Diotima Booraem wrote:
>  They are strictly organic, but they do use some sprays that are 
> allowed in organic practice.
Please note that both organic and sprays occurs in the same sentence. 
This has always been a sticking point with me when organic standards are 
discussed. To me, organic is no spray. The sprays that are allowed are 
chemicals that come from plants or other "natural' sources. Some of 
these are actually much harsher and dangerous that commercial sprays, 
which was brought to my attention by my friend in the organic movement. 
I would not use them and do not for my apples. i read the labels.

Most of the problems with my apples are cosmetic and could never be 
sold.. The organic movement knows that many crops and animal products 
need modern agricultural methods and practices to survive commercially 
on a large scale. Hence, there are allowable sprays, antibiotics, and 
other "chemicals" that are allowed but are not really organic, at least 
to a chemist.

If the same practices used by organic apple growers were transposed to 
bees, there would be a hue and cry on this list about the harsh 
"chemicals" that were being used in the hive. I would agree in light of 
the fact that the chemicals are dangerous, even though they are "organic".

Most organic standards are fairly loose and allow a lot of leeway, 
except for bees. That standard is probably the strictest, but there are 
ways to get around it, as I have seen in Maine.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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