Organic noncompliance

The USDA said in a notice today that it will soon release records of noncompliance of producers and handlers certified to the National Organic Program. The notice is in response to a Freedom of Information Act request on April 12 of this year for access to the records of noncompliance, and the identity of each firm which as been suspended or revoked, plus the reason for the actions. However, the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service did not say precisely when the records would be released and indicated they were reviewing the records to determine what confidential business information will be withheld. Both the farmer receiving a crop subsidy and the organic grower certified by USDA must know that some of their privacy has been surrendered because of their relationship to Uncle Sam.