Organic vegetables in the Hefei market are not necessarily truly organic
[Lead-in · China Vegetable Network] The reporter learned that organic product certification is expensive and the procedures are strict. But an investigation found that Hefei currently has no professional organic certification body, and most of the institutions on the market claiming they can carry out organic certification are “selling dog meat under a sheep's head,” providing only a coaching and intermediary role.
Food is the first necessity of the people, and food safety issues attract much attention. To eat with peace of mind, some citizens specifically choose “organic vegetables.” In major supermarkets and specialty stores, all kinds of organic vegetables often appear, and their prices are high. What exactly are organic vegetables? Are organic vegetables really “organic”? Is organic certification strict and genuine? The reporter learned that organic product certification is expensive and the procedures are strict. But an investigation found that Hefei currently has no professional organic certification body, and most of the institutions on the market claiming they can carry out organic certification are “selling dog meat under a sheep's head,” providing only a coaching and intermediary role. And tempted by profit, organic certification also has fake practices such as “going through the motions,” so organic food is not entirely trustworthy, and citizens buying organic food still need to keep their eyes open.
Organic vegetables are pricey and sought after
Zhang Hua, who lives on Qianshan Road, is an admirer of organic vegetables. Every time she goes to the supermarket to buy groceries, she chooses vegetables in the organic vegetable section. “Food safety problems often occur now. We have elderly people at home, and also a child who was born not long ago. We want to let them eat with more peace of mind. Although organic vegetables are a bit more expensive, they have all passed authoritative certification, so we buy with peace of mind and eat safely.”
Zhang Hua did the math for the reporter: for the same small green vegetables, the ordinary variety sells for 3 yuan per jin in the supermarket, while the organic variety sells for 8 yuan or 9 yuan per jin, or even more than that. In this way, her family's monthly spending on vegetables is 3 to 4 times higher, but Zhang Hua does not care much about this extra money. “Only when you eat with peace of mind can you feel comfortable inside.” The reporter learned that in Hefei, consumers like Zhang Hua who admire organic vegetables are not few.
For an ordinary cauliflower, the supermarket sells it for 3 yuan per jin. Add the word “organic,” and the price soars; 8 yuan or 10 yuan per jin is very common. “The price of organic vegetables is generally two to three times that of ordinary vegetables, and sometimes five or six times is also normal.” A supermarket employee told the reporter that organic vegetables are green, safe and highly nutritious, and although they are expensive, there is still a market for them.
Why do organic vegetables sell at a high price? A relevant person in charge of the Hefei Municipal Agriculture Commission introduced that compared with ordinary vegetables, pollution-free vegetables and green vegetables, organic vegetables have the highest quality grade. Throughout the entire production process, they do not use chemical substances such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers and growth regulators, nor do they use genetic technology. They are grown according to the requirements and standards of international organic agriculture, and at the same time they must also undergo quality control and review by an independent certification body. For example, there must be no vehicles or factories near organic farmland; because no chemical substances can be used, pest control in growing organic vegetables is entirely by physical means (installing fluorescent insect-repelling lamps or manual removal).
It is precisely because the growing standards for organic vegetables are high that their prices are also high. In addition, the reporter learned that some sales channels for organic vegetables develop a membership system, targeting high-income groups and regularly delivering vegetables to their homes. “Now people's living standards are getting higher and higher, and attention to food safety is also increasing. When it comes to food, many people are willing to spend money. Even if the price of organic vegetables is relatively high, there will still be a market.” A person in charge of an agricultural product sales enterprise in Hefei told the reporter.
Organic certification procedures are strict and require a conversion period
The reason organic vegetables are sought after is closely related to the strict certification procedures for organic products. For ordinary vegetables to become organic vegetables, they need to go through a strict and cumbersome certification process.
The reporter learned from the official website of the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China that organic product certification has a strict process. Producers and operators must first produce and operate according to relevant standards for organic agricultural products; then organize application materials and submit an application to a certification body; the body first conducts a round of review, and if the review is passed, signs an inspection contract with the operator; next the certification body sends people to conduct an on-site inspection to see whether the product quality of the base meets the standards, and forms a report; finally the certification body decides whether to approve the certification based on the report. Organic product certification inspectors conducting on-site inspections shall undergo training, examinations and interviews and be registered with the China Certification and Accreditation Association (CCAA).
A relevant person in charge of the Hefei Municipal Agriculture Commission introduced that vegetables do not become organic vegetables all at once; this also requires a conversion period. For organic products, there is a conversion period. The conversion period is stipulated to ensure the “purity” of organic products. For example, if a farm that has already used pesticides or chemical fertilizers wants to convert into an organic farm, it needs to establish an effective management system according to the requirements of organic standards, and after stopping the use of chemically synthesized pesticides and chemical fertilizers, it still must go through a 2-3 year transition period before it can formally become an organic farm. Products produced during the conversion period can only be called “organic conversion products.” But on the market, some agricultural products can be seen directly labeled as organic food, with no concept of a conversion period at all. “Some agricultural product enterprises lack understanding of the concept of organic products and lack professionalism.” An industry insider introduced.
Certification bodies are diverse and “watered down”
Organic vegetables need certification, which has also given rise to the development of domestic organic product certification bodies. The reporter learned that there are currently 23 institutions approved to carry out organic product certification, and 25 institutions that can carry out organic product certification consulting. This latest information can all be queried on the official website of the Certification and Accreditation Administration. But when the reporter checked online, they learned of a strange phenomenon: organic product certification bodies on the internet are diverse, and all kinds of certification bodies use the name of being able to carry out organic certification, and they can also take on such business. The reporter checked online and found that many certification bodies in Hefei also advertise that they can undertake organic product certification business.
On the grounds that organic certification was needed, the reporter consulted two third-party certification bodies in Hefei and Nanjing. The staff introduced that the certification fee for an organic certificate is about 40,000 yuan, and the specific amount also depends on the variety and quantity certified. When the reporter asked whether the other party had relevant organic certification qualifications, the staff frankly said that they mainly undertake coaching work for organic certification and contact authoritative certification bodies for certification until a certificate can be issued. “To put it plainly, we are intermediary service agencies. You pay the money, and we ensure you can get certified for organic products.” The staff told the reporter that of the 40,000 yuan fee, 30% to 40% of the funds are for the certificate portion.
As for when it can be obtained, the staff told the reporter that it takes at least two to three months at the fastest, and the specific situation also depends on the scale and variety of certification.
Regarding this answer from the staff, the reporter consulted an industry insider, who said that in two to three months, even the normal certification procedure cannot be completed, so it can be seen that such “lightning-fast” certification is somewhat watered down.
Certification intermediary agencies are diverse, and certification bodies also vary in quality. Also on the grounds that certification was needed, the reporter contacted some certification bodies and found that in order to attract business, some bodies said that for some key certification tests, such as soil and air, they could recommend cooperating units, that is, intermediary agencies, to complete them. “Less time-consuming, and the price can also be negotiated.”
Organic certification is expensive
Regarding organic vegetable certification, some agricultural producers flock to it, while others say that organic certification wastes money and manpower, and it is not something ordinary small enterprises can complete.
Shan Weifeng is the person in charge of a farm in Sanshigang. He told the reporter that the term of organic certification for agricultural products is only one year. For organic fruits and vegetables, the growing conditions of agricultural products in each season may change, such as whether pesticides were used, whether the seed situation has changed, or even whether the natural environment around the agricultural products has changed, for example, whether a chemical plant has been built around the production area. “There are too many unpredictable factors, and the main thing is that the price of organic certification is high. For agricultural product enterprises with low profits, the pressure is too great.”
The reporter learned that the validity period of organic certification is generally one year, and for crops with multiple harvests in a year, they must be re-inspected at each harvest, and for each re-inspection, growers must pay inspection fees to the testing agency again. If growers want to add testing varieties, the fees will increase accordingly. For agricultural enterprises, this expense is indeed a considerable cost.
“The high testing cost is one aspect, and the other aspect is that regarding this certification, those of us in this industry all know clearly that it actually requires strict procedures. At present, intermediary agencies without certification qualifications are diverse in society, and this is actually not a healthy development path for organic products.” Shan Weifeng told the reporter that rather than spending a lot of money on organic certification, they are more inclined to use that money to develop green fruits and vegetables through better technology for prevention and control.
Authenticity can be identified through organic codes
For ordinary people, how can they determine whether vegetables are organic? Regarding this question, the reporter consulted experts in agriculture. A relevant person in charge of the Hefei Municipal Agriculture Commission introduced that although the residues of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in organic vegetables are greatly lower than those in ordinary vegetables, at present the two are difficult to distinguish in appearance and taste, and sometimes organic vegetables even look a bit worse.
However, due to higher prices and more complex certification and quality control procedures, the marketing channels for organic vegetables and ordinary vegetables are different. The Certification and Accreditation Administration suggests that consumers had best buy organic vegetables at organic product specialty stores, large shopping malls and supermarkets, and try not to buy them at farmers' markets, wholesale markets or untrustworthy websites.
In addition, when purchasing organic products, consumers should pay attention to identifying the organic certification mark and organic code. They can check whether an enterprise has obtained certification and whether the certification certificate is authentic through the “China Food and Agricultural Products Certification Information System,” and check the authenticity of products through the organic code.