What is Certified Organic?

The EPA considers that 60 percent of all herbicides, 90 percent of all fungicides and 30 percent of all insecticides are carcinogenic. Produce grown organically has many nutritional and health benefits to the consumer, not to mention the GREAT taste!

Organic produce is produce grown in a manner that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without using harmful chemical pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. Not only is organic produce good for you but it is good for the environment too. Avoiding the use of harmful chemicals eliminates potential pollution of ground water and soil.

Organic farmers must meet stricter regulations governing growing, harvesting, transportation and storage of the produce and as a result is more labor intensive. Organic farming even minimizes soil erosion. For these reasons most organic farming is done on a smaller scale than other farming.

In order for produce to be "certified organic" produce must be grown in accordance with the strict standards set by the federal government. The USDA's National Organic Program oversees the the project.

To become a certified grower the farmer must pass farm field and facility inspections, maintain detailed records and periodically have the soil and water tested to confirm that they are growing and handling the produce in a manner that meets the standards for "organic certification".

Buying certified organic produce is an investment in your future and the future of our environment.