What Makes Organic Milk, Organic?
Categorized: Organic Milk, Standards | No comments
As families become more and more health conscious, concerns about the effects of pesticides, chemical residuals, and antibiotics in foods have been raised. As a result, many people are turning to organic products, including organic milk. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides national standards to help consumers. Dairy facilities are routinely inspected by the USDA for sanitation and quality.
Organic products have strict requirements to meet. The Organic Food Production Act regulates soil care, requires a farm plan which documents the farming practices and any substances being used as well as documenting how the operations are monitored to prevent organic products from being mingled with any non-organic products grown by the operation. Animals must be kept in humane conditions. These standards must be met for any product to be labeled as organic when sold to consumers.
In dairy operations, cows may be injected with bovine growth hormone (BGH) to increase milk production. Although BGH is considered safe in milk, organic products cannot contain any hormones. Dairy cows in organic operations cannot be injected with any antibiotics and their feed cannot be treated with any pesticides. Further, the dairy cattle must have access to pastures instead of being kept in feedlots.
These strict requirements add to the cost of organic farming and organic dairy production and people buying organic milk find that it can cost twice as much as non-organic milk. Nonetheless, the Organic Trade Association has documented increasing sales of organic food over the last 19 years.  Organic milk production is a growing dairy industry and accounts for three percent of milk sales in the United States. The Organic Trade Association predicts that sales of organic foods and dairy products will continue to increase an average of 18 percent per year in the United States.
At one time, people looking to purchase organic milk and foods had limited choices. Often, they had to resort to specialty health food stores. Now, most chain grocery stores, including large chain retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart that also carry groceries, stock organic food for their customers. Organic producers also sell their products directly to the public at local farmers markets. The internet has provided an avenue for customers wanting organic products. This emerging trend is followed by restaurants offering organically grown foods as well as meats from free range animals.
In spite of the growth of sales of organic food, the number of acres dedicated to organic farming and dairies is less than one percent world wide. The United States ranks fourth in the number of farming acres managed organically. Australia leads with China and Argentina following in second and third place.
Tagged with: antibiotics, diary, farmers market, organic food production act, organic products, organic trade association, pesticides
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