USDA ORGANIC This is probably the one we all are most familiar with. Foods that display this label, which has been around since 2002, come from organic farming systems  which “rely on ecologically based practices such as cultural and biological pest management, exclusion of all synthetic chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones in crop and livestock production” ¹. This label also means that at least 95% of the product is organic (for multi-ingredient products). Why 95%?  Because the remaining ingredients are not available organically (but have been approved by the NOP, the National Organic Program of the USDA). Products with 94% or less organic ingredients in them cannot bear the USDA Organic seal.   Because the USDA Organic certification process is costly and time-consuming, not all growers will go through it, especially smaller farming operations.  If shopping at a farmer’s market, just ask the vendor if their produce or product is organic. If they say yes, trust that they are being honest: their reputation is at stake.

 

This seal is granted by a non-profit alternative certification program to farmers who follow the certification standards and the program requirements.  CNG was created to give small farming operations an alternative to the USDA’s Organic Program, which can be too costly and too loaded with paperwork for small farmers. This label is another way to prove that they too follow strict  growing practices and are committed to working “within the natural biological cycles that are necessary for a truly sustainable farming system” ². Visit the CNG website’s FAQ section to find out more about their program. 

 

This one is among the most well-known food labels, out of the 95 certifying agents accredited by the NOP. QAI is an independent, private, third-party certification program, that certifies at every step of the organic chain, at the domestic and international levels: “from the land on which the product is grown; to the producers growing the product; to the post-harvest facilities preparing the product; to the processing and handling facilities transforming the product” ³. To find out more about organic certifiers, visit the Rodale Institute website and click on their New Farm section.

 

A lot of our everyday foods are not available in our country, such as coffee, chocolate, tea, black pepper or rice, so we need to import it. Buying such foods labeled with the Fair Trade label guarantees the end-user that the product was grown by farmers who were paid fair wages for their crops, but also who use environmentally friendly farming practices. A social movement and market-based approach, Fair Trade seeks to empower developing countries producers and help them lift themselves out of poverty. It also promotes sustainability. In other words, the few extra cents you pay for that nice cup of coffee are really well-spent.  To find out more about Fair Trade, visit their official website.

 There are two parts to this one: Certified Biodynamic and Demeter. Certified Biodynamic means that growers granted this certification use crop rotation, special composting, herbal preparation  and homeopathic  sprays to cultivate the soil and guarantee its long-term health, as pioneered by Rudolf Steiner , father of biodynamics and of the Waldorf educational philosophy. The Demeter part, after the Greek goddess of fertility and grain (Ceres is her Roman equivalent), is the certifying agent for biodynamic farms,  processors and products in the US. What does it mean to the end-user ? You’re basically getting the crème de la crème when it comes to organically grown wines and other foodstuffs. To know more about Demeter and biodynamic farming, visit demeter-usa.org.

 

Displaying a green frog, this less well-known label is no less important than the others: a non-governmental agency based in New York City, the Rainforest Alliance is “dedicated to protecting rainforest and other ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior” ⁴.  Whether it is related to forestry, agriculture or tourism, the product or service boasting this label vouches  it is environmentally and socially more responsible. Consumer Reports and Ethical Corporation praise this certification very highly. Next time you see it on bananas, tea or flowers, you will know these products come from farms that protect wildlife habitats and provide workers with access to better education and healthcare.