Call me wishy-washy. I can't decide if the Utah Legislature's proposal to do away with Department of Agriculture's organic certification program is such a terrible idea.

On one hand, if the state program ends, Utah producers who want the special certification will have to sign on with a private company. These out-of-state businesses charge significantly more money than the $500 state fee.

But how many Utah farmers and producers actually have gone after the organic certification? The process is onerous, requiring significant amounts of record keeping, testing and inspections.

A small group of Utah producers obviously think it is worth the effort, for health and environmental reasons and because it is a savvy marketing tool.

But many small, family-run producers I've met don't use pesticides and avoid animal feed with added hormones — just like their certified counterparts. These busy folks simply don't have the time or money to pursue organic certification.

So if you build a relationship with a local farmer or producer — and trust their methods — why does the little green and white label really matter?

Let me know your thoughts.