Is The Jubilee Farm Organic?

Jubilee Farm participated in the Washington State Certification program for five years. We started as “transitional” to organic, and the last two years we were in the program our farm was fully Certified Organic.

Colors of health

A couple of years ago I polled my CSA members about how they would feel if I dropped Certification. There were many reasons I considered doing this. One was financial. To be Certified Organic, a farm has to pay what has come to be known as a “virtue tax.” Because we are organic, we have to pay a special tax that those who use toxic chemicals on their crops and soil do not have to! It’s a graduated tax, based on gross sales. Originally, CSAs were exempt from this “virtue tax.” The justification for the CSA exemption was that Certification is unnecessary in a situation where the buyers don’t need the State to “verify” that a farmer utilizes organic practices.

Three years ago it was decided that the CSA exemption from the “virtue tax” would no longer be allowed. That’s when I went to my members and asked if Certification mattered to them. They, to a person, said, “Why bother? We know how you grow.”

As green as it grows

So for this, and other reasons, I dropped Certification. I still farm exactly the same way I did when I was “certified” organic—as a matter of conscience as always, and not because I have some government agency checking up on me. As when I was Certified, I use no chemicals of any kind: no herbicides, no pesticides, and no synthetic fertilizers. I continue the extensive use of cover cropping, crop rotation, and variety diversity to achieve sustainability. I have worked on several occasions (and am right now) with the WSU extension office in conducting organic pest control experiments on my farm, and I attempt to keep up with the latest in IPM methods.

With the new, national organic standards, it seems that the Federal Government has taken ownership of the word “organic.” I don’t know how that’s possible, but I’m told they have done it. Although I am an organic farmer, and practice all the organic techniques required for Certification, I’m told that I can not legally use the word “organic” to describe my organic farm.

What could be more organic?

So, when people ask me if I am “organic,” I have to tell them the truth and say that I am. But I also have to qualify that by saying that since I haven’t paid my “virtue tax,” I can’t legally use that term. I am in an awkward spot in terms of nomenclature! This little bit of linguistic imperialism by the Feds hasn’t yet been tested in court. I doubt it will stand. But in the interim period, I will try to avoid the wrath of Big Brother by not using the word “organic” without qualification. But it’s awfully hard to break old habits, especially with one isn’t convinced that anybody has the right to “own” a word whose coinage is longstanding.

I’m not sure what the future is for Jubilee Farm in terms of Certification. If I intended to wholesale, I would re-Certify immediately. Or if my members had concerns about whether I was really following organic practices, I would also re-Certify. But I don’t wholesale. And my members know the strength of my commitment toward organic practices; they continue to advise me to put my money into something more worthwhile than superfluous government red tape. Even people at the Farmer’s Markets we go to seem to know the produce they get from our farm is “squeaky clean,” whether I’ve paid my “virtue tax” or not.

So, for now I feel no need to Certify. But if that changes I will join the club again. If any of you have any questions about our organic practices, please feel free to contact me via the e-mail address on this web page.

Erick Haakenson
Owner and Manger, Jubilee Farm

Jubilee Farm, jubileefarm@hotmail.com, 425-222-4558, 229 W. Snoqualmie River Road NE, Carnation, WA 98014