If these farmers don’t want to certify, then they should at least go non-GMO. That’s a BIG first step. I’ve been involved with the organic community for many years. There’s simply no excuse not to go in that direction. If farmers are tired of Dean Foods and their ilk, they will not get away from it if they continue doing “business as usual.” The rest of us are fed up with what multi-national corporations like Monsanto, Bayer CropServices, Syngenta and other agribusiness are doing to our farmlands, waterways, foods, etc. Don’t be part of it. If you’re not organic, but can prove what you are doing is not poisonous and non-GMO, then you get customers who really believe in you. Make the transition now. Stop growing cash crops, next. Weston Price would never have supported any kind of toxic agribusinesses.

As I said to another comment you made, Certified Organic involves a lot of time, paperwork, and expense for the farmer to meet minimum standards that Walmart and others are eager to erode. You see online petitions regularly to address big businesses’ attempts to allow various additives or chemicals in “Certified Organic” foods. Many farmers do not bother becoming Certified Organic but use organic methods and produce a higher quality of food. Knowing your farmer, asking questions, visiting, seeing the operation is a better route whenever possible, than merely trusting the Certified Organic label.

Dolores Smith.