 Certified Organic:
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Quality assurance of safe,
healthy, environmentally friendly food through the
involvement of the USDA, via uniform standards for growing practices, in
addition to values and knowledge of producer.
- Integrity of labeling governed by the National Organic Program (NOP). The green USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC
seal indicates the producer's compliance with the toughest organic standards in the world.
- 90 to 120 day waiting period between the application
of raw manures and harvesting required, increasing food safety.
- Farm inspection and oversight performed. Grower's comittment
demonstrated by compliance with the National Organic Program.
- No genetically altered seed or plants allowed.
- NOP certification standards require strong emphasis on environmental issues
such as soil tilth, preservation of habitat, buffer zones to
isolate organic crops from conventional, water quality, etc.
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Non-certified Organic:
- Compliance with organic standards not regulated.
- No labeling structure to ensure authentic organic product.
- No required waiting period between application of raw manures and harvesting,
increasing the risk of contamination.
- No farm inspection or oversight performed.
- No restriction on use of GMO seed or plant stock.
- Environmental issues such as soil tilth, environmental preservation of habitat, buffer zones to
isolate organic crops from conventional, etc. strictly at the discretion of grower.
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