Certified Organic: What does the label mean?

In my health coaching practice, I consistently recommend that my clients choose certified organic produce and products whenever possible. Organic is worth the extra costs in terms of money and time to obtain organic food in my small Southern town.

Many people are confused as to why organic is worth the extra time and effort. Others are convinced certified organic labeling is a marketing scam. I don’t blame them!  Food manufacturers slap the word “natural” onto their products willy-nilly, rendering the term virtually meaningless.

Each time I’m cruising the produce section of my local supermarket, I ask myself, “Why should I buy a bag of certified organic celery for $5.99 instead of the larger, fresher-looking conventional celery for $1.79?” Note: these are the actual prices at my local supermarket.

Unfortunately, many stores in food deserts lack organic produce, or only offer select items for 2-4 times the cost of their conventional counterparts. Moreover, because the prices are so outrageous, product turnover is slow, and shipments are infrequent. Often, the organic produce on the shelf has clearly weathered through its peak freshness, and sits waiting, soft, squishy, and molding.

Clearly, the people in less progressive areas (read: the middle of the country, the South, and non-metropolitan areas) do not know the value of organic. It’s a buzzword most people are familiar with, but the meaning of the term escapes the masses.

What does certified organic mean exactly?

Technically-speaking, the term “organic” describes the way in which the food was grown, raised, or produced. “Certified organic” denotes that a government-accredited certifying agent verified that the produce, livestock, or product passed government-defined standards and requirements.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), organic agriculture encompasses cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that protect natural resources, conserve biodiversity, and promote ecological balance. [1] Organic farming operations enhance soil and water quality; conserve wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife; and use approved substances. [2]

The Double Standard

This makes me wonder that if certified organic farms must meet regulations to ensure all the benefits of their natural practices, why is it that conventional operations are allowed to use potentially harmful farming practices scot-free? Conventional farming ostensibly damages soil and water quality; devastates wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife; and uses God-knows-what on OUR FOOD? It seems like the government has it backwards!

Moreover, organic farmers avoid synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge and biosolids (i.e. organic matter recycled from sewage), irradiation, and genetic engineering. [3] It’s frightening that conventional farmers use these unnatural substances in the first place! Who wants their spinach grown with sewage sludge? Not me!

Man with—not versus—nature

Instead, organic farmers harness the power of natural processes and materials in farming systems that augment crop and livestock nutrition, preserve nutrients in the soil, manage pests and weeds, meet production goals, and conserve biodiversity (e.g. don’t kill off any and all critters, directly or indirectly, that may threaten production goals).

In other words, organic agriculture respects and embraces nature, rather than fighting against it, which I may add, is a losing battle! This planet existed for many millennia before humans showed up on the evolutionary timeline. To think that humans are separate from nature and above the laws of nature is absurd.

The bottom line: the certified organic label represents food grown without things we don’t want on or in our food (e.g. sewage, genetic modification, plant- and insect-killing chemicals), and in ways that help maintain and preserve our land, water, and wildlife.

Is it worth the extra money and hassle to obtain certified organic produce? Let me know in the comments below.

References:

[1] https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/introduction-organic-practices
[2] https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/organic-standards
[3] https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/introduction-organic-practices

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.