Questions about organic food in general

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         Q. Why Eat Organic Food?

         Q. What is organic food?

         Q. What is the official definition of organic?

         Q. How is "Certified Organic" food different from other organic food?

         Q. Who regulates the certified organic claims?


Why Eat Organic?

"Organic" refers to how the food has been grown and processed. The standards for the production, processing and certification of organic foods have been established by the Federal Organic Food Protection Act of 1990. Organically grown foods are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Instead, common practices used in organic farming and food production include the use of natural fertilizers and composts; crop rotation for building healthy soil; pest and weed control using naturally occurring toxins, predator insects, and hand cultivation. Organic farming is time-consuming and often more costly than the non-organic methods but it provides the highest quality foods without the risk to public health or to the environment.

Organic food tastes better than their non-organic counterparts since well-balanced soils grow stronger, healthier plants that taste better. Current research concludes that organically grown products contain more nutrients as well. Although there is a perception that organic foods are more expensive, a recent article in The Green Guide for Everyday Life reported that a comparison between a selection of conventional food versus a similar selection of organically grown/produced food revealed that organic food was slightly cheaper.

Organic farming respects the balance of nature, reduces health risks, conserves water resources and builds back the soil. It works in harmony with nature providing quality food choices and preserving our natural resources for the next generation.

Source: Boston Common Press; Organic Trade Association

Organic refers not to the food itself, but to how the food is produced. Organic food production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes the fertility of the soil. Organic foods are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Organic foods are minimally processed to maintain the integrity of the food without artificial ingrediants, preservatives or irradiation.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) defines organic as follows: "Organic is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony."

Certified means that the food has been grown according to strict uniform standards which are verified by an independent state or private organization. Certification includes inspections of farm fields and processing facilities, detailed record keeping and periodic testing of soil and water to ensure that growers and handlers are meeting the standards which have been set.

The federal government set standards for the production, processing and certification of organic food in the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. A National Organic Standards Board was established at that time and now is developing the guidelines and procedures which will regulate all crops from produce, grains, meat, dairy, and eggs to processed foods. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture oversees the program. Read & comment on the National Organic Program's Proposed Organic Rule.