Don’t look past the label. Certified Organic Counts.

On January 4, 2017, the CBC presented an article and audio commentary entitled “Look past the label, why some farmers aren’t bothering with getting certified organic”.

The beginning basically discusses one farmer’s perception that they don’t have the time for unnecessary things, like becoming certified organic, and that it creates logistical problems.  In other words, it is too much additional work.

This farmer goes further to say,

 “But I guess, in my ethics, certified organic means you’re taking care of the environment while growing food. Until I feel confident that it’s something I need to do in order to sell my product, and make sure consumers understand how this product is grown, then I’m not 100 per cent on board.”

What is striking about this quote is that, while taking care of the environment is most definitely a priority for certified organic farmers, this particular farmer does not have any clear knowledge as to the important standards that certified organic farmers must meet.

Certified Organic means rigorous standards were followed to produce your food, including soil, product & water testing. Can your farmer or store produce its results if asked?

Current regulation to become a certified organic farmer means the land that will be used, must sit for three years of non-use.  Further to this, the soil and environment is tested for pesticides, chemicals, heavy metals and other harmful substances that can disqualify a farm from its certification.

Our soil, plants and water we use is tested and not just occasionally or periodically, but regularly as well.

We have had to educate ourselves through courses and make adjustments as standards change and improve.

Nature and the environment are our friends, but when farmers do not consider that their own properties may have pesticides, chemicals or other harmful environmentally unsound issues because they skip over regulation, it can be alleged that they are merely making a buck off what they present to their clients as “organic”.

Kinsella’s Simply Organics is certified through Pro-Cert, a recognized organization that represents and monitors certified organic farmers, and without recognized certification, there is no guarantee that the “organic food” you are eating is not contaminated.

Please make sure to read your labels when making food choices.  The safest and most trusting way to source organic foods is to make sure you source CERTIFIED.

We invite you to participate in our Community Shared Agriculture program or contact us for further information.