The term "organic" farming refers to farming practices that use natural fertilizers, beneficial insects, crop rotation, and organic feeds
instead of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and growth hormones.
USDA Labeling
A label that reads "100% Organic" means:
Product is completely organic or all ingredients are organic.
A label that reads "Organic" means:
Product is at least 95% organic
A label that reads "Made with Organic Ingredients" means:
The product contains at least 70% organic ingredients.
Food products containing less than 70% organic ingredients can not be labeled as "organic", but the organic foods can be included in the ingredient list.
The USDA Organic Label can be applied to products meeting the standards of the USDA and may display this label:
The USDA requirements for organic milk are:
Dairy cows must graze during the grazing season (a minimum of 120 days)
Organic feeds must be used, with no antibiotics or hormones
Nutrition
The USDA does not show conclusive evidence that organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown food.
Organic Food Safety, Quality and Appearance
Organic foods meet the same quality and safety standards as conventional foods.
Organic fruits and vegetables may spoil more quickly due to the lack of waxes and/or preservatives.
Organic foods may have more variations in color and smaller sizes.
Environmental Concerns
Purchasers of Organic foods may do so for environmental reasons.
Organic farming practices are designed to benefit the environment by reducing pollution and conserving water and soil.
Cost
Organic foods may cost more than conventionals food.
The cost of producing organic foods may be higher due to labor intensive weed and pest control, lower crop yields, and government regulations.
Food Safety
Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly with running water.
Remove excess fat from meat and skin from poultry and fish to reduce pesticide residues.
Cook foods to safe temperatures
USDA Recommended Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures
Steaks & Roasts - 145 °F
Fish - 145 °F
Pork - 160 °F
Ground Beef - 160 °F
Egg Dishes - 160 °F
Chicken Breasts - 165 °F
Whole Poultry - 165 °F
Wash hands often with warm, soapy water
Wash cutting boards and surfaces with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item
Wash fruits and vegetables with cold water before using
Keep raw, uncooked foods, and ready to eat foods separate while preparing and storing
Refrigerate or freeze perishables within 2 hours or sooner
Grass-Fed Beef
Grain-fed beef contains more Omega-6 fats. Most people should cut back on Omega 6 and increase their Omega 3 intake.
Beef from grazing cattle is a natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Farm Raised Fish
Controversy surrounds farmed fish & seafood. Some farmed fish should be avoided, others, such as oysters, mussels, Bay scallops, trout, tilapia and catfish can be farmed with minimal environmental impact.
Farm-raised fish are fed pellets containing high concentrations of fish, which can contain concentrated toxins.
Salmon that are farm-raised are fed a chemical colorant to give them color. Wild salmon get their red coloring from their diet of krill. "Wild Alaskan" is the best choice for salmon.
Eating fish that are abundant, well-managed and sustainably fished is better for the environment.
Habitat destruction through capture can threaten survival of species like oysters and scallops.
Oysters act as small filters in the water, so they can actually help improve the water quality of the ecosystem where they're farmed.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a way to reduce pesticide useage and reduce costs, by using pest-resistant varieties of plants and natural pest enemies. The NYS IPM Program encourages farmers to use methods that:
reduce or replace the use of synthetic organic pesticides
are environmentally sound
pose minimal risk to human health
enable growers to obtain a reasonable return on investment
ensure consumers a supply of high-quality, safe, and economical foods and other agriculturally related products
IPM recommends using the least toxic chemical pesticide for specific pest problems.
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