USDA Deals Blow to U.S. Organic Hop Industry
on 04/10/10 at 8:15 pm
Industry
Organic beer may never truly be organic if the USDA has its way. Earlier this month, the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Handling Committee recommended the continued use of non-organic hops in beer labeled organic by denying a petition by the American Organic Hop Grower Association (AOHGA) to remove hops from the National List of non-organic ingredients allowed in organic food (section 205.606 of the federal organic regulations).
If approved by the full board in late October, this decision will have a devastating impact on U.S. organic hop farms.
