Back to Basics: What Organic Really Means


These days, the word “organic” is everywhere. On food, clothing, pet supplies, lawn care products, and many other types of products on the market. But what does “organic” really mean? At its most basic level, organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. It includes a system of production, processing, distribution and sales that assures consumers that the products maintain the organic integrity that begins on the farm. This system, which is governed by strict government standards, requires that products bearing the organic label are made without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetic engineering or other excluded practices, sewage sludge, or irradiation. Guided by these and other standards, organic is the most heavily regulated and closely monitored production system in the U.S., enabling you to choose organic products with confidence. Learn more about why organic is the gold standard of eco-labels, and why you can trust it.


Organic Certification: A Look Behind the Organic Label
It takes a lot for a product to become certified organic. It has to be grown and processed without the use of toxic and synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones, sewage sludge, and artificial colors and flavors. And the product can’t just claim to made without these substances; it has to prove it. In her featured expert profile, organic certifier Gwendolyn Wyard takes us behind the scenes to better understand exactly what “proving it” means within the organic system, and how it central this proof is to preserving and protecting organic integrity.



Washington, D.C. Schools Lead the Charge Toward Healthier School Food
Thanks to Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative as well as other programs aimed at reducing childhood obesity, many schools around the United States are taking steps to offer students healthier food. As this article points out, schools in Washington, D.C. are among the most progressive on this front. School food will have to fall within strict calorie limits and be sourced, as much as possible, from local and organic growers. Trans fats will be eliminated. Plus, students will be required to exercise regularly. Read on to learn more about what the D.C. schools have in store, and how other groups are beginning to follow suit.







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Promote your kids’ healthy eating habits all summer long

Prepare the perfect organic pancakes

Let us know how you incorporate organic into your life