What does ‘organic’ mean?

According to the USDA National Organic Standards Board, organic agriculture is defined as “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 or enhance ecological harmony. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.”

A common misconception is that organic producers don’t use pesticides. If an organic grower faces a disease or insect problem that they cannot control using cultural means, they may use pesticides. These pesticides are different from those of a conventional grower because they must be approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), an independent reviewer of products intended for use in certified organic production.

To learn more about organic agriculture visit: www.ams.usda.gov/nop/.

To learn more about the Organic Grower’s School visit: http://www.organicgrowersschool.org/.

To learn about buying organic produce visit: http://www.foodnews.org/.