> From my upper posts, it seems like 'organic' only permits ethylene gas for potatoes. As it's a simple gas, I'd have less worry about it.

There's other chemicals allowed by organic certifications by the looks http://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/cis/cis1120.p.... That's just for sprout inhibitors. Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides while growing are permitted too.

> I kinda thought potatoes would be.. uhhh... sacred and not need much for longer-term storage, but I guess I was wrong.

Sacred? Possibly to some. Shelf life is a significant cost concern for most fresh foods though.

> I still don't buy organic, but I like growing my own stuff, even though it's technically not organic since I'll use fertilizer...

Organic certifications don't prohibit the use of fertilizer.