posted May 02, 2015 05:20 PM            

Food that is grown and produced as close as possible to the way nature intended.

NO pesticides
NO herbicides
NO synthetic fertilizers
NO routine doses of antibiotics
NO cramped spaces
NO polluted air or water
NO unhealthy animal feed
NO GMO products
NO synthetic hormones
NO irradiation

Keeping this in mind, the USDA regulations allows 3rd-party certifications to their extensive set of rules, and labeling with the word "organic" does not ensure 100% organic food, except for products that are labeled with the words, "100 Percent Organic".
Also, 3rd-Party certification is NOT required for farmers or distributors who sell less than $5,000 of goods per year. This means your small, private, local farmers market and hobby producers can outright lie about being 100% organic, and they are the ones you may feel you trust the most. There is a hefty fine for misuse of organic labeling but only if caught. Be on the lookout as a whistle blower if you know "organic" is being misused.

The words "USDA Organic" in the form of a seal can be displayed with at least 95% organic ingredients, but the remaining percentage, up to 5% must be approved for use in organic products.

The word "organic" can be listed before an organic ingredient in the packaging if there is at least 75% organic components or ingredients in the product.

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Just some Organic Food Awareness Facts for y'all.
A few more to follow...

posted May 02, 2015 05:25 PM            

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GMOs:
Usually a food crop where genetic material is modified to include genetic material of another species.

ALL organics are GMO free.
MANY conventional fruits and vegetables are also GMO free.
- majority of GMO crops in US are:
Corn
Cotton
Soybeans

- drinks WITHOUT corn syrup are likely to be GMO free; drinks containing corn syrup are most likely GMO products
- Navel oranges are an example of a GMO mutation that has been farmed for generations.

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