The Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau
Distributed May 9, 2000
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contact: Dana Rae DelSignore, Publicist
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(401) 222-2457
Email: ddelsignore@rilin.state.ri.us
Representative Naughton welcomes USDA official to Ocean State
STATE HOUSE – Rep. Eileen S. Naughton of Warwick recently hosted a U.S. Department of Agriculture official during his visit to the Ocean State to discuss the agency's new organic standards program.
During Wednesday's (May 3) meeting in the State House, Mark Keating of the USDA met with Representative Naughton, state Department of Environmental Management representatives, farmers, and aquaculture firm owners to promote the agency's new proposal for national standards for organic food labeling. Rhode Island was just one of three states (including Alaska and Alabama) visited to gain information on how to create organic standards for aquatic animals such as shellfish and finfish.
"We are very honored that the USDA chose us as one of its sites," said Representative Naughton, who chairs the General Assembly's Aquaculture Commission. "If aquatic animals can qualify as organic, then it will be a boon to both fishermen and aquacultural farmers in the state."
Currently, federal laws only regulate land-based crops and livestock as organically grown. The new standards would include both wild harvested (fish caught in their natural habitats) and farm-raised (aquaculture) aquatic animals in the organic certification process.
Food items must meet a number of requirements before being certified organic. In general, organic crops and livestock must be produced and handled without the use of synthetic chemicals.
After a brief question and answer session at the State House, officials received a crash tour of Rhode Island, visiting shellfish farms in Westerly and Newport before heading to the Providence Biltmore Hotel for 6 p.m. There, USDA representative Mark Keating solicited comments from the audience at a public hearing.
"It was a unique opportunity," said David Alves, aquaculture coordinator for the state's Coastal Resources Management Council, who took part in the day's activities. "We could provide him with information and get information from him. We all learned something new about the organic process."
Representative Naughton, a staunch supporter of aquaculture, said an organic label would only improve business for commercial fishermen and the 14 aquaculture firms throughout the state.
"The organic label carries quite a bit of weight with consumers," said Representative Naughton. "In 1999 alone, organic food sales accounted for $6 billion. It would be wonderful if the state's thriving aquatic business could reap some of those profits."
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