Compiled by the Organic Trade Association
- Organic products meet strict standards
Organic certification is the public's assurance that products have been
grown and handled according to strict procedures without the use of
persistent toxic pesticides and fertilizers, genetically engineered
organisms, irradiation, growth hormones or antibiotics.
- Organic food tastes great!
It's common sense - well balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants
that become nourishing food for people and animals.
- Organic production reduces health risks
Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive
research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Organic
agriculture is one way to prevent any more of these chemicals from getting
into the air, earth and water that sustain us.
- Organic farms respect our water resources
The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, done in
combination with soil building, protects and conserves water resources.
- Organic farmers build healthy soil
Soil is the foundation of the food chain. The primary focus of organic
farming is to use practices that build healthy soils.
- Organic farmers work in harmony with nature
Organic agriculture respects the balance demanded of a healthy ecosystem.
Wildlife is encouraged by including forage crops in rotation and by
retaining fence rows, wetlands and other natural areas.
- Organic producers are leaders in innovative research
Organic farmers have led the way, largely at their own expense, with
innovative on-farm research aimed at reducing pesticide use and minimizing
agriculture's impact on the environment.
- Organic producers strive to preserve the diversity
The loss of a large variety of species (biodiversity) is one of the most
pressing environmental concerns. The good news is that many organic
farmers and gardeners have been collecting and preserving seeds, and
growing unusual varieties for decades.
- Organic farming helps keep rural communities healthy
USDA reported that in 1997, half of U.S. farm production came from only 2%
of farms. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms because it
offers an alternative market where sellers can command fair prices for
crops.
- Organic abundance - Foods and non-foods alike!
Now every food category has an organic alternative. Non-food agricultural
products are being grown organically, even cotton, which most experts felt
could not be grown this way.
Vermont's own
"Good for you foods"