We often cite articles from the New York Times , but we want to guard against too much reliance on the biggest media companies. We don't want to miss the excellent reporting presented by journalists throughout the country. A great example of such reporting is an article we came across by Rachael Jackson of The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware.

Ms. Jackson has written a wonderful piece putting a human face on the difficulties for small farmers seeking organic certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the food they produce. She reports, "Out of an estimated 20 to 30 farms that use natural methods in Delaware, only about four have the official organic certification sanctioned by the USDA, a label many say is the only reliable standard."

Ms Jackson says, "...the demands of the federally certified organic program may be well-suited to large-scale farms", but the challenge for small farmers can be daunting.

Her piece provides an excellent overview of the difficulties a small farmer faces to get an official organic certification and the barriers encountered by consumers who want to to eat local. Her piece also presents an alternative to the federal certification program.

If you'd like to read Ms. Jackson's piece at delawareonline.com go to: Going organic can be a challenge