In Corporate Organic and the Beast That Devoured Itself, I had detailed the story of last month's organic decertification of Case Vander Eyk, an industrial-scale dairy producer of both organics and conventionals who had been shipping 50 loads of organic milk per week.
Vander Eyk is claiming that it will re-apply for organic certification, but instead of re-applying to their previous certifier, Quality Assurance International (QAI), Vander Eyk hopes that a change in referees will bring the desired result. (Wouldn't something like a simple presidential signing statement suffice?) This from the Capital Press:
"We're working with another certifier now and expect to be back in a couple of weeks," said Vander Eyk. "This is not uncommon, and it is very disruptive to our operation."
Organic, Inc. author Samuel Fromartz, who originally broke the decertification story at Chews Wise Blog is dubious.
I would be very eager to find out who this new certifier is. I find it surprising to say the least that a company can be decertified by one entity and then be considered for recertification by another a month later. At the very least, this should prompt a review by the USDA's National Organic Program.
Cornucopia Institute senior farm policy analyst Mark Kastel's interview with the San Francisco Chronicle seems to disaffirm Vander Eyk's assertion that the suspension "is not uncommon".
No other dairy has lost its organic certification, according to Kastel.
"Suspension is a rare occurrence in any commodity. Very few enforcement actions have jumped to level of suspensions," he said.
Enforcement action discovery is a slow-moving and difficult process within the organic certification industry. Kastel told me that the "USDA keeps all this information secret". He said that Cornucopia learned of the Vander Eyk suspension after the fact when "a California Dairy Farmer heard it from USDA member. We called QAI and they confirmed."
"There’s just way too much secrecy in organics."
Kastel provided details about the process that QAI and Vander Eyk would have gone through, and it would appear that Vander Eyk's sudden willingness to talk (albeit to the press) may have been useful at an earlier time.
"(Case Vander Eyk) would have received a Letter of non-compliance from QAI, which provides a 30-day period to respond. There is due-process built in. All farmers or processors who would be suspended have the right to appeal this. We were told that Mr. Vander Eyk did not take advantage of his right to appeal."
This would appear to belie the following:
Vander Eyk, who has been an organic milk producer since 1999, said last week he did not know the reason for his suspension by certifier Quality Assurance International.
Fromartz weighs in.
I also find this statement hard to believe, considering the process involved in suspending a producer, a process that includes time for the producer to try and correct the situation.
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Version posted at Ecotality Blog.