Here we go again....... another corruption of a good concept. Mother Earth doesn't need corporate greed !
B
Betty L Martin
8 years ago
"Organic" needs to keep the meaning of growing in Mother Nature's soil; "hydroponic" needs to keep the meaning of the word, i.e. grown in water. Nature's soil offers much, much more than what "nutrients" are or can be added to hydroponic plants. It's like the difference between whole grains and processed white flour with a few nutrients added back in.
R
Robert Morales
8 years ago
As an aspiring farmer I have a choice in which infrastructure to make my investment. I have chosen organic soil for organic produce. I fully support the distinction of organic as being grown in LIVING fertile soil. Hydroponically raised foods should be labeled as being grown in water and NOT organic.
D
David Peters
8 years ago
I fully support the distinction of organic as being grown in living fertile soil. And hydroponically raised foods should be labeled as such.
K
Kathy Landrum
8 years ago
Consumers need to know where their food comes from. If "organics can be grown hydroponically, the label needs to say so, that's all.
J
Joan
8 years ago
I believe keeping the soil in organic is a better way to feed our citizens especially our children
J
Janelle Plummer
8 years ago
The absence of chemical fertilizers and sprays does not mean something is organic! Organic is, and should remain, an indiluted standard that marks a more natural agricultural process. Organic refers to the earth, to soil, and to good stewardship with lower impacts. Hydroponics and organics need to be differentiated.
D
Dave Johnson
8 years ago
It's the livestock below the ground that makes of rhealthy crops and livestock above the ground. Impossible without soil.
J
Jen Davis
8 years ago
Hydroponics is chemical agriculture, and is heavily dependent on machinery, laboratory made inputs, and human interventions. Crops grown in this manner can be highly susceptible to diseases, and have been found in tests to be less nutritious than truly organically grown plants. Soil scientists and agronomists have found that there is very complex relationship between plant roots and fungal and microbial organisms in healthy soils. The healthy soil biome helps to break down nutrients in soil to make these available to plants, helped to draw down carbon from the atmosphere and make micro-minerals available to plant roots, and even can help repel pests and diseases from plant roots. Further, organic crop plants help to feed this biome after they die and decay, so this system is regenerated with little need for human inputs or intervention. Healthy soils build residence and adaptability into agrarian systems. In addition, millions of macrorganisms benefit from healthy organic soils- from earthworms- literally the digestive organs of the dirt, turning organic matter into nutrient rich soils- to the lady-bugs, spiders, bees, greenlacewings, birds, bats, etc all which need healthy soils and plants which organic soil based farms offer for their survival. It has been proven for thousands of years that without healthy farming soils, societies can not survive. To allow our organic agriculture to become co-opted by faux farming techniques which only benefit the pocket of producers- but not the consumer, the soils, or our partners in agriculture- the wild creatures like birds and bees- is to carelessly destroy the guardians of our precious soils, and therefore to seriously jeapordize our food sovereignty, safety, diversity, flavor and food security. In short, it puts our national survival at risk.
E
Erika Eschholz
8 years ago
Please keep soil in Certified Organic requirements. It would be negligent to think that without soil you can achieve the same product.
F
Frank Egan
8 years ago
Certified USDA Organic Northwest Arkansas. No on Hydro. Ever.
J
Joe Radoszewski
8 years ago
Keep up the difficult work to spread the truth - it's sure a long hard road.
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
As a foodie, I am as concerned about the inferior taste and texture of non-soil grown produce as the organic aspect. Organic basil for example is USELESS! (has no taste) and my Whole Foods only sells hydroponic.
H
Harlan Holmes
8 years ago
After 49 years of growing almost all my own food, this is what keeps me going and growing.
S
Sharon Beddard Hess
8 years ago
I have supported organics for the past 35 years. I made the energy to search organics in the late 70"s when they were few and far between. I feel very fortunate that organics is available to anyone who wants it but am very concerned as the hydroponics movement is trying to use this label when there produce is not organic as it is not grown in soil. While there is a place for hydroponics their product should be labeled as such; not use the organic name which refers to grown in soil. The Organic farmer has worked long and hard to create sustainable organics and should not have to fight to keep it this way. Unfortunately lobbyist and power get in the way. Please let's keep the labels separate and educate people that organic agriculture is grown in healthy soil.
J
John Hess
8 years ago
I have been a backyard gardener for over 40 years. To me the most important component of growing food is the health and well being of the soil. The world needs food and hydroponics certainly has its place in food production. But it is wrong and unethical to call it organically grown. Their product has nothing to do with soil, the organic farmer whole way of life depends on strengthening the soil and improving the earth. I strongly urge the USDA not to allow hydroponic growers the use of this term!
M
Marcia Whitfield
8 years ago
Label hydroponics and keep organic as grown in the soil.
E
Ed Stockman
8 years ago
A basic tenet of organic agriculture is healthy soil produces healthy crops which leads to healthy livestock and humans. Soil is essential to the organic equation. Soil needs to be the key ingredient and the only key ingredient in producing organic crops.
H
helen Snively
8 years ago
Food raised without soil cannot possibly have all the nutrients of food grown in rich organic soil. Call it hydroponic but please don't call it organic because it isn't.
Here we go again....... another corruption of a good concept. Mother Earth doesn't need corporate greed !
"Organic" needs to keep the meaning of growing in Mother Nature's soil; "hydroponic" needs to keep the meaning of the word, i.e. grown in water. Nature's soil offers much, much more than what "nutrients" are or can be added to hydroponic plants. It's like the difference between whole grains and processed white flour with a few nutrients added back in.
As an aspiring farmer I have a choice in which infrastructure to make my investment. I have chosen organic soil for organic produce. I fully support the distinction of organic as being grown in LIVING fertile soil. Hydroponically raised foods should be labeled as being grown in water and NOT organic.
I fully support the distinction of organic as being grown in living fertile soil. And hydroponically raised foods should be labeled as such.
Consumers need to know where their food comes from. If "organics can be grown hydroponically, the label needs to say so, that's all.
I believe keeping the soil in organic is a better way to feed our citizens especially our children
The absence of chemical fertilizers and sprays does not mean something is organic! Organic is, and should remain, an indiluted standard that marks a more natural agricultural process. Organic refers to the earth, to soil, and to good stewardship with lower impacts. Hydroponics and organics need to be differentiated.
It's the livestock below the ground that makes of rhealthy crops and livestock above the ground. Impossible without soil.
Hydroponics is chemical agriculture, and is heavily dependent on machinery, laboratory made inputs, and human interventions. Crops grown in this manner can be highly susceptible to diseases, and have been found in tests to be less nutritious than truly organically grown plants. Soil scientists and agronomists have found that there is very complex relationship between plant roots and fungal and microbial organisms in healthy soils. The healthy soil biome helps to break down nutrients in soil to make these available to plants, helped to draw down carbon from the atmosphere and make micro-minerals available to plant roots, and even can help repel pests and diseases from plant roots. Further, organic crop plants help to feed this biome after they die and decay, so this system is regenerated with little need for human inputs or intervention. Healthy soils build residence and adaptability into agrarian systems. In addition, millions of macrorganisms benefit from healthy organic soils- from earthworms- literally the digestive organs of the dirt, turning organic matter into nutrient rich soils- to the lady-bugs, spiders, bees, greenlacewings, birds, bats, etc all which need healthy soils and plants which organic soil based farms offer for their survival. It has been proven for thousands of years that without healthy farming soils, societies can not survive. To allow our organic agriculture to become co-opted by faux farming techniques which only benefit the pocket of producers- but not the consumer, the soils, or our partners in agriculture- the wild creatures like birds and bees- is to carelessly destroy the guardians of our precious soils, and therefore to seriously jeapordize our food sovereignty, safety, diversity, flavor and food security. In short, it puts our national survival at risk.
Please keep soil in Certified Organic requirements. It would be negligent to think that without soil you can achieve the same product.
Certified USDA Organic Northwest Arkansas. No on Hydro. Ever.
Keep up the difficult work to spread the truth - it's sure a long hard road.
As a foodie, I am as concerned about the inferior taste and texture of non-soil grown produce as the organic aspect. Organic basil for example is USELESS! (has no taste) and my Whole Foods only sells hydroponic.
After 49 years of growing almost all my own food, this is what keeps me going and growing.
I have supported organics for the past 35 years. I made the energy to search organics in the late 70"s when they were few and far between. I feel very fortunate that organics is available to anyone who wants it but am very concerned as the hydroponics movement is trying to use this label when there produce is not organic as it is not grown in soil. While there is a place for hydroponics their product should be labeled as such; not use the organic name which refers to grown in soil. The Organic farmer has worked long and hard to create sustainable organics and should not have to fight to keep it this way. Unfortunately lobbyist and power get in the way. Please let's keep the labels separate and educate people that organic agriculture is grown in healthy soil.
I have been a backyard gardener for over 40 years. To me the most important component of growing food is the health and well being of the soil. The world needs food and hydroponics certainly has its place in food production. But it is wrong and unethical to call it organically grown. Their product has nothing to do with soil, the organic farmer whole way of life depends on strengthening the soil and improving the earth. I strongly urge the USDA not to allow hydroponic growers the use of this term!
Label hydroponics and keep organic as grown in the soil.
A basic tenet of organic agriculture is healthy soil produces healthy crops which leads to healthy livestock and humans. Soil is essential to the organic equation. Soil needs to be the key ingredient and the only key ingredient in producing organic crops.
Food raised without soil cannot possibly have all the nutrients of food grown in rich organic soil. Call it hydroponic but please don't call it organic because it isn't.
No organics without soil!