Certified Organic. Grown Organically. Grown in compliance with Organic standards. Naturally grown. You've probably seen some or all of these terms before. With the rise of awareness of the harm of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use for human health, environmental impacts, and food quality, there is a swell in interest from both growers and eaters in food that is grown or raised with environmental and human health in mind. If you are beginning to look for food that is grown in a healthier way, whatever your motivations, it can be a bit confusing to understand the terms around "organic" and "natural". This article will clarify some of the most common phrasings around the word organic and explore what they mean. The hope is this will help you make a more informed decision about what you're buying.
"Certified Organic"
This means that the product has been certified by a licensed inspector working for a certification body to meet the organic standards of the country it was grown or produced in. In other words, the food has been proven to be grown in compliance with organic standards by someone other than the farmer. There will be a little logo of the federal organic certification and/or the certifying body somewhere visible on the packaging or branding. The inspection process is quite vigorous and extensive, and very trustworthy.
What are Organic Standards?
The Canadian Organic Standards are a series of documents that outline what practices growers can or can't use to have their food certified as organic. It includes permitted pesticides, fertilizers, and management techniques, laid out by the CFIA. You can read them here.
"Grown In Compliance With Organic Standards"
This is a commonly used phrase. It essentially means the farmer uses practices outlined in the Canadian Organic Standards, but has not gotten their farm certified as organic. Sometimes the cost of getting and maintaining certification can deter some farmers. New farmers also need to wait several years before certifying if the land they are growing on was previously used as conventional (not organic) farmland, meaning they may be growing in accordance to the standards but are unable to certify. Others still may value organic standards but not feel the need to certify. This is a great thing to ask your farmer about!
"Grown Organically" and "Naturally Grown"
This is where the terms can get a bit murky. Grown organically does not necessarily mean grown in compliance with organic standards. "Organcially" is sometimes used synonymously with "naturally", which could mean without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, or it could simply mean grown outside in soil, with no context to other practices. This is where asking your farmer about their growing practices becomes very important in order to clarify what is meant. For example, some growers who may use the term "Naturally Grown" may be actually growing in a "beyond organic" way, as in with zero pesticides. There is actually a "Certified Naturally Grown" certification.
The Value Of Communication
The easiest way to understand all these terms and how they apply to your food is to simply ask your farmer about their growing practices. The vast majority of farmers are proud of how they produce and grow their food, and are generally happy to talk about their growing practices with curious customers. Stay curious and polite, and you should be able to get all the clarity you need about how someone produces your food. It is also a great opportunity to get to know the hardworking folks who keep us all fed!