How Do You Know It’s Really Organic?
If you’re new to organic living and you want to start eating organic food, I’ll bet you’re wondering how can you really tell if the local farmer’s market is really selling organic products?
You might think that one way to judge if your farmer’s market is selling organic food is to look for the USDA Organic Seal but many local farmer’s aren’t able to afford the time and expense it takes to be certified by the government. Instead, they follow the standards set by their community of organic farmers. That’s when you should look for farmer’s who use the term "sustainability" rather than "organic."
There is a problem with the USDA Organic certification in that it allows 5% of non-organic ingredients in the certified product. If you’re going to look for the USDA Organic Seal, you might as well shop at your local grocery store.
Your best bet is to use the internet! There are lots of websites, like the Local Harvest website or the Organic Consumers Association website that will tell you where to find an organic farmer’s market in your area. You can also educate yourself on what organic really means and why sustainability is a better word to describe pesticide free and herbicide free produce.
Throughout the world, there are government agencies that regulate organic certified products. There’s the NASAA that monitors Australian organic farms; the JAS watches over these products in Japan; and the Organic Food Production Act in the US developed the USDA standards for organic products nationally. Start with these standards and then find out what your local farmer is using instead of conventional pesticides and herbicides to grow their produce. If you know what you’re looking for, then you’re better able to judge if your farmer is following organic standards in their methods.
Once you get educated about the lifestyle, you’ll get better at spotting fake organic sellers and products. There are lots of websites and blogs popping up all over the internet that can help you find where to purchase these foods, locate certified organic farmer’s markets, and even shop online for organic products.
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Want to know more about organic foods and other products for your home and family? Go to http://www.organic-home-online.com to find out how to begin living an organic lifestyle. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eunice_Coughlin Author Eunice Coughlin |