How To Buy Guide - Shopgreen Guide

Every day we use resources and produce waste causing a strain on the environment. By living more eco-friendly lives, we can each reduce our impact on the earth.

What is organic?

Organic refers to the way agricultural products—food and fiber—are grown and processed.

Organic food production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Organic foods are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives, or irradiation to maintain the integrity of the food.

USDA Organic

To be sure a product is organic, you can look for the “USDA Organic” seal or labeling from other certification groups. Be sure to look for the name of the certifier on the label, just to be sure it's reputable.

Here are some of the guidelines the USDA requires of products labeled "Organic":

• Products labeled “100% Organic” and carrying the “USDA Organic” seal contain all organically produced ingredients.
• Products that are made from at least 95% organic ingredients and have remaining ingredients that are approved for use in organic products may also carry the “USDA Organic” seal.
• Products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients may list those as "organic" on the ingredient listing, but may not carry the "USDA Organic" seal.

Also keep in mind that producers and processors use these labels voluntarily...which means they may use organic ingredients without being required to label them.