General Information

What does organic mean?

Organic foods are made according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides and artificial fertilizers, free from contamination by human or industrial waste, and processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. If livestock are involved, they must be reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones, and generally fed a healthy diet. In most countries, organic produce may not be genetically modified.

Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry, distinct from private gardening for instance. Currently, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as organic within their borders.

Why buy organic?

It's common sense; organic food is good food. Good to eat, good for the environment, good for the small-scale farmers and farm workers who produce it. By the year 2000, the USDA estimates that half of all U.S. farm products will come from only 1% of the farms. The EPA says that agriculture is responsible for 70% of the pollution to the country's rivers and streams caused by chemicals, erosion, and animal waste runoff. Organic farming may be one of the last ways to keep both ecosystems and rural communities healthy and alive.

Small-scale organic farmers finance innovative research designed to reduce agricultural impact on the environment. They preserve biodiversity by collecting seeds and growing heirloom varieties of plants. They naturally enrich the soil with manure and compost. They rotate crops in the fields and plant cover crops to stop weeds, nutrient leaching, and erosion. Consumer demand is a powerful force for change. Between 1989 and 1996 sales of organic products increased 20 percent annually. Every food category now has an organic alternative and more non-food crops are grown organically. As a consumer, you can help this trend continue by continuing to ask for and purchasing organically grown food, textiles, personal care, and other items.