How to Understand the USDA Organic Label

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By Katharine Ann
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Fruits and Vegetables

People are hearing the word organic more and more these days. Those little green and black USDA Organic labels are popping up on all foods from fruits and vegetables to crackers and fruit snacks. But what does organic mean? Read on and find out!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

The Official USDA Organic Seal

When you see this little label on food in the grocery store, it means that the US Department of Agriculture has certified it as "organic". This means that farmers or companies that have produced these items have had to meet a standardized set of criteria and paid a fee in order to be able to put this label on their food. What are the criteria?
Step 2

A cow

According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, the "Commitments" that organic farmers or ranchers must follow are:

1. Farmers must follow practices that "conserve and build the soil resource, pollute little, and encourage development of a healthy diverse agroecosystem, which supports natural pest management".

This really means that these farmers will engage in crop rotation and that they will not use prohibited synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. A farm that sells organic produce cannot have used prohibited synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in the past three years before being certified.

2. Farmers must also dedicate specific areas of the storage to organic use (Conceivably so that equipment used in organic food production does not become contaminated by equipment that might be used in conventional farming).

3. Ranchers must make commitments that concern the treatment of their livestock. This includes providing room for the animals to move around in (i.e. a pasture) and agreeing not to perform certain body modifications.
Step 3

The process to becoming certified as an organic food or livestock producer is not an easy one, and requires a tremendous amount of paperwork. In brief, the steps are:

1. Find a Certifier

A farmer or rancher may hire any certifying entity that is accredited by the National Organic Program (a division of the USDA)

2. Submit an Application (and pay a fee)

3. Have the Certifier review their application

4. Have the Certifier come and inspect their farm/ranch

5. Complete at "Final Review". If this step is successful, then the farmer/rancher may begin advertising their products as USDA Organic.

*Note - After a farmer or rancher has received an organic certification, they must also maintain records detailing their farming or ranching procedures and practices.
Step 4

Now we know what it means when fruit, vegetables, and meat (for you carnivores) are labeled as organic. But what makes a cracker organic? Here are the standards for USDA Organic labels as applied to processed food:

1. 100% Organic - This means that 100% of the ingredients used to make this food are organic according to the previously mentioned criteria. (*note - this does not include water or salt)

2. Organic - When the 100% is missing in front of the word Organic, then 95 - 99% of the ingredients used to make this food item are organic.

3. Made with Organic Ingredients - This means that 70-94% of the ingredients in this food item are organic.

Now whether, or not these products are better for you is another topic (and other article!) You ultimately have to make the decisions on what you put in your body or on your table. Be armed with the best information you can and make your decisions based on knowledge and research.