What is Organic Food?

Technically speaking, organic food is food that is produced according to specific federally regulated standards. When speaking of fruits and vegetables, it means that they were grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or sewage sludge, and that no conventional pesticides were used in their preparation. Organic also implies that these foods were processed without the use of ionizing radiation or artificial food additives. When speaking of animals or animal products, organic means that they were raised without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones. Additionally, all organic food is produced without the use of genetically modified components or organisms.

There are two types of Organic Food:

Fresh Food

     Fresh, or "unprocessed," organic food usually refers to fruits or vegetables that are purchased directly from growers, farmers' markets, supermarkets, specialty food stores, or community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. CSA programs are cooperative efforts in which patrons purchase shares in an organic farm in exchange for a weekly supply of fresh produce from spring through fall. Some CSA programs also require patrons to volunteer to help with harvest or to bring produce to market for a few days each growing season. To learn more about a CSA near you, visit: http://www.sare.org.

Processed Food

     Generally speaking, processed food accounts for most of the items in a grocery store. Processed organic food contains a specific percent of organic ingredients and no artificial flavors or additives. Also, it is usually produced with fewer artificial conditions such as chemical ripening.