In the United States, the term "organic" has a legal meaning set by the Department of Agriculture.
In
the
United
States
,
the
term
``
organic
''
has
a
legal
meaning
set
by
the
Department
of
Agriculture
.
The department has an official label to mark products that have met the requirements of its National Organic Program.
The
department
has
an
official
label
to
mark
products
that
have
met
the
requirements
of
its
National
Organic
Program
.
Organic products usually cost more, but their sales are growing.
Organic
products
usually
cost
more
,
but
their
sales
are
growing
.
As a result, so is competition to label more products organic because many people believe they are healthier.
As
a
result
,
so
is
competition
to
label
more
products
organic
because
many
people
believe
they
are
healthier
.
Now Agriculture Department officials are trying to decide whether fish can be called organic.
Now
Agriculture
Department
officials
are
trying
to
decide
whether
fish
can
be
called
organic
.
There are rules for organic produce, organic dairy products, organic meat and chicken--but nothing about fish.
There
are
rules
for
organic
produce
,
organic
dairy
products
,
organic
meat
and
chicken
--
but
nothing
about
fish
.
Many operators of fish farms believe they could sell more fish if they could label them organic.
Many
operators
of
fish
farms
believe
they
could
sell
more
fish
if
they
could
label
them
organic
.
The industry that sells wild-caught fish is already under pressure from farm-raised seafood.
The
industry
that
sells
wild-caught
fish
is
already
under
pressure
from
farm-raised
seafood
.
That pressure could increase if the Agriculture Department approves proposed requirements for labeling fish organic.
That
pressure
could
increase
if
the
Agriculture
Department
approves
proposed
requirements
for
labeling
fish
organic
.
Earning the organic label requires controlled conditions.
Earning
the
organic
label
requires
controlled
conditions
.
The question is whether fish that swim wild and free--like Alaskan salmon--could meet the proposed requirements.
The
question
is
whether
fish
that
swim
wild
and
free
--
like
Alaskan
salmon
--
could
meet
the
proposed
requirements
.
Yet fish farms might not all be able to meet them, either.
Yet
fish
farms
might
not
all
be
able
to
meet
them
,
either
.
Some operations are criticized for their treatment of fish and the risk of pollution to waterways.
Some
operations
are
criticized
for
their
treatment
of
fish
and
the
risk
of
pollution
to
waterways
.
Fish farmers and the wild-caught industry also argue about the possible presence of harmful chemicals in each other's products.
Fish
farmers
and
the
wild-caught
industry
also
argue
about
the
possible
presence
of
harmful
chemicals
in
each
other
's
products
.
In 2000, an advisory committee considered requests by fish farmers to call their products organic.
In
2000
,
an
advisory
committee
considered
requests
by
fish
farmers
to
call
their
products
organic
.
The experts said farm-raised fish should be labeled organic only if they were fed almost completely organic plant food.
The
experts
said
farm-raised
fish
should
be
labeled
organic
only
if
they
were
fed
almost
completely
organic
plant
food
.
Farmed fish often have little or no fish in their diet.
Farmed
fish
often
have
little
or
no
fish
in
their
diet
.
But those proposed guidelines were not used.
But
those
proposed
guidelines
were
not
used
.
In 2005, the Agriculture Department formed another group to examine possible requirements.
In
2005
,
the
Agriculture
Department
formed
another
group
to
examine
possible
requirements
.
This time, the committee suggested several kinds of food that farmed fish could eat and still be called organic.
This
time
,
the
committee
suggested
several
kinds
of
food
that
farmed
fish
could
eat
and
still
be
called
organic
.
A decision about whether fish can be sold with the organic label may still take two years or more.
A
decision
about
whether
fish
can
be
sold
with
the
organic
label
may
still
take
two
years
or
more
.
For now, the American fishing industry has to deal with growing competition from imported seafood.
For
now
,
the
American
fishing
industry
has
to
deal
with
growing
competition
from
imported
seafood
.
Some foreign companies already call their fish "organic" because, they say, it meets the requirements of their own countries.
Some
foreign
companies
already
call
their
fish
``
organic
''
because
,
they
say
,
it
meets
the
requirements
of
their
own
countries
.
In the United States, the term "organic" has a legal meaning set by the Department of Agriculture. The department has an official label to mark products that have met the requirements of its National Organic Program.  Organic products usually cost more, but their sales are growing. As a result, so is competition to label more products organic because many people believe they are healthier.  Now Agriculture Department officials are trying to decide whether fish can be called organic. There are rules for organic produce, organic dairy products, organic meat and chicken--but nothing about fish.  Many operators of fish farms believe they could sell more fish if they could label them organic.  The industry that sells wild-caught fish is already under pressure from farm-raised seafood. That pressure could increase if the Agriculture Department approves proposed requirements for labeling fish organic.  Earning the organic label requires controlled conditions. The question is whether fish that swim wild and free--like Alaskan salmon--could meet the proposed requirements.  Yet fish farms might not all be able to meet them, either. Some operations are criticized for their treatment of fish and the risk of pollution to waterways. Fish farmers and the wild-caught industry also argue about the possible presence of harmful chemicals in each other's products.  In 2000, an advisory committee considered requests by fish farmers to call their products organic. The experts said farm-raised fish should be labeled organic only if they were fed almost completely organic plant food. Farmed fish often have little or no fish in their diet. But those proposed guidelines were not used. In 2005, the Agriculture Department formed another group to examine possible requirements. This time, the committee suggested several kinds of food that farmed fish could eat and still be called organic.  A decision about whether fish can be sold with the organic label may still take two years or more.  For now, the American fishing industry has to deal with growing competition from imported seafood. Some foreign companies already call their fish "organic" because, they say, it meets the requirements of their own countries.