Local Delicious

This one might be new to a lot of us. I’ve only ever heard it used in reference to wine. Let’s see what others have to say…

Excerpt from Ecoholic

“Certification standards for this label are similar to those for organic but go one step further by requireing farmers to be in sync with the rhythms of nature and the cosmos and to use specially prepared herbs and minerals in compost and field sprays. Biodynamic farming embraces a philosophy focused on healing the eart; certifiers include Demeter.”

From the Society for Biodynamic Farming and Gardening in Ontario

“Biodynamic agriculture is a unique form of organic agriculture. It seeks to actively work with the health-giving forces of nature, recognizing the spirit as well as the physical. Biodynamic practitioners work to balance the life-forces and heal the earth, while producing food that is truly nourishing.

The biodynamic method is based on the insights of the philosopher and scientist, Rudolf Steiner. In 1924, he gave a series of eight lectures to experienced farmers in Koberwitz, Germany. Since then, farmers and gardeners all over the world have pursued this ongoing path of knowledge.”

I suspect this is much closer to the images of happy chickens we assume to be chicken-farming reality.

Read on and check out the definition for free-run chicken as well.

Please note: “Free-Range” and “Free-Roving” are interchangeable

Excerpt from Ecoholic

“These hens get to see the light of day and snack off the land. Not a government regulated term. Only backed up on certified organic eggs.”

From the BC SPCA website

“Hens that are raised in free range systems are free from battery cages and are allowed some access to the outside. As with free-run housing, free-range systems do not necessarily provide more space than conventional battery cages, and are not required to provide resources such as nest boxes, perches, or a substrate for dust-bathing.”

Fair Trade has been around for a while now, especially in connection with coffee and chocolate. The fair-trade logo is the same for both Canada and the US.

Excerpt from Ecoholic

“The certified fair-trade logo ensures that any coffee, chocolate, sugar, or whatnot you get from the developing world is made under strong labour standards. The logo often implies that ecologically sensitive practices are encouraged, but it does not guarantee it. Your best bet is certified organic and fair trade, but these are two expensive logos and not every farm can afford them, which means that not everyone thinks it’s so fair. Still, it’s the only way to know for sure that what you’re buying hasn’t been made in the equivalent of a sweatshop.”

Excerpt from Wikipedia

“The currently accepted definition of Fair Trade has been agreed by FINE, an informal association of four international fair trade networks (Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, World Fair Trade Organization, Network of European Worldshops and European Fair Trade Association):

Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair Trade Organizations, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.

Today, we’re checking out “pesticide-free”. Who doesn’t want to be pesticide-free?

Excerpt from Ecoholic

“Sure, it might mean your broccoli hasn’t been sprayed with chemincals, which is good, but this label doesn’t cover all the other good stuff that comes with organic. The CFIA [Canadian Food Inspection Agency] doesn’t really approve of the term because, given all the contaminants in the environment, cananything ever be pesticide-free? If they spot-test a food items and find out it’s not free of pesticides, the farmer can be charged with fraud.”

And now with a US twist from FruitandVeggieGuru.com

“[Pesticide-Free refers to] food that was grown without the use of synthetic pesticides. This doesn’t mean that the food is completely free of pesticides: organic pesticides could have been used, or synthetic pesticide residue from neighboring farms could have blown onto crops. Use of this term is not regulated by any national standards.”

The US has the National Organic Program as its certification and labeling system. Items certified through this system carry the “USDA Organic” label.

Excerpt from Ecoholic

“This stamp reflects the fact that the US (namely the Department of Agriculture) finally implemented a national organic system in 2002. Trouble is, it created a ceiling, not a floor, and certifiers that might have been more stringent were forced to ‘harmonize’ or drop their standards to get in line with the national program. Some say the USDA system is weaker than the European system and, in some cases, the Canadian system in that it allows substances such as Chilean nitrites on organic crops (making California lettuce much prettier than ours), and farms can have pesticide-sprayed crops on one side and organics on the other. But Canada also allows a couple of substances that the US doesn’t. Several attempts to significantly water down USDA regs have been bucked.”

From the USDA website

“The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards.”

Also see:
Biologique Canada Organic
Organic
100% Certified Organic

What? Certified Organic doesn’t mean 100% Certified Organic? Sorry, but according to Wikipedia, products made with up to 95% organic ingredients can still carry the USDA Organic label.

What Ecoholic has to say:

“You might pay a little more for it, but this is the purest stuff you can find under any certification system. No synthetic inputs can be snuck in, no matter who the certifier.”

FruitandVeggieGuru.com agrees:

“All ingredients – the produce itself and anything used in processing – were grown and harvested according to USDA organic standards. The name of the certifying agency must appear on the package.”

Also see:
USDA Organic
Biologique Canada Organic
Organic