What Does Organic Really Mean?
Once a upon a time, not so long ago, there was a lovely friendship between earth and her creatures. Then, as we all know, the drama took a sad turn, and later chapters are filled with tales of human betrayals of that friendship. People create toxic waste, spill oil in the oceans, fill the air with acid rain and car exhaust and dump herbicides and pesticides into the soil. Unfortunately, this story is still unfolding, and we are all its authors.
However, recently there has been a hopeful installment. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed legislation, The National Organic Program, to clarify some of the confusion surrounding the term "organic" as applied to food.
What Is Organic?
Most people understand the simple definition of organic -- food that's grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. But it is much more than that. Farmers who use organic growing methods and people who buy organic foods are committed to long-term stewardship of the land and a vision of humans being in ecological harmony with nature. Their mission is to ensure sustainability of the air, soil and water, and to maintain the health of people, plants and animals.
Although there is not yet a nationwide legal definition of the term organic, generally it means that the food was grown in soil that had no synthetic chemicals added for a minimum of three years. If the food is processed, it's done without chemical additives or preservatives. Organic farmers use natural pesticides and fertilizers like compost and manure, and they employ sustainable farming methods such as pest management and crop rotation.
Note: Organic doesn't mean pesticide-free, however. Some organic foods may have residues of pesticides from chemicals sprayed on crops of neighboring farms, or from contaminated runoff water or shifting soil.
