Organic Food Standards

The National Organic Program (NOP) is a federal program that sets standards for organic food production and handling in the United States.

Farms must be managed according to organic standards for at least three years before their products can be labeled as organic.

Compost is not a prohibited substance in organic food production. It is a natural soil amendment that is made from decomposed organic matter.

Organic certification serves all of the purposes listed above.

Organic farming typically results in lower yields than conventional farming.

The transition period is the time during which a farm is being converted from conventional to organic production.

Organic livestock production prohibits the use of antibiotics and hormones.

A product that is made with a combination of organic and non-organic ingredients is called a blended product.

Non-GMO Project Verified is a non-profit organization that verifies that products are made without genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It is not a type of organic certification.

All of the terms listed above refer to a product that is made with 100% organic ingredients.

Organic food is typically more expensive than conventional food.

A product that is made with at least 95% organic ingredients can be labeled as "Made with organic ingredients".

Conventional farming is not a type of organic farming system.

A product that is made with a combination of organic and non-organic ingredients, but the organic ingredients are not the majority, can be labeled as "Made with organic ingredients".

Fair Trade Certified is a certification that ensures that products are produced according to fair labor standards. It is not a type of organic certification.