Details into the background on organic food and the food movement is difficult to find. Background information may not be entirely accurate, however this can always be remedied through incorporating credible news and information sources. Much of what is known is not yet available electronically and more will be included over time.

US HISTORY OF ORGANIC FARMING AND FOOD.

Farmers whose traditional agricultural methods prior to the "Green Revolution" and lab modified, synthetic, or chemical additives in their process are considered organic. Scientists, scholars, and farmers began to question the practice of artificial additives in their farming methods like the use of the pesticide DDT. Questions by the farmers left open answers. Is the practice of using synthetic fertilizers and chemicals sustainable? Is there damage to the soil and organisms? How much do chemical pesticides and synthetic chemicals harm the environment? Producers and consumers of organic foods started the movement as a response to the industrial farming practices and percieved synthetic toxins.

1940s - 1960s.

Industrial size farming methods with artificial synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides were the major methods for creating crops.

• Organizations like the Ford and Rockerfeller Foundation funded large agricultural projects in the early to late 1940s. New sciences for agriculture were needed for the increasing population world wide. Knowledge about the snythetic chemicals and artifical fertilizers and pesticides started in the 1940s. [Hub-1]
• Chemical companies approached farmers with researched promises to make them more money by producing more crop yield per acreage [Hub-2]
• DDT then is regarded as one of the miricle wonders of modern agricultural technology.
• The "Green Revolution"  period was termed by USAID director William Gaud in the late 1960s.[Hub-3]
• In 1962, the book  "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carlson was released. "Silent Spring" featured, DDT the main culprit for the wave of backlash against the chemical manufacturers damaging the environment and ecology.

1970s.

In the 1970s, agricultural pollution of water resources were at high levels. Different options to reduce their dependancy on the fertilizers and pesticdes allowed for reduction of energy costs, water, and chemicals released into the environment. "Rodale Press established a set of voluntary standards and a certification program in 1972. Several states passed laws governing organic agriculture in the late 1970’s. Rodale was also responsible for helping to organize the establishment of California Certified Organic Farmers and Oregon-Washington Tilth Organic Producers Association in the early 1970s." [Baker-4]

1980s.

One report released by USDA-ARS soil scientist Robert Papendick, who was based out of Washington State University, titled “Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming” led the way; recognition of organic farming methods and investment in improving organic farming technology in the 1980s. [Baker-5]

Also in the 1980s many farmers struggled with their mortgages and bankruptcy. Some farms which weathered the episode of bank foreclosures turned to growing organic produce. Because some buyers would pay more for organic process foods, for economical reasons organic farms would become a competitor for profitability despite non-organic farms. In 1989, 60-minutes television investigation program launched a program about Alar. Alar is a substance sprayed on apples to prevent them from ripening longer. [Sourcewatch-6]

Marketed in 1968, Alar bypassed all known safety checks. Lab tests found that Alar to be a carcinogen in rodents. As Alar breakes down Alar forms unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH). Brought to the attention by the National Resources Defense Council, the EPA quickly warned that the danger to adults were 50 times the suggested recomended safe limits and the risks to children were set much higher. One effect created by the 60-minutes broadcast on Alar is that the demand for organic food rose sharply and outpaced supplies. Alar had become one cause for the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 passed through Congress. [Sourcewatch-7]

1990s.

After the Organic Food Protection(OFPA) Act passed, the National Organics Standards Board (NOSB) followed soon after in 1992. NOSB is a 15-member board that meets and advises the USDA secratary on organic products and regulations. In 1997, the first NOSB board created a National Organic Program (NOP) rule for organic standards that was in direct conflict with the industry's own longstanding rules on organics. "The USDA ignored NOSB's recommendation not to allow GMOs, irradiation, or sewage sludge to be used in organic food, they got 250,000 letters from angry consumers."[King-8] USDA recieved more negative complaints about the first NOP rule than other following rules. The first NOP set of rules were never put into practice by the USDA. DESHEA, the law covering Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 is also passed.

2000+ .

USDA includes NOSB’s decisions for the final draft and implementation on December 21, 2000 and the final form of the OFPA on October 22, 2002. This is the NOP rules regarding regulations for national standards for all organic food producers and products in the United States.

In 2004, the USDA relaxed rules regarding the use of anti-biotics and hormones in cattle and feed. The precedent  may allow more pesiticdes to enter the organic food market through beef, dairy, and fish. [Ness-9]

• Pesticides: Different than before, the ingredients in pesticides had to be approved before use. Now even inert pesticide and chemical ingredients can be used if a “reasonable effort” has been made to study the pesticide ingredients. (see: Goettlich on inert ingedients)

• Livestock feed: Non-organic fishmeal in any quantity can be given to cattle and poultry, even if it contains chemicals or toxins, whereas before only organic feed was allowed.

•  Antibiotics in dairy cows: Sick calves and cows can be treated with antibiotics or drugs if no other means of treatment is successful. Before, dairies sold sick untreatable cows to conventional dairies, the new law now lets producers to wait a year before the milk can be sold as organic (I don’t know about the meat).

• Scope of organic standards: Petfood, seafood, and body care products without meeting any standards can be declared organic. USDA beforehand did not write laws or regulations on the three groups, but those producers seeking the organic label followed the rules standards to meet the organic label requirements.