Glorified Farms

What Is USDA Certified Organic?

Not all “organic” foods are created equal. Do you know what you’re eating?

There’s only one way to be sure you’re buying great-tasting, healthy foods that are non-GMO and grown without the use of chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers: you have to know what labels to look for.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most common organic food labels to help you know what you’re buying and, more importantly, what you’re eating.

USDA Organic

Look for the green USDA Organic Seal to make sure you’re buying the healthiest foods. Locally grown foods with this label will be the best-tasting.

What You Can Learn From These Popular Labels

Locally Grown USDA Certified Organic

Locally grown food labeled with the green USDA Organic Seal promises to be the best-tasting, healthiest food you can buy.

In order to receive USDA organic certification, “organic operations must demonstrate that they are protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved substances.” In essence, this means the produce these operations are producing must be non-GMO (not genetically modified) and must be grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. In order to regulate this, the USDA performs strict annual inspections and soil tests, and growers keep extensive records logging their field activities and methods.

And when this food is grown locally, the grower doesn’t have to allow for time for shipping, so foods are picked ripe—when they taste their best!

Non-Local USDA Certified Organic

Non-local USDA certified organic foods are held to the same USDA-regulated standards as locally grown USDA certified organic foods.

The difference, however, is that these non-local foods have to be picked with extra shipping and handling time in mind. So, instead of being picked at their peak ripeness, they’re picked several days early. In short, you can be certain these foods are organic, but they won’t taste their best.

Organically Grown

While operations must follow USDA standards in order to use the phrase “organically grown” on their foods, their processes are unregulated—there are no inspections performed, and the grower is not required to be certified if they sell less than a certain dollar amount per year. “Organically grown” is a self-professed claim.

Natural

The term “natural” is used on foods to convey that traditional farming methods have been used in the growing process and that the food doesn’t contain any “artificial ingredients.”

Unfortunately, the standards set forth by the USDA for “natural” foods are vague, and most claims are unregulated and untested. And even worse, because it’s a term that has a broad public appeal, it’s used on products mainly for marketing purposes. (So make sure you don’t mistake “natural” to mean “organic”!)

Farmers Market

Farmers market produce typically looks and tastes delicious—and it’s because growers pick these fruits and vegetables ripe, so they’re at their peak in taste and appearance.

But there’s a common misconception about farmers market food: The fact that it’s grown by local farmers doesn’t mean it’s grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In fact, you should assume the opposite—many farmers market growers use chemical pesticides. (That’s why the produce looks so great!)

Unless you see a clearly displayed label that reads “USDA certified organic” on the grower’s stand, there’s no way to be certain their food is organic.

Glorified Farms Benton & Clearwater, Kansas

Find Our Locally Grown,
USDA Certified Organic Produce At
Natural Grocers In East & West Wichita, Kansas

What Is USDA Certified Organic?

Not all “organic” foods are created equal. Do you know what you’re eating?

What You Can Learn From These Popular Labels

Locally Grown USDA Certified Organic

Non-Local USDA Certified Organic

Organically Grown

Natural

Farmers Market

Have a question for us?

Find Our Locally Grown, USDA Certified Organic Produce At Natural Grocers In East & West Wichita, Kansas

What Is USDA Certified Organic?

Not all “organic” foods are created equal. Do you know what you’re eating?

What You Can Learn From These Popular Labels

Locally Grown USDA Certified Organic

Non-Local USDA Certified Organic

Organically Grown

Natural

Farmers Market

Have a question for us?

Find Our Locally Grown,
USDA Certified Organic Produce At
Natural Grocers In East & West Wichita, Kansas