Keeping It Organic Under the Law

If you plan to sell foods labeled organic, some of the fundamentals of good organic retailing include:

• Organic products must be kept from contact with nonorganic products;
  
  
• Organic products must be kept from contamination, including contamination by any prohibited substances or pest control substances;
  
  
• Organic produce should not be kept beneath conventional produce where misting is used or ice may melt (the water may "rain" residues onto the organic produce);
  
  
• Organic meat should not be next to or beneath conventional meat (fluids may drip);
  
  
• Organic integrity must be maintained in receiving, storage and food preparation areas as well as on the market floor;
  
  
• When receiving organic product, store personnel must verify that it is correctly labeled, including the name of the certifying agent.

These steps sound straightforward, but require instituting appropriate systems, record keeping, separate facilities when necessary and employee training. Take the time to read the organic rule or use available resources to ensure your store's full compliance.

—E.L.