Grower Touts Conventional as Organic; Gets Caught

Grower Touts Conventional as Organic; Gets Caught

DENVER--The Plant Industry Division of the Colorado Department of Agriculture foundthat Colo-Kist Farms sold conventional agricultural products as organic. The responsibleparties, Jack and Kelly Hamilton, had their Colorado organic farming license permanentlyrevoked.

Apparently, the two ran a co-op that distributed produce. The couple failed to separateconventional produce from organic and labeled all produce "organic". Each labelindicated that the produce was certified by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

The couple provided false information to a State inspector regarding the origin of thecrop, and were found to have not only purchased potatoes treated with pesticides, but tohave purchased pesticides themselves--enough for 200 acres, while they only cultivated 105acres.

The Department of Agriculture may be contacted at (303) 239-4140.