Oldham added, “Here in Texas, we probably raise the most cotton [in the U.S.], and we probably have maybe 20,000 acres, which is a very small amount, compared to all the land that’s farmed in Texas. You know, millions of acres. The standards are strict, and it takes having to go through a three-year period to get the certification, without getting the benefit.”
Buckner and Oldham both encouraged careful scrutiny with any certifying agent, USDA-related or otherwise. Oldham explained the cash flow from the booming organics industry has placed many risk-management firms and trade unions into competition with one another, each vying to be known as the best or most thorough certifier, which he added, is a good thing. However, he also pointed out the same boom has caused plenty of new certifiers to keep popping up, which may be of questionable quality.
From the Ground Up
Understanding the ins and outs of organic cotton