So How Do I Know It's Organic?

There is lot of concern about whether our food is really what it says it is. We read about scary things in the papers all the time about our food being diluted, added to, or just being fake! Let's talk a little about organic certification and how the process of maintaining the integrity of organic produce works.

Organic Certification is a stringent process and marks a commitment from the farmer to grow only organic produce. There are many factors that go into the certification process, such as quality of the soil, how long the farmer has been growing chemical-free, if the natural fertilizers and pesticides are safe to use, the quality of the water, and others.

The Standards:

• All the crop production and animal husbandry on a farm must be chemical-free for three years before it can be certified.
• Farms that are under the three year mark are labeled as in-conversion
• All seeds and plant material should be chemical-free, not genetically modified, and no hormones or additives
• Organic farm land must have a buffer zone/ area between it and conventional farms to prevent contamination by run-off from conventional fields.
• All farming practices must promote bio-diversity and be ecologically sound
• Raw animal manure must be composted first
• Farms cannot be contaminated by sewage water (very big plus point of organic)

Farms are checked regularly to ensure all standards are being met. Any foul play leads to immediate suspension or revocation of the certificate. False claims regarding the produce are monitored and fined. Our certification is done by Control Union. We would be happy to provide a copy of our certification at any point upon request. 

NPOP India Organic Logo

Happy Eating, 

I Say Organic

Resources: www.apeda.gov.in

The Dirt On Organic Farming

With our launch we thought that it would be great for our first blog post to describe how exactly organic farming works. We hear the word organic everywhere, but what does it really mean? If farmers are not using chemical pesticides and fertilizers to grow produce, then how are they keeping pests from eating everything?

Organic farming might seem like a return to the basics, but its actually a dynamic and innovative field that is constantly changing and growing. New technologies and scientific practices are being implemented to produce the best nature can provide. Farmers and scientists put a lot of care and creativity into developing the perfect environment for fruits and vegetables to grow in. Here's a look at a few of common practices of organic farming.

Maintaing soil quality: The most important aspect of organic farming is growing produce in nutrient rich soil. The nutrition component of soil dictates the quality of the fruit or vegetable. After all, healthy roots create the foundation for a healthy plant. Balancing out and building healthy soil are done a few ways.

1. Animal manure and compost: Manure and compost help improve the structure and ability of soil to retain water and nutrients. Fertilizer supplies nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium that provide plants the nourishment that they need without toxic chemical byproducts. All you need are a few farmyard animals.
   
   
2. Vermicompost: Red earthworms break down bio matter and their waste products improve the physical structure of soil, improve water retention capabilities, and enrich the soil with micro-organisms. Also, vermicompost releases nutrients as the plants need them, so there is no danger of giving over- fertilizing and “burning” plants.
   
   
3. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is something farmers have been doing for centuries to replenish soil nutrition after a growing season. Alternating crops with legumes (daals, beans, peanuts) reintroduces nitrogen because of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in the plant's roots. Through this process the soil is revitalized and ready for the next season.
   
   

Improving biodiversity: The farm is an ecosystem, with many different components interacting with one another. Organic farms are designed to increase the beneficial interactions between different plants and animals. For example, marigolds, which are so widely used in India are actually a natural weed killer and deter insects with their unique odor and planting mint next to cabbage keeps away cabbage moths. Broccoli grows really well with beets, but is incompatible with tomatoes. Understanding all the unique relationships between different plants and animals helps bring out the best in nature, and gives us the best tasting most nutritious produce.

Keeping pests away: Using special flowers and plant combinations helps with keeping bugs away, but for the most determined critters farmers make their own natural pesticides. Neem, which can be used to clean teeth, is concentrated into a spray which is then spritzed on plants for protection.

Growing organic is far from a simple process, and the way food is grown has a huge impact on how healthy it is! Great produce starts from the way it is grown, from the seed to fruit or vegetable which ends up on our table.

We hope you enjoyed our first blogpost. Stay tuned for more updates, recipes, and information about our partner farms and company.

Your Partner in Health,

I Say Organic