This announcement means more information and more choice for American consumers, said Dan Glickman, USDA agricultural secretary. It will help organic family farmers and ranchers further expand their already growing markets. If the establishment of a national organic standard for food creates such dilemma, it seems practical to let states go by their own standards and continue to produce organic foods as they currently do. But this theory creates problems, McEvoy said. If there is confusion over regulations, there is a risk involved as far as investors are concerned, he said.
Companies are worried about crossing state lines with a variety of regulatory standards in place.
For a number of states that grow organically, there s not adequate enforcement of rules, he said. If a national standard is instituted, there will be nationwide integrity in the word organic. McEvoy continued saying that individual state regulations aren t the only thing holding back potential organic food buyers. Consumer research has shown that 30 percent of consumers would be interested in organic foods if they were offered at reasonable prices, he said. Everyone would benefit from a national organic standard.