Organic Food Key Terms

Some key terms for organic foods production and sales

An increasing complexity in modern food production has led to a very interesting "split" in the way food is produced. Big farms often use macro-economics to dictate how livestock or produce is raised, while other food producers take care to create food that provides for optimal consumer health. These latter foods have become known as "organic" foods because they do not rely on the same battery of chemical additives used in traditional food production. Knowing about some key terms for organic foods will inform a business about its role in the food production or sales process.

 

USDA organic certification

When selling organic food, it's important to have certain organic certifications to validate the quality of the food product. The main federal organic certification comes from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). This is something every organic foods business should know about.
Try: Find out more about USDA organic certification at this GoodGuide online.

CCOF

The CCOF or California Certified Organic Farmers, is a leading trade association that also puts its mark of certification on organic foods that ship all over the country. Even for a business that is not in California, it's a must to know about CCOF criteria and how this organic food organization works.
Try: See more on the CCOF and its impact on the organic foods business at CCOF: Organic Certification, Trade Association, Education and Outreach, Political Advocacy.

Pesticides

Pesticides are products that are put on foods to help prevent bug damage. Many consumers buy organic foods because they are not allowed to include pesticides, which can be harmful to humans.
Try: Find out more about pesticides from this US EPA page. See more on pesticides and organic food choices at Healing Daily.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are drugs that prevent infection and viral disease. Unfortunately, the widespread use of antibiotics in regular livestock leads to antibiotic levels in meats that are not acceptable to some consumers. Organic livestock live without antibiotics for a healthier result at the dinner table.
Try: See more on the definition of antibiotics at WebMD. Learn about how organic livestock is raised without antibiotics at this page from the Organic Trade Association.

Hormones

Hormones are additional substances given to livestock to manipulate aspects of their growth (i.e. to increase size). This is another element that organic food advocates have legislated out of organic meats and animal products.
Try: See more on hormones in livestock at Science Daily.

Buy Local

Among all of the other terms that are associated with organics, this one is fast becoming a password. As a practical solution to the range of unsavory farming practices in corporate food suppliers, many consumers are simply choosing to buy from smaller, local food growers, to cut down on the costs of transport, and know exactly where their food is coming from.
Try: See a lot more on Buy Local and similar programs for food sustainability at the Sustainable Table online.

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