With an ever-increasing selection of organic products available at grocery stores and farmers’ markets, consumers may become confused over what separates an “organic” label from other product claims. Here are some guidelines to help them navigate organics more successfully.
Search for the USDA Organic seal or identify of an accredited organic certifier on ingredient lists to identify which items have been certified organic.
Redmond’s Sea Salt
Long before pollution ever existed on earth, volcanic eruptions sealed away an ancient salt deposit near Redmond in central Utah for safekeeping by layers of protective ash. Today this unique sea salt can still be harvested without additives, chemicals, or heat processing and offers over 60 naturally occurring trace minerals and an irresistibly delicious flavor unlike any other salt on the market today.
This unrefined salt, free from anti-caking agents or dextrose (sugar), has been certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. Available in fine grain size and packaged in a 26 oz pouch for easy refill of your salt shakers.
Redmond’s Montmorillonite sodium bentonite clay is an outstanding nutrient-rich natural product for sealing ponds, drilling holes, seal coats and asphalt emulsions as well as binding hay cubes. Farmers have reported improved livestock health and increased weight gains when using this organic material – it even earned the OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) seal of approval – making this an essential addition to any organic farm or ranch!
Rumanio Cheese
At the turn of the last century, after immigrating from Italy, the Rumiano family established themselves near Willows, CA with a dairy operation making dry Monterey Jack Cheese. Business expanded rapidly during World War I when they secured government contracts to produce rations for soldiers stationed overseas.
Rumiano is dedicated to producing organic products and offers an expansive line of cheeses, butter, whey protein concentrate and dried edible lactose that have all been certified organic by USDA organic standards, Non-GMO Project verified status as well as Animal Welfare Approved status at their facilities.
Their milk comes from local family farms in Northwestern California where cows graze year round on natural, diverse diet of lush grasses that produce healthy dairy products that benefit both the environment and themselves.
As compared to conventional cheese, their organic cheese had over 30% more Omega-3s and 25% more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), both beneficial components that help support cardiovascular and heart health. They are committed to sustainability and built a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant a few years ago to serve Crescent City community members.
Organic Eggs
Organic eggs come from hens who are allowed outside and provided with access to a more natural diet without genetically modified ingredients, herbicides and pesticides as well as antibiotics or hormones typically found in conventional egg production facilities.
Hens that produce organic eggs should have at least one square meter of outdoor space available to them for roaming, exercising, and engaging in natural behaviors such as scratching for seeds and insects and dust bathing – this provides them with far greater freedom than battery cage chickens do.
Organic eggs produce healthier hens, leading to eggs with greater nutritional benefits for you and your hens alike. Organic eggs contain omega-3 fatty acids known to reduce inflammation as well as vitamins A and beta-carotene that can aid in skin, eye and immune health maintenance. They also contain less cholesterol and saturated fat compared to conventional options – perfect additions for any healthy diet!
Organic Meat
Organic meat is produced under conditions that are better for animals and the environment. Farmers who specialize in growing organic meat must use only natural feed without GMOs or synthetic ingredients, and don’t administer additional hormones that could make animals grow faster than expected.
Farmer who raise organic livestock must abide by stringent USDA regulations, indicated by their green USDA seal. These organic standards include raising animals in ways that accommodate natural behaviors (like grazing), providing 100% organic food, and avoiding antibiotics or growth hormones.
As opposed to non-organic meat, organically produced meat has higher concentrations of omega-3 fats and lower saturated fat levels compared with its non-organic counterpart. Furthermore, myristic and palmitic acids – associated with increased heart disease risk – have lower concentrations in organically grown meat products compared with conventionally produced ones. Finally, organically produced meat also tends to contain lower concentrations of pesticides than conventionally produced products.
