The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • Gift Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

Whole Foods (Finally) Gets A Label Right

June 18, 2015

Did you think this day would ever come? Organic farmers are ticked off at Whole Foods.

Whole Foods announced a while back that it was going to implement some type of new rating system for its fresh produce and flowers section. Food can now earn a rating of “good,” “better,” or “best” depending on a series of criteria that the chain grocery store has determined make a product “Responsibly Grown.”

To join in the rating system, producers have to pay a fee and fill out a long series of questions about their farming production practices. The topics include pesticides use, water conservation, farmworker welfare, and soil health. You can read the full explanation of those measurements here. Of course, other metrics (which, arguably are more important) are also included, such as whether the production company carries adequate liability insurance and meets food safety standards.

You can review the entire questionnaire here. Some of the questions, especially those required for products to earn a “good” rating are pretty basic. Is your farm following the law? Yes – congratulations! You’ve earned yourself a “good” rating! As the ratings increase, things get a little more hokey – does your farm employ at least 5 of the following methods to reduce pesticide use? Later questions even ask whether your farm facilities are utilizing insulation to reduce energy waste. (But, what if our packing house is only used in the summer and doesn’t have air conditioning anyway?)

Disclaimer

Allow me to put a disclaimer here: I do not think it is necessary for Whole Foods to employ such a rating system. In fact, I think it’s a really bad idea. Instead of allowing farmers, crop scientists, and agronomy experts to determine best practices, Whole Foods has essentially just nominated and elected itself Supreme Agriculture Expert. Whole Foods is just a grocery store, an extremely self-obsessed and self-esteemed one, but a grocery store all the same. That hardly qualifies it to pick and choose which production practices it believes are superior to others.

As a grocery store, we need to keep in mind that Whole Foods is primarily about selling food. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that (trust me, I like profits), but we shouldn’t forget this. The ratings system has been set up because Whole Foods has made a calculated decision that this is the type of information its customers want to know.

The bottom line is that every industry has ways that it can improve, including agriculture. But when Whole Foods sets up a rating system to tell us which foods are better, while at the same time embracing so-called “GMO transparency,” I just can’t take it seriously. Biotechnology has benefits for farmers, consumers, and the environment. Without recognizing that, Whole Foods’ rating system is just another pawn in the fear-based marketing game.

Back to the Organic Farmers

So, why exactly are organic farmers ticked off about this new rating system? Because it doesn’t value the USDA’s organic label over all of its other measurements. In fact, depending on how a supplier answers the Whole Foods’ questionnaire, an organic product can actually be rated lower than products grown on conventional farms.

Organic farmers aren’t happy with that fact. Voicing their opposition, many organic farmers think the new Whole Foods’ rating system cheapens the organic label and really should tip the scales in favor of giving organic production a higher rating just because they have a label.

Matt Kastel, founder of the organic activist group the Cornucopia Institute, isn’t happy either. He thinks the rating system puts organic produce in direct competition with conventional produce. He told NPR: “Why would you pay more for a certified organic product, when you can get the ‘Best’ for a couple of dollars a pound cheaper?”

Wait…you mean Whole Foods is going to evaluate farm techniques based on actual measurements (that Whole Foods values), instead of just embracing and promoting a farm simply because it has permission to use that pretty little organic label?

Crazy.

Putting Organic Into Perspective

Organic is simply the premise that something “natural” is always better than something “synthetic.” But that’s a deeply and inherently flawed premise.

For example, earlier this year, my grandmother had her left knee replaced. Her “natural” knee had become painful and didn’t function well. Her “synthetic” knee causes her no pain and functions perfectly each time she uses it. Does anyone really think she should have stuck with her “natural” knee because nature is better? No.

Nature is ruthless. Consumers have been sold a narrative about natural things that just isn’t true. Turn on the National Geographic Channel and watch a pack of lions take advantage of some baby zebra, and then tell me how good nature made you feel. Back in agriculture, adhering to the idea that “natural” should always trump can result in some absurd results. (For example, thinking you need to source a sprout inhibitor from a natural source, when a synthetic version can be created that is more effective and cheaper.)

The same thing is true with the organic label. We’ve been lead to believe (perhaps on purpose) that organic food is somehow superior. Recent research has combated that conclusion, including demonstrating that organic food is not more nutritious than its conventional counterparts. And unless organic farming is ready to embrace biotechnology, you cannot possibly make the argument that organic is inherently better for the environment.

Whole Foods rating system isn’t “cheapening” the organic label, it’s simply putting it into perspective. Choosing “natural” over “synthetic” does not make farming practices inherently better, safe, more nutritious, or even more environmentally-friendly. That’s a false premise that we’ve been consistently sold by organic advocates. Whole Foods’ rating system, whether for the right reasons or the wrong reasons, manages to look beyond the organic label.

At least in that (very limited) sense, Whole Foods actually got it right.

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Labels, Organic, Production Methods Tagged With: labels, organic, Whole Foods

Comments

  1. Angela Jones says

    June 18, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    This new rating system only goes to show how useless labels actually are. There are so many factors to consider from farm to farm industry to industry that it is near impossible to get things right. Especially when the standards are set by people who are not actively involved in agriculture production or research. Although I do like that it is drawing attention to the fact that a conventional farm can be more environmentally responsible than an organic one!

  2. russ hendryx says

    June 18, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Thank you, Amanda. Very well put, as usual.

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Twitter

2 days ago
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

The Silver Lining in This Year’s Dirty Dozen List t.co/qD3kFSYmtE

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 0
March 2, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Right-to-Repair Challenges Continue t.co/sOTL8t7fPx

  • Reply
  • Retweet 3
  • Like 3
March 1, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Soy & Soil Erosion t.co/gvugi5W3DK

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 2

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

1 day ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I no longer want to live on this planet. Can we start a new planet somewhere else?

... See MoreSee Less

Gates invests $4.8 million into 'smart' gas masks for cows | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

The Gates' foundation awarded $4.8 million this month to ZELP, a Zero Emissions Livestock Project dedicated to reducing emissions by "harnessing" cow burps.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

This year's Dirty Dozen list was still a dirty lie, but there was something hidden in the press release that you may have missed.

... See MoreSee Less

The Silver Lining in This Year's Dirty Dozen List - The Farmer's Daughter USA

thefarmersdaughterusa.com

EWG's 2023 Dirty Dozen list included a little silver lining for its critics. Is this finally an admission the list is bull?

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

4 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Things I didn't miss while on vacation:❌ watching the news❌ hours scrolling on my phone❌ stress about creating new content❌ hours in front of the tv❌ worry about billable hours❌ always being connected❌ my to-do listIsn't it funny how a good vacation can change your perspective? Hoping to keep a few of these things with me until my next adventure.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

1 week ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDay.We're on a family vacation in Florida this week. We hit SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. My highlight was spending some much-needed time with my favorite people. Headed home to Michigan soon. We're all hoping to bring back some warmer temperatures! 🤞 I hope you're having a good week! 💜

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I almost feel bad for Kroger. Almost. My latest for AGDAILY

... See MoreSee Less

Kroger learns hard lesson about aligning with ag extremists | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Mercy for Animals goes for the kill shot against Kroger after the grocer loosened its approach to selling only cage-free eggs.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Things I didn't miss while on vacation: ❌ watch Things I didn't miss while on vacation:

❌ watching the news
❌ hours scrolling on my phone
❌ stress about creating new content
❌ hours in front of the tv
❌ worry about billable hours
❌ always being connected
❌ my to-do list

Isn't it funny how a good vacation can change your perspective? Hoping to keep a few of these things with me until my next adventure.
Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDa Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDay.

We're on a family vacation in Florida this week. We hit SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. My highlight was spending some much-needed time with my favorite people. Headed home to Michigan soon. We're all hoping to bring back some warmer temperatures! 🤞

 I hope you're having a good week! 💜
I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee on th I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee on this Monday morning. Just remember: farmers don't like Daylight Savings Time either! 😉

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture
Do you know why farmers choose to grow bioengineer Do you know why farmers choose to grow bioengineered crops?

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture #be #bioengineered
Oh, man. These lyrics are hitting me in all the fe Oh, man. These lyrics are hitting me in all the feels right now.

"When they pave all the dirt roads and John Deeres are dinosaurs

When the last back forty gets sold and young boys don't open doors

When you can't hunt a white tail and keep what you reel in

Well, I hope I'm in Heaven by then

Oh, I don't wanna go today, but I don't wanna live

Down here at a place that thinks that that place don't exist

If there comes a day this country's somewhere country don't fit in

Hell, I hope I'm in Heaven by then."

"Heaven By Then," Brantley Gilbert & Blake Shelton

#countrymusic #country #heavenbythen #faith #rurallife #countrylife #farmlife #myhome myhome
Sunday morning snuggles. 🥰🥰 #Mischa #doggie Sunday morning snuggles. 🥰🥰

#Mischa #doggielove #dogsofinstagram #dogs #furmom #furbaby #sundayvibes #sundayfunday
U.S. farmers are constantly improving their craft U.S. farmers are constantly improving their craft and becoming better at their jobs. These types of statistics prove it.

#usagriculture #agriculture #soybeans #soy #soyproduction #soilhealth #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainablefarms #sustainablefarming #healthysoils
Did you know this about the organic label? If yo Did you know this about the organic label? 

If you want to buy certified organic products, that's totally your choice! But you should also know what you're buying and what it actually means. Often that reality is different than organic marketing.

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture #organic #organicfood #organiclabel
Now that's efficiency! #dairy #dairygood #milk # Now that's efficiency! 

#dairy #dairygood #milk #farms #sustainableag #agriculture #food #milkglass #dairycows #dairyfarm #dairyfarming #dairyindustry #drinkmilk #chocolatemilk #farmfact #farmsfacts
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

Go to mobile version