Organic Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Isn't healthy food more expensive than the stuff we're used to eating?
A: Well, yes and no. If you compare the prices side by side in the grocery store, organic produce usually is more expensive than conventionally grown. Organic processed foods, too, like cereal and peanut butter are priced higher than their conventional counterparts.
Keep in mind, though, that the grocery store is not the only place to shop!
Farmers Market: There are farmer's markets, which can actually be a lot of fun, where you might find better prices on organic foods and you'll always find fresher produce than in the store since it came straight from the farm that morning.
Fresher means better flavor and more nutrition, better value for your money, so it's always your best choice.
CSA: Community Supported Agriculture farms, also called subscription farms, allow you to purchase a subscription and every week or two weeks, whichever you choose, a whole variety of fresh foods gets delivered to you straight from the farm!
To locate a CSA farm near you go to CSA FARM FINDER
Q: How can I know I'm really buying organically grown food?
A: If you look at the stickers on fruits and vegetables, you'll see either a five-digit number that starts with "9" which means it's organically grown, or a four-digit number which means it's grown using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These stickers are optional and not all vendors use them.
If you look on labels of processed foods, be careful! Some packaging uses the word "Organic" only as a marketing tool, to get your attention. If it really is organic, you'll see the USDA Organic symbol:
Q: What does "organic" really mean?
A: The US Department of Agriculture created an organic standard in 1990, which is based upon the standards that organic farming groups had already established. The USDA standard is now used to certify organic farms and food producers and to give a precise meaning to the organic label on food products:
Standards for Organic Certification
• No synthetic pesticides
• No fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge
• No genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• No irradiation
• Clear and appropriate buffers between organic fields and nearby conventional farms
• Long-term soil management plans
• Detailed record keeping of all materials used
• Three-year transition period for fields that have been farmed conventionally
• Annual inspection by USDA-approved, independent certifier
Product Labeling Requirements
• Products that may display the USDA Organic Seal:
o “100% Organic” — made entirely with organic ingredients
o “Organic” — made with 95% organic ingredients and remaining 5% can only be ingredients not available organically in commercial form.
• Products that may not display the USDA seal but contain organic ingredients:
o “Made with organic ingredients” — at least 70% organic (organic claim allowed on display panel)
o If a product contains less than 70% organic ingredients, the ingredient list may denote which products are organic (no organic claim allowed on display panel)
For more info, go to the USDA web site.
