What does a USDA organic certification mean?
The USDA ensures consumers that their organic food has not been processed or grown using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It also means the food could not have been produced using genetic engineering, growth hormones, irradiation or antibiotics. Farms growing under the USDA label must maintain strict records of their farm’s activities and are subject to regular and surprise inspections. Farms must have been free of most chemicals for three years before being certified, and must undergo many soil tests. Also, crops must be rotated, meaning the same crop is not grown on the same plot of land year after year. Please visit the National Organic Program for more information.
