USDA appoints corporate agribusiness reps to Organic Standards Board

[nosmokes]

Just further proof,as if it were needed, that this admin listens to the people at all. This is a follow up to my post
of a couple of weeks ago, but we really can't just allow these mofo's to run over us like this. I know everyone is busy with Xmas right around the corner anat, but think about what a priority it is for the dark side that they're ramming this through in the final moments of power. call your senators, call your representative and voice your displeasure. and then we'll jump on the new kids come january.
here's a good link for finding contact numbers for your congress critters if you don't have them handy: Activism:Government
and thank you all for the great response to my last post about this.

original:news target
USDA appoints corporate agribusiness reps to Organic Standards Board

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 by: Jessica Fraser
(NewsTarget) The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that it has appointed four corporate agribusiness representatives to positions on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which advises the USDA on laws that govern the $16 billion organic industry, according to the Organic Consumers Association (OCA).

The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) mandates that the NOSB be comprised of a diverse group of organic experts. However, the USDA appointed four corporate representatives to fill open spots on the board.

Katrina Heinze from General Mills was appointed to the position of scientist; Tracy Miedema from Stahlbush Island Farms -- a largely non-organic operation -- was appointed Consumer and Public Interest Group Representative; Tina Ellor of Phillips Mushroom Farms was appointed environmentalist; and Campbell Soup's Steve DeMuri was appointed handler.

OCA National Director Ronnie Cummings said the USDA's appointments are a "blatant attempt" by the Bush administration to stack the NOSB with industrial farming supporters.

"Stahlbush Farms, which admits on its website to using pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides on its crops is not, by any stretch of the imagination, an organic consumer or public interest group," Cummins said. "Likewise, General Mills is not an academic institution, qualified to submit an impartial 'scientist' to serve on the NOSB."
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here

[warrens]

1. In Latin, I think the phrase is dickus headus

I'm surprised no one from Wal-Mart is on that board. They are going to rape the fastest-growing food business going, and once consumers start thinking it's fraudulent, a lot of small farms are going to go belly up.

[confludemocrat]

2. Thanks for the post. Advise everyone to click on the link at the bottom.

good informative stuff, now added to my bookmarks. (Stuff on Mad Cow developments, was especially compelling). OCA advises people to contact these companies asking that the appointed corporative operatives decline the appointments.