| 1. |
Organic Products Meet Stringent Standards
Organic certification is the public's assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures, without chemical inputs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's certified organic seal lets consumers know which products are certified organic, and assures them that the products have met government standards. |
| |
| 2. |
Organic Food Tastes Great
It's common sense: Well-balanced soils grow strong, healthy plants, which taste great! |
| |
| 3. |
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. |
| |
| 4. |
Organic Farmers Build Soil
Soil is the primary focus of organic farming. By building soil, organic growers help prevent soil erosion, which has become a major problem in U.S. agricultural centers. |
| |
| 5. |
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 fencerows, wetlands and other natural areas. |
| |
| 6. |
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 minimizing agriculture's impact on the environment. |
| |
| 7. |
Organic Producers Strive to Preserve Diversity
The loss of a large variety of species (biodiversity) can have unforeseen and detrimental effects on our environment. Organic farmers and gardeners have been collecting and preserving seeds, and growing unusual varieties for decades. |
| |
| 8. |
Organic Farming Helps Keep Rural Communities Healthy
Organic farming may be one of the few survival tactics left for the family farm and the rural community. By choosing organic practices, farmers create a value-added product that can be sold at a premium. |
| |
| 9. |
Organic Is Abundant
Now every food category has an organic alternative. And nonfood agricultural products are being grown organically — even cotton, which most experts felt couldn't happen. |
