Growing Method Definitions
- Certified Organic
- A national certification by the USDA for farming organically, with regulations such as the avoidance of most synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides and genetically modified organisms.
- Non-certified Organic
- Organically-grown food that has not been certified by the USDA. These farms claim to meet or exceed the USDA organic standards.
- Certified Naturally Grown
- An international certification for farms that is based on the USDA National Organic Standard Program- in some cases, such as with livestock, the regulations are more stringent. Certification is based on the "Participatory Guarantee System" model, which is a peer-review type certification program.
- Sustainable
- Sustainable farming methods are self-defined and may indicate such farming practices as the avoidance of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides and utilizing humane livestock practices. The term "sustainable" is often used interchangeably with "non-certified organic".
- Certified Biodynamic
- A national certification by Demeter USA for farms that meet the highest agricultural and environmental standards by treating the farm as a living organism.