Ole Brook Organics, Mississippi

Jesse Buie of Ole Brook Organics Mississippi, is a certified organic farmer and National Organic Standards Board member.

Ole Brook Organics Mississippi

Jesse Buie: The Real Organic Project now focuses on making farmers like me appreciate the fact that the soil is the basis of certified organic farming.

Plus it’s attempting to shine light on practices that are going on there where customers don’t really know what they’re getting.

Some customers don’t know that their crop is soil-based or hydroponic, but I think it’s important that that differentiation be made.

I’m Jesse Buie, I’m President of Ole Brook Organics.

The Need For Organic Standards

I’ve been certified for approximately five years. I’m also a member of the National Organic Standards Board. I’m honored to be on it because I believe in standards.

You hear the terms out there “I grow organically” or “naturally grown”.

These are terms that farmers use for marketing purposes, which for the most part, have not been validated. And so the difference between a certified organic product and everything else out there, is that the certified organic has documentation behind it – that it is what it is.

Speaking As A NOSB Board Member

As a member of the NOSB I feel that the Real Organic Project exists because we didn’t fully fulfill our duty, I’m gonna be perfectly honest.

We as a board are there to make sure that certain, to make certain regulations and then to, in many cases to follow up and make sure those regulations are being followed. And there was a major issue and I think we disappointed many of the stakeholders because we did not follow through and were not successful.

Healthy Food Comes From Soil

The basis of organic is the soil; that’s the name of the game because the soil then is going to produce a healthy plant.

Having a stronger plant helps the plant to deal with the changes in temperature.

In July, if we got a squash plant, it’s going to be 100 degrees one day and maybe 80 degrees the next day. Those changes in temperature affect the plants. But if you develop a strong plant then it’s able to withstand these changes and you can produce a beautiful fruit.

Whenever young mothers take the squash that I grow and puree it and give it right to the babies that’s a beautiful thing. That’s what organic is all about. It produces a quality product that we need for healthy bodies and minds.

As a certified organic farmer I want to make sure that, and a member of the NOSB, I want to make sure that the consumer has confidence in buying certified organic products. I think this is one of our [the planet’s] salvations if we put more emphasis on certified organic farming.