Good news for organic food and the people who buy it in the United States and Europe: today the
European Union (EU) and the USDA signed an “organic equivalent arrangement.” 

You know how much we love telling you what fancy terms mean and this one will be no exception: the EU and USDA have agreed to trade agricultural organic products between each other. In what is being called a “historic” agreement this “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”  deal overlooks tiny differences between European organic standards and American standards to open a viable market. Big differences are not being overlooked and there are some foods that are non-transferable.

What won’t be sold in American stores are any European meats or dairy treated with antibiotics which the USDA does not consider organic. The US will not be shipping apples or pears overseas because they don’t meet the European standards. EU and USDA officials hope the agreement will boost sales and jobs in the already thriving organic market for large and small farmers.

“This monumental agreement will further create jobs in the already growing and healthy U.S. organic sector, spark additional market growth, and be mutually beneficial to farmers both in the United States and European Union as well as to consumers who choose organic products," said Christine Bushway, Executive Director and CEO of the U.S.-based Organic Trade Association.

Trading of mutually agreed upon organic products will begin in June and applies to items like cereal, wine, and chocolate but not fish or seafood. 

Since this is a new agreement organic food companies will likely start with sturdier products that can be easily shipped and have longer shelf lives. It may not be wise to get too attached to any one product that comes overseas because if it proves unpopular  the company may discontinue sending it. We might also see a wild mixture of products hit store shelves as businesses try to guess what consumers are willing to buy and try. This agreement kicks in right before summer which mean tourists can travel knowing they may be able to find their favorite organic products. It’s a win-win situation for everyone really.

EU organics carry their new EU “Euro-leaf” logo, which won a design contest in 2010 or the old seal if companies are still working through packaging printed with it. The US products have the concise "USDA ORGANIC" black and white or green and white circular logo. We should expect to continue seeing these logos as the agreement did not require standardized labeling of organic products.