There’s been a recent flurry of activity in sustainable circles in the past week related to the deadline for public comment to the National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. On the surface, it seems that it’s merely a way to address health issues like the US e coli outbreak in Sept 2006 or the recent one in Germany. However, even a swift reading of the document published in April by the Agricultural Marketing Service at the USDA (it’s 47 pages, but worth the read) shows that the agreement leans pretty heavily toward industry standards and the large scale producers & the interests who set those standards. The composition of the administrative board that would write the regulations and oversee execution of the audits also leans heavily on that same group of corporate producers and buyers.

What’s conveniently given less ink in the agreement (outside of a mention of groups that file briefs in opposition?) are small scale organic producers, varied sustainable practices in how the audit standards are written and applied, and the disparity between the financial burden on industrial producers and smaller operations that would participate in the program. Compliance would have drastically different impacts on a large scale producer than it would on the grower you might talk to at a weekend farmer’s market.

This process has been rolling for a few years, but the critical hours have arrived to let other voices be heard in significant numbers. You can check out more information at the National Farmers Union blog or the Cornucopia Institute, along with talking points – like the fact that links between the 2006 e coli outbreak and practices at CAFO’s aren’t even addressed.  Add your voice to the discussion through organizations like Food Democracy Now! No doubt the conversation will continue, but now’s critical time in the push to create more support for sustainable agricultural practices.