Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, held a hearing to review the economic impacts of organic production, processing, and marketing of organic agricultural products.

“This is a historic hearing,” said Cardoza.  “Today marks the first hearing ever in the House Committee on Agriculture dedicated to a substantial discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing organic agriculture.  It was clear from the testimony that, while organic agriculture is certainly flourishing, we must ensure a steadfast commitment to the integrity of the program.  I look forward to working with the organic community as we continue our work on the upcoming Farm Bill.”

Congressman Cardoza was joined at the hearing by Livingston, California resident Manuel Vieira, the owner of A.V. Thomas Produce which grows, packs, and ships organic sweet potatoes and yams.  Mr. Vieira testified before the Committee about the history of his organic business and upcoming challenges the industry faces.  In his prepared testimony Mr. Vieira stated, “I would like to see more money devoted to research in creating virus-free and pest resistant varieties of sweet potatoes for organic farmers in California.  This type of technology is available for conventional products, but has yet to see its way into the specialized sector of organic farming.”

Organic food is currently a $14 billion industry, accounting for about 2 percent of total retail food sales in the United States. That number is projected to grow to as much as $23.8 billion and 3.5 percent of the U.S. food market by 2010.

To meet USDA standards, organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products must come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic crops must be produced without using synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, sewage sludge, bioengineering or ionizing radiation.

Witness List

Ms. Caren Wilcox, Executive Director, Organic Trade Association, Greenfield, Massachusetts

Mr. Robert B. Marqusee, Director, Department of Rural Economic Development, Woodbury County, Sioux City, Iowa

Ms. Bea James, Category Leadership Program Manager, National Cooperative Grocers Association, St. Paul Minnesota

Mr. Mark Lipson, Policy Program Director, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Santa Cruz, California

Mr. Manuel Vieira, A.V. Thomas Produce, Livingston, California

Ms. Mary-Howell R. Martens, Lakeview Organic Grains, Penn Yan, New York

Mr. Scott Lively, President and CEO, Dakota Beef, LLC, Howard, South Dakota

Mr. Robert Pike, Vice President/General Manager, Braswell Foods/Glenwood Foods, Nashville, North Carolina

Ms. Sandra Marquardt, President, On the Mark Public Relations, Silver Spring, Maryland, on behalf of Ms. La Rhea Pepper, Chief Executive Officer, Organic Essentials, Inc., O’Donnell, Texas

Mr. Lynn Clarkson, President, Clarkson Grain Company, Inc., Cerro Gordo, Illinois

Mr. Rich Ghilarducci, President and CEO, Humboldt Creamery, Fortuna, California

Ms. Nicole Bernard-Dawes, President and COO, Late July Snacks, Hyannis, Massachusetts