Organic
To earn the USDA organic label, a product and its ingredients must be at least 95% free of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and sewage sludge as verified by an accredited, third-party certifier. This designation also ensures the product hasn’t been genetically modified. Hormones and antibiotics are not allowed. Animals must be fed organically grown feed and treated humanely, with access to the outdoors.
Products containing at least 70% certified organic ingredients can’t display the USDA label, but can show the logo of the organic certifier.
There are many farmers and producers who grow crops and raise animals organically, but who have chosen not to participate in the USDA certification program due to the costs involved and/or because of philosophical differences.