Once you have decided to seek out organically grown foods another problem presents itself. How can you tell that food sold as "organic" really is organic? Although our government has adopted guidelines for definitions of the various "organic" appellations, policing and regulating the food industry to prevent fraudulent claims is in itself an enormous task.
The only way to guarantee that the product you are buying is in fact "organically grown and/or processed" is to ascertain that it is certified by a reputable independent organic certification body. A farmer cannot certify his/her own crop.
In order to use a certified organic seal a farmer must:
Grow, handle, and store crops in accordance with an established set of minimum standards.
Sign an affidavit.
Be conscientious about soil building.
Not use genetically modified or engineered seeds, treatments, or soil amendments.
Keep detailed records of all farming practices and materials used.
Be inspected by an independent evaluator annually.
Buying "Certified" organically grown foods is your guarantee that the food was truly grown or produced according to specific guidelines. When we consider the overwhelming environmental problems facing our children as they grow to adulthood, we often feel hopeless and helpless of improving the situation. However, our consumer dollar is the most powerful tool we have, and where and what we purchase decides future food production practices.
By purchasing certified organically grown foods, we are:
Showing our support for those farmers who are practicing a sustainable form of farming.
Preventing further chemical pollution of soil, air and water.
Saving on the enormous amount of energy required in the production of agri-chemicals.
Helping to create healthy soils, thereby reversing the serious worldwide problem of soil loss due to lack of organic fibers - a direct result of chemical fertilizers used.