Seeing an organic label can feel reassuring. It’s one of those few food labels most people recognize and trust.
But organic certification often isn’t quite what people think it is.
Not because it’s meaningless, but because it covers less ground than many people assume, and misses some things that matter deeply for health, flavor and the earth.
What Food Has to Do to Be Called ‘Organic’
USDA Organic certification is a real, regulated standard, but it’s more specific (and a bit narrower) than most realize.
To be certified organic, farms must generally:
- Avoid synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
- Avoid GMOs
- Follow approved lists of allowed substances
- Meet basic requirements for soil and animal management
- Keep detail records and undergo inspections
Read more about the regulations that farmers are required to adhere to.
For processed foods specifically, at least 95% of ingredients must be organic to use the USDA Organic seal.
Products labeled with ‘made with organic ingredients’ must be 70% organic and cannot use the seal.
That’s it.
What organic certification does not fully measure, but are equally as important to us, and why we make this information easily available:
- Soil regeneration
- Nutrient density
- Biodiversity
- Long-term land health
- Scale or distance traveled
- Where animals spend their lives
Organic Doesn’t Mean Regenerative or Small-Craft
A large industrial operation can be certified organic and still:
- Grow single crops at massive scale
- Ship food thousands of miles
- Rely on monocropping year after year
-
Treat soil as something to manage, not restore
Meanwhile, many small farms use organic, or (well) beyond-organic practices, but choose not to pursue certification. This brings us to the next hurdle.
Why Certification Is a Real Barrier for Small Farms
Organic certification is expensive and time-intensive.
While costs vary, certification typically involves:
- Annual fees that often range from $1,000-$4,000+
- Hundreds of hours of documentation and record-keeping
- Annual inspections
- Ongoing compliance work throughout the year
For a small farm with thin margins, that’s a meaningful tradeoff.
Many choose to instead invest that time and money into:
- Healthier soil
- Better animal care
- Higher-quality feed and see
- Small-batch production
- Direct relationships with customers
Not less care by any stretch of the imagination… just a different allocation of resources.
Organic is One Data Point, Not the Whole Dang Story
Organic certification can be helpful. It can signal intent. It can nudge folks (farmers and consumers) in the right direction.
But it’s still one data point, not the full picture. So how do you get the full picture?
Better Questions to Ask
How is the soil cared for?
Healthy soil produces plants with higher mineral content and stronger natural defenses, which often translates to more nutrient dense food.
Do you use synthetic pesticides or herbicides?
Even when residue falls within legal limits, long-term exposure matters. Many small farms avoid synthetics entirely, even without certification.
Are the animals grass-fed or pasture-raised?
Beyond the humane element, there are major health benefits too. Grass-fed and pasture-raised animals tend to produce meat and dairy with:
- Better fatty acid profiles
- Higher omega-3s
- More fat-soluble vitamins
How are animals treated day to day?
Lower stress, natural movement, and appropriate diets all affect meat and dairy quality, not just ethics.
What happens when problems show up?
Weather, pests, and disease are inevitable. The response tells you far more than a label ever could.
What are you most proud of about how you grow or make your food?
This question reveals values, care, and intention… the things that don’t fit neatly into a certification seal or label.
Don’t be afraid to ask any of these questions (and more) to the folks producing your food. It’s important. It matters.
Our POV
We love seeing organic labels, and some of our products we carry fit the bill! We don’t dismiss this accomplishment by any means.
But we know they don’t tell the full story.
That’s why we prioritize transparency, relationships, and asking better questions.
If it’s here, it’s food we feel good about feeding our own kids.
