Category: Organic

  • Bio Dynamic: Above and Beyond Organic

    Bio Dynamic: Above and Beyond Organic

    As a conscious consumer, you like to be aware of the quality of all ingredients in your food as well as the labeling that denotes the quality.  

    A new and important label you may or may not yet be familiar with is taking USDA Organic standards to the next level. “Biodynamic®” is an exciting — yet complex — way of growing crops and here’s what it involves:

     

    Biodynamic farming:

     

          • Meets all USDA Organic Program standards

          •Avoids use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and transgenic contamination; instead, focuses on farm-generated living solutions to control pests and fertility

        •Sets aside at least 10% of total acreage for biodiversity

     

    Overall, Biodynamic farmers view their farms as self-contained, self-sustaining organisms. The wellbeing of the farm animals, the farmer, the grounds and the Earth are viewed as integral parts that make up a whole.

     

    To qualify as a Certified Biodynamic farm or product, it must be certified by Demeter USA- a non-profit formed in 1985 to promote Biodynamic agriculture. Demeter USA is part of Demeter International – the oldest ecological certification organization operating in 45 countries globally.

     

    Check out the products for yourself- look for this tag:

    BioDynamic Shelf Talker

    For more information on Biodynamic standards, click here.

  • Taste the Difference!

    Taste the Difference!

    Taste the Difference Graphic

  • October is NON-GMO Month!

    October is NON-GMO Month!

    Many of our customers have questions about the difference between “organic” and “non-GMO”. So let’s go over this important distinction:

    Organic:

    To qualify as a Certified Organic product, contents must be 95% or more free of synthetic additives (pesticides, chemical fertilizers, dyes) and must not be processed using industrial solvents, irradiation or genetic engineering. The remaining 5% may only be processed with additives from an approved list.

    Certified Organic products are ALWAYS also Non-GMO.

    Look for this official seal on Certified Organic products:

     

    organic

    Non-GMO:

    To qualify as Non-GMO, a product must be free of any plants or animals that have been genetically modified.

    Non-GMO products are NOT necessarily also Organic.

    Look for this official seal on Certified Non-GMO products:

     

    non-gmo-product-certified

     

    With this understanding, many folks question whether or not GMOs (or genetically-modified organisms) are safe to use or consume. This question is certainly stirring the pot these days! In researching this topic, you may find a number of studies suggesting that this technology is safe for humans and our planet. However, it is important to note who conducted and funded the studies in order to fully understand biases and motives that color the research.

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    Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what you want to put in and on your body. And we’re here to support you with your choices. Come see one of our friendly team members for help choosing products that are right for you – we are happy to help!

     

    Our Flyer is FULL of Non-GMO products on sale this month- check it out here.

    And be sure to stick with us this month as we highlight some of our favorite non-GMO products and shopping tips!