| The word "organic" may appear on packages of | | | | are turning to organic foods. |
| meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese and other | | | | Organically raised animals may not be given |
| single-ingredient foods. Certified organic requires | | | | growth hormones to or antibiotics for any reason. |
| the rejection of synthetic agrochemicals, irradiation | | | | Producers are required to feed livestock |
| and genetically engineered foods or ingredients. | | | | agricultural feed products that are 100 percent |
| Literally, of course, the term is a redundancy: all | | | | organic, but farmers may also provide allowed |
| food is composed of organic chemicals (complex | | | | vitamin and mineral supplements. |
| chemicals containing carbon). Any materials used in | | | | The US Department of Agriculture finally put in |
| the production or processing of organic food must | | | | place a national system for labeling organic food. |
| be proven safe. Awareness is growing about the | | | | The new federal rule guarantees you, the |
| value of organic foods. But, whether organic | | | | consumer, organic products that are grown |
| chicken or pesticide-free lettuce represents | | | | without toxic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. |
| "healthier" alternatives has long been a subject for | | | | Pesticides derived from natural sources (such as |
| debate. | | | | biological pesticides) may be used in producing |
| Organic farming is one of the fastest growing | | | | organically grown food. Limitations in relation to |
| segments of the U.S. Gardening organically is | | | | which pesticides may or may not be used, |
| much more than what you don't do. In fact, sales | | | | present the organic grower with some unique and |
| of organics have surged more than 20 percent | | | | very demanding challenges. Food that is at least |
| each year in the past decade. In terms of number | | | | 70 percent organic will list the organic ingredients |
| of farms, acreage and value of production, the | | | | on the front of the package. More than 40 |
| organic food industry is growing at a rate of | | | | private organizations and state agencies |
| 20-30% per year. As commodity programs are | | | | (certifiers) currently certify organic food, but their |
| eliminated, more farmers have discovered that | | | | standards for growing and labeling organic food |
| organic production is a legitimate and economically | | | | may differ. Even with these labeling rules in place, |
| viable alternative enterprise. The growth in the | | | | consumers should be prepared for some |
| number of organic farmers has increased steadily, | | | | confusion when shopping for organic foods. For |
| similar to the growth of the U.S. | | | | one thing, organic products are not uniformly |
| In current organic production systems, growers | | | | labeled because many farmers using organic |
| are not permitted to use conventional synthetic | | | | methods do not pursue certification at all. In |
| organic fungicides in their disease management | | | | addition, the language contained in seals, labels, and |
| program. Non-organic milk comes from farms that | | | | logos approved by organic certifiers may differ. |
| are allowed to use genetically modified cattle feed, | | | | While consumers struggle with the fact that |
| along with routine antibiotic treatments and | | | | often, the availability of organic materials is limited |
| synthetic pesticides. Arguments have long raged | | | | when large quantities are needed. More and more |
| as to the effects these hormones and chemicals | | | | people have come to appreciate the added |
| have on the bioproducts. Growth hormones in | | | | dimensions of value and quality available in the |
| cows, pesticides on produce and antibiotics in | | | | organic marketplace. |
| poultry are among the reasons many Americans | | | | |