More Grocers Seeking Organic Certification

JULY 03, 2007 -- Chasing the success of Whole Foods Market Inc., and the announcement last year that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. would double its organic products, several regional grocers are going deeper into the market with a government-backed seal as "certified organic retailers," reports an Associated Press article in The Boston Globe. In recent years, smaller supermarket chains such as The Kroger Co., Lund Food Holdings Inc., and now Maine-based Hannaford represent a growing number securing the certification.

While organic foods are certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as free of pesticides and hormones, this designation says the retailer will comply with handling standards nearly as meticulous as those for kosher or vegan foods.

At its simplest: Organic broccoli cannot be stacked atop conventional broccoli, organic apples cannot be washed with regular apples, and organic ham cannot be exposed to the same deli slicer as the traditional cold cuts, for fear that chemicals will be transferred.

Sam Beattie, a specialist at Iowa State University's Institute for Food Safety and Security, said the certification is the best way for regular supermarkets to get a leg up in the organic food industry, where sales in the United States went from $6 billion in 2000 to $14 billion in 2005.

The stores voluntarily agree to subject themselves to on-site inspections by San Diego-based Quality Assurance International, one of a number of third parties chosen through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The move by Hannaford is being watched carefully by other chains considering similar measures, such as Massachusetts-based Shaw's Supermarkets Inc. and Stop & Shop Supermarket Co., according to spokesmen for both companies.

Santo Carnabuci, who manages the Hannaford in Quincy, said customers were beginning to demand reassurance as they became more in tune to what organic really means.

"People that are totally into buying organic foods, they understand that it cannot coexist with something that isn't organic," he said. "Our responsibility is making sure the products stay organic from point A to point B, when it's in your hands. If you don't take all of the steps and keep things separate, it nullifies it."