Then, of course, the USDA is restricted by U.S. borders, which is why there are even more groups for certification overseas. The USDA has accredited some groups in certain countries to act on its behalf, however, certifiers do not exist in every country. Certain major growers, like China and India, are not covered by the USDA, so buyers have to depend on the certifications and standards of independent organizations. Overseas organic cotton production is currently much greater as well, thanks to more chemically clear land being available. As opposed to waiting three years for farms to turn over in the U.S., Buckner said, “It wasn’t difficult to start [in India] because they had so much land that you could go and just grow the crops. You come into the U.S., people have fields that are sitting there ... waiting to get to that point.”
From the Ground Up
Understanding the ins and outs of organic cotton