadvertent Residues on Organic Fruit
USDA Organic Market Development Grants (OMDG) Program
NOP International Trade Partners
Recent Trends in Certified Organic Tree Fruit in Washington State: | ||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Click here for links to more information on international, federal, state, and private organics.
The Northwest Horticultural Council represents the deciduous tree fruit industry of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington on national and international policy issues affecting growers, packers, and shippers. For further information, contact Dan Langager, technical communications manager, at 509-453-3193.
Updated 3/4/2024