ORGANIC certification may not be as daunting as some growers think.
The chair of Australian Organic, Dr Andrew Monk, spoke to producers at the 2016 National Horticulture Convention on the Gold Coast in June.
For the first time, Australian Organic was one of the major sponsors of the event.
Dr Monk said with many growers adopting some form of passive certification already, there is often a platform established to launch down the organic pathway.
With a 12-month minimum time frame from audit to certification, he suggested that any growers considering taking up organic production should submit their documents and backfill information later on.
But Dr Monk said he was cautious not to "over-hype" the possibilities in the organic sector.
While costs vary depending on the size and scale of a farm, a large grower would pay about $5500 each year to maintain certification.
Dr Monk said one of the major marketing bonuses that comes with organic certification is the ability to use the organic "bud" logo.
He said it is the most recognised organic logo in the marketplace and is found on more than 80 per cent of certified organic products.
"Consumers are increasingly looking for a certification logo for trust," Dr Monk said.
He also said Asia presented a big opportunity for organic exports.
Recently, Australian Organic clarified why its fresh products such as vegetables and fruit require plastic packaging.
Every operation within the supply chain requires certification in order for the end product to be allowed to use the bud logo.
This means it is carried out through transportation, packaging and selling at a retail level as well.
The Australian Certified Organic Standard 2013 (ACOS) states: "Organic packaging must not contaminate produce and as far as possible excludes unnecessary packaging and incorporates recycled and biodegradable materials."
Australian Organic’s CEO Paul Stadhams said fresh certified organic produce needs to be food safe and protected from contamination.
"If certified organic fruit and veg isn’t properly packaged it can risk contaminating the organic product," Mr Stadham said.
"Our ACO operators have total control over the packaging they use, so long as they are complying with the ACO standards.’
Australian Certified Organic has strict guidelines in place regarding what can be classified as ACO certified and this includes packaging requirements.
Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
