SANTA CRUZ - Whole Foods’ new Responsibly Grown rating system is going to have a few changes added, thanks to discussions with the CCOF.

As we previously reported, the system was a point of controversy with organic farmers when it was first introduced, with growers voicing concerns that receiving a “Good” or “Better” rating when some conventional farms were rated at “Best” devalued the complex structure required by the USDA to adhere to certified organic growing. Those concerns were evidently heard by Whole Foods, leading to discussions with certified organic farmers to adjust the system accordingly.

According to a press release, those adjustments have been made and the system is back on track.

Changes to the process include:

• Certified Organic produce and flowers will be granted a minimum rating of Good until January 1, 2016.
• Whole Foods Market will adjust in-store signage to clearly label non-organic produce and floral items as “Conventional.”
• Whole Foods Market will increase supplier training and support.
• Certified Organic products will be further recognized with additional points.
• Commitment to continuous evaluation and improvement through multi-stakeholder input.

To learn about the adjustments in greater depth, click here.

“It is no stretch to say that Whole Foods Market is historically essential to the viability of thousands of organic farms all over the world, past, present, and future—including my own,” Mark Lipson, a CCOF-certified Organic Producer with Molino Creek Farming Collective, wrote in a CCOF blog post. “They can rightly claim that history in asking for the benefit of the doubt in getting Responsibly Grown right."

The discussion will soon result in adjustments to the Responsibly Grown rating system, according to Whole Foods, that will ensure that the USDA’s certified organic growing system is recognized and clearly communicated to its customers, with all certified organic produce and flowers automatically being awarded a minimum "Good" rating in Whole Foods Market stores until January 1, 2016.

According to another blog post on CCOF, made by Tom Willey of T&D Willey Farms, effective immediately, certified organic growers are free to postpone application to Responsibly Grown until the January 1st date, while those who’ve already applied may suspend compliance until that time.  

“WFM, CCOF, and farmers have agreed to discuss over the next several months restricting additional pesticides that are allowed in Responsibly Grown’s “Best” category to greatly reduce or eliminate the number of conventional farms awarded this status,” Willey wrote, clarifying that this will be an ongoing evaluation as the groups continue to work together on the system’s accuracy in representing the organic farming industry.

AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you up to date on this story as it develops, so stay tuned.

Whole Foods CCOF