The summer farmers markets are opening this and the next weekend all over the Lower Mainland

There are so many aspects to this issue for organic growers everywhere in Canada that I have been unable to sort things out in order to write for the web site. With the killing of Karl's flock of 2000 layers today and the killing of my neighbour's flock of over 2000 last week the last of the organic birds in the valley are all but gone. I feel a deep sense of sadness that goes way beyond anger and feel defeated by the steamroller of industrial agriculture.

We have a small organic farm in the Fraser Valley. I am trying to get the best info I can about what is happening, but the more I look into it, the more I realize there is something very wrong. The disease has revealed serious problems in our food system, and also in our bureaucracy. The avian flu seems to have factory farmers and their supporters the CFIA panicking, and running in all the wrong directions. Some experienced farmers believe that we will not be allowed to have chickens or ducks or geese in the future. This will be devastating to many farms where animals are integrated into the farm procedures. They are not just a source of meat and eggs; they can also be very valuable labor. If we lose our birds we are in trouble. Some people, probably believing the media, act as if the patriotic thing to do is to kill all chickens. They may fink on me while think they are doing me a favor. I asked a Veterinary Doctor to get a voluntary test done, and was told that it is impossible.

In BC the term certified organic can only be used on those products that have met strict guidelines set up by government accredited certifying associations. Yet not every producer wants to be certified and there are arguments for and against organic certification.

A product cannot be certified organic unless it meets organic standards when it is being grown, processed and handled. However, organic on its own can be used freely in the Canadian marketplace and the only protection the consumer has against fraudulent claims is through federal food labelling regulations, which require truth in labelling.

We see the word "organic" everywhere these days; in grocery stores' produce departments and in magazines articles ranging from Newsweek to Harrowsmith. Yet, what is organic and what does it mean?

Organic can apply to all types of foods, clothing and housewares. These days, organic food comes from small diverse market gardens where organic extends to a lifestyle devoted to treading lightly on our Earth, keeping food in local communities and celebrating the gifts of Mother Nature.