O: organic produce
what does "organic" mean?
Organic refers to foods that have been grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, hormones, or genetic modification. Look for the Certified Organic label to find out if a product is really organic. (See below.)
taste the difference!
Produce grown by organic methods are of higher quality, and just
taste better! It's just common sense.
it's your choice
Today there are many companies that specialize in organic products. Our favourites include various nut butters by
MaraNatha and
New World Natural Foods and a variety of products by the President's Choice Organics brand.
"The primary goal of organic agriculture is to produce wholesome foods while optimizing the health and productivity of the soil, crops and livestock."
— President's Choice Organics
about this site
When you see an
underlined word, mouse over to reveal a short definition, then click for a longer one.
learn your numbers
Numeric codes on produce indicate how the product was grown
1:
• Conventionally grown fruits are marked with four digits.
• Organic fruits come with a five-digit code starting with 9.
• Genetically modified fruits also have a five-digit code, but start with 8.
good practise
"The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets, defines and regulates the use and meaning of "Organic" on food labels. It is the term used to describe raw or processed agricultural products and ingredients that have been (a) organically grown (farmed) and (b) handled in compliance with the standards of April 2001, which have been fully enforced since October 2002. These standards prohibit the use of:"
1
- Most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
- Sewer sludge fertilizers
- Genetic engineering
- Growth hormones
- Irradiation
- Antibiotics
- Artificial ingredients