Knowles pushing for organic label for Alaska salmon

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Gov. Tony Knowles is pushing the federal government to endorse Alaska's wild salmon as an organic food.

Knowles laid out his case in a letter Thursday to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, whose department is working out new rules to govern the organic-food program under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.

The state's bid is opposed by some in the organic food industry. They say much is unknown about exactly what Alaska salmon eat in the wild and whether they swim through pollutants.

Many believe pen-raised salmon are more likely to win the organic label because every aspect of care and feeding of those fish can be documented.

Knowles, in his letter to Glickman, said that two Alaska seafood packing companies have earned private organic certification.