Organic Labeling

These days its hard to sort through all the mumbo-jumbo that comes with organic labeling. How are you supposed to eat organic when you're not really sure whats what?

Here's a simplified breakdown of definitions from the UF IFAS Extension (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu):

• 100% Organic = 100% of ingredients are certified organic, excluding salt and water.
• Certified Organic = 95% of ingredients are certified organic, excluding salt and water.
• Made with Organic Ingredients = At least 70% of ingredients are certified organic, excluding salt and water.
• No Label Claims = Less than 70% of ingredients are certified organic.

Keep in mind that only producers making over $5,000 per year need to be certified with an accredited program, which means that local small farms may use organic practices, but may not be "certified" or "100%" organic. Talk to your local farmers to learn more about the practices they use!