Originally Posted by
Times Roman
I personally ignore organic food labels... just another excuse for the grocery stores to jack the price. BTW... organic does NOT mean they are not using chemicals. Bet you didn't know that, did you? There is a list of approved chemicals "organic" farmers are permitted to use. And the list continues to grow....
"Different countries have different regulations as to what chemicals can be used for a product to still be called organic. Here are some of the most popular ones allowed in the United States:
•Neem: Derived from a tree that grows in India, neem is a slow-working pesticide that is best used on crops that are not for eating. It can be used to control gypsy moths, sweet potato whiteflies, mealybugs and caterpillars, among other insects. It is not toxic to mammals.
•Nicotine sulfate: A chemical derived from tobacco, nicotine sulfate is toxic to insects and warm-blooded animals. Make sure to wear gloves when applying it. It can be used to get rid of aphids, spider mites and thrips, but should not be used on roses.
•Pyrethrum: Probably the most commonly used chemical in organic gardening is pyrethrum, a chemical that comes from chrysanthemums. It is a powerful insecticide that knocks down (but doesn't necessarily kill) insects quickly. It is one of the safest chemicals out there for humans. In fact, some say you can use it the same day you harvest vegetables. There are also synthetic versions of pyrethrum that are not used in organic farming.
•Rotenone: Rotenone comes from plants in the Leguminoceae family. It is used to control leaf-eating caterpillars, as well as beetles and aphids. It is somewhat toxic to humans and extremely toxic to fish.
•Sabadilla: Sabadilla, which comes from the seeds of a lily, is considered the least toxic organic pesticide. It is effective on caterpillars, squash bugs and stink bugs, among others. Its dust can be irritating, so wear protection when you work with it.
•Sulfur: The mineral sulfur is probably the oldest pesticide and is used to treat mildew, rust, leaf blight and fruit rot. Some insects, such as spider mites, are also sensitive to sulfur. It can be applied as a powder, paste or liquid. It can irritate the eyes, but is not otherwise harmful to humans or other mammals.
Other naturally derived chemicals can be used for fertilizer such as alfalfa meal, bat guano, blood meal, bone meal and gypsum. These and other natural additives can be used on the soil and the plants grown from it can still be considered organic.
If you are looking to get your farm certified organic, you need to be careful not to use any chemicals that are not approved. When in doubt, contact the certifying agency you are working with to make sure you're not doing anything that will put your certification in jeopardy.