CERTIFIED ORGANIC AND OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

What Does “Certified Organic” Mean? Products carrying this label are grown according to the U.S. department of Agriculture’s organic regulations. Farmers complete an organic farm plan. Businesses, such as bakeries, grain mills, coffee roasters, wineries, frozen food producers and farm-based cheese-makers, submit a written plan for their operations. Farms and businesses are inspected annually by a USDA Accredited Certification Agency, which verifies that the operation is following regulations and its organic plan.

Organic Farm Standards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put in place a set of national standards that food labeled "organic" must meet, whether it is grown in the United States or imported from other countries.

Farming practices are the basis of food quality. Healthy soil is the foundation for healthy plants and animals. Organic farming is a system that maintains and improves the productivity of the soil by encouraging and enhancing natural biological processes. The National Organic Standards provide a framework for farmers to follow:

1. Organic farmers are prohibited from using harmful synthetic pesticides and herbicides, sewage sludge, genetically engineered seeds and synthetic fertilizers.
2. Animals must have access to the outdoors and grazing stock must be on pasture during the growing season.
3. No antibiotics or growth hormones can be used and all grains and hay must be certified organic.

Organic Product Standards

Know what labels mean!

1. 100% Organic means that all ingredients meet or exceed specifications, which bans the use of synthetic pesticides, herb-icides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, as well as genetically modified seeds. No artificial preservatives are allowed, except salt and water.
2. Organic means that at least 95% of the ingredients meet or exceed USDA standards.
3. Made with Organic Ingredients means that at least 70% of the ingredientdingredients meet or exceed USDA specification.

Businesses making organic foods must assure that the integrity of organic products is not compromised by contact with prohibited substances, such as cleaners/sanitizers, pest control materials, and non-certified products.

The complete listing of the regulations can be found on the USDA's website.