Basic Criteria for the Production, Storage and Transport

Basic criteria for the production, storage and transport of organic fruit and vegetables.

Click here to view a video that explains the storage structure for fruits and vegetables.

One of the essential elements distinguishing organic farming from other forms of sustainable agriculture is the existence of production standards and certification procedures. There are no universal standards for the production and handling of organic fruit and vegetables. Initially, organic standards were developed by private associations, entitling members to use the respective associations’ organic brands and labels when marketing their products. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), a non-governmental organization promoting organic agriculture internationally, has established guidelines that have been widely adopted for organic production and processing.

These guidelines are commonly considered as "minimum standards", leaving room for more detailed requirements, depending on regional or local situations. As organic agriculture has become more widespread, many developed countries have defined their own organic standards. Since the early 1990s, EC countries have endorsed a common organic standard which is spelt out in Regulation EEC 2092/91.

More recently, Canada, the United States and Japan have adopted organic standards and regulations. The Committee on Food Labelling of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted "Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods" in 1999. Organic standards are usually similar as they derive from IFOAM’s guidelines for organic production. In general, the use of methods that contribute to maintaining or enhancing soil fertility is mandatory. Another common feature is that generally natural inputs are approved, and synthetic inputs are prohibited.

Nevertheless, there are exceptions in both cases. Certain natural inputs which various certification programmes determine to be harmful to human health or the environment are prohibited. In addition, certain synthetic inputs are allowed. For example, EEC Regulation 2092/91 allows, when required, the use of specific fertilizers and plant preservatives. All certification programmes maintain lists of specific approved synthetic inputs and prohibited natural inputs.

Many certification programmes require additional environmental protection measures beyond the above prerequisites. For example, specific measures are generally applied in the areas of soil and water conservation, pollution control or the use of biological control agents.

While many farmers in the developing world do not use synthetic inputs, this alone is not sufficient to classify their products as organic. Farmers who produce organic crops for export and at the same time grow basic foodstuffs on other areas of the farm using conventional methods with fertilizers and pesticides, inadmissible to the organic system, are at high risk of violating the standards unless effective measures are taken to prevent prohibited substances from passing to the organic plots.