Why Bare Acre Farm Chooses Transparency Over Organic Certification
At Bare Acre Farm, we’re often asked why we haven’t pursued organic certification. This is something we have tormented ourselves about, the idea of a label that guarantees our produce is grown to a high standard and upholds the original principles of organic production are attractive, even beguiling, that is until you peel back the skin and reveal the often rotten core.
Let me explain.
While we support sustainable and ethical farming, and admire those who practice it, we believe the certified organic label no longer holds the value it once did.
Food fraud and inconsistent standards across borders have undermined its credibility.
- Think of honey and olive oil adulterated with sugar syrup or inferior oils, yet still labelled as organic.
- Think of citrus fruit sold as organic despite being grown using conventional methods.
- Think of labels deliberately designed to confuse and evoke false provenance. This practice, recently termed farm-washing, misleads consumers into believing they are buying produce grown in accordance with organic principles.
- Think of farms that are partly certified organic yet offer all of there produce as organic.
These practices are widespread. They are driven by large companies, facilitated by retailers, and, unfortunately, even happen at the farm gate level. We’ve seen products labelled and sold as organic that we know, firsthand, are not so we have lost confidence in the label.
What Elliot Coleman, the godfather of modern organics in the USA has to say on the subject (Edited version)
Big food companies are trying to hijack the word organic. They want to stick it on products that are anything but. A lot of the “organic” milk and eggs in supermarkets now come from factory-style farms that confine animals indoors — nothing like what people imagine when they buy organic.
It’s the same story with vegetables. The USDA now allows hydroponic crops — grown without soil — to be sold as organic, with no mention of how they’re produced. That’s misleading. It cheats people who want real organic food and hides what true organic farming actually means.
Real organic farming works with nature, not against it. Done right, it doesn’t need constant chemical or energy inputs. The soil, the microbes, and the cycles of the earth do the work. That’s what makes it truly sustainable — a system that can feed people well, generation after generation.
The Problem with Organic Certification
Organic certification began as a way to ensure farming practices that protect the environment and deliver nutrient-dense food. Unfortunately, as outlined above, it has been undermined by fraud. Globalisation has further complicated the system, creating oversight challenges and making it increasingly difficult for consumers to trust the label.
In Ireland, we are fortunate to have many honest organic growers who stay true to the ideals of soil health, biodiversity, and sustainability. While we deeply admire their work, we feel that certification is no guarantee of accountability and so we have taken a different approach.
Why Soil Matters
Healthy, living soil is at the heart of everything we do. It’s not just a medium for growing plants—it’s a dynamic ecosystem teeming with microbes, fungi, and trace minerals. These natural systems help plants thrive and allow them to absorb a full spectrum of nutrients.
Produce grown in rich, biodiverse soil is more nutritious and flavourful than that grown in systems where soil health is neglected and often bypassed entirely. Deep root systems and symbiotic relationships with soil microbes enable plants to access a wide range of trace minerals that enhance the crop’s quality and increases its value as a food source.
Our Commitment to Transparency
At Bare Acre Farm, we sell directly to our customers, there are no middle men, no wholesalers and no retailers and this allows us to prioritise transparency and accountability over labels.
Our customers are welcome and often invited to see how we farm. We encourage them to ask questions, and in doing so ensure their trust in the care we put into every crop. Our regenerative and sustainable practices go beyond certification, focusing on long-term benefits for the soil, the environment, and the people we serve.
While we respect the genuine organic growers in Ireland, we’ve chosen a different path—one rooted in soil health, sustainability, and trust. By growing food with care and integrity, we strive to deliver produce that truly speaks for itself.
