For many years, The Cornucopia Institute’s Grain Buyer’s Guide helped shine a light on how organic grains were sourced and traded in the United States and around the world. The guide was created to address growing concerns about organic grain imports, fraud, and weak enforcement that can hurt both organic farmers and shoppers who rely on the organic label to mean something real.
Cornucopia’s research behind the Grain Buyer’s Guide focused on where organic grain comes from, how it is certified, and whether large buyers and handlers were following both the letter and the spirit of organic law. The goal was to protect consumers from misleading claims while also defending family-scale farmers who play by the rules but are often undercut by fraudulent or improperly certified imports.
While the Grain Buyer’s Guide is no longer updated as a standalone resource, the issues it documented remain highly relevant. Concerns about organic grain fraud, consolidation in the organic marketplace, and inadequate oversight continue to affect the food system. These findings are carried forward and expanded in Cornucopia’s in-depth investigation, Against the Grain: Protecting Organic Shoppers Against Import Fraud and Farmers from Unfair Competition (PDF).
Cornucopia continues to publish independent research and tools that help consumers, farmers, and policymakers understand how organic food is produced and regulated, including:
