Glossary Of Organic Food Terms

Useful Glossary Of Organic Food Terms

This is a glossary of organic food terms from Good Organic Food Info to help you find your way around the mystique surrounding organic food. For your convenience the glossary of organic food terms has been listed alphabetically. By understanding some of the glossary of organic food terms you will be able to better follow what the organic movement has to offer. Also check out the following pages: FAQ, Nutrition Chart for Foods, Food Label Guide, About Us, Links, Articles, Articles 2, Articles 3, Organic Food Label Guide, Calorie Calculator, Organic Food Brand Logos, Nutrition Guide, Cookbooks, Cookbooks 2 and Cookbook 3.

Glossary of organic food terms

Biodynamic: Biodynamic farming combines organic methods, including crop rotation and composting with special plant, animal, and mineral preparations and the rhythmic influences of the sun, moon, planets, and stars.

Certified Organic: There are four organic classifications for organic food that meet strict standards set forth by the USDA National Organic Program. See Organic Food Label Guide.

Certified Naturally Grown: A non-profit organization that supports smaller local farmers that cannot afford to participate in the national organic certification program.

Composting: Compost is composed of organic matter that is recycled back into the earth.

Cover Cropping: A crop that provides temporary protection for delicate seedlings and/or provides a canopy for seasonal soil protection and improvement between normal crop-production periods.

Crop Rotation: A system of planting where crops vary from season to season; one crop is not grown each year as a new one replaces the one before.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Is a paid subscription to a farm where people buy a share of the farm and are provided with a variety of fruits and vegetables in return according to what is in season on a routine basis.

Fair Trade: Fair trade labeling assures that farmers are paid better-than-conventional prices, are trained on sustainable agriculture practices, work directly with food cooperatives (co-ops), and are often organic.

Farmers’ Market: Farmers’ markets are typically held weekly, usually outside, and are a place where local farmers in any given area gather to sell their produce.

Free Range: Is the raising of animals, especially poultry, that have access to outside spaces and are permitted to graze or forage freely for food.

Genetically Engineered (GE): Genetically engineered foods have had foreign genes inserted into their genetic codes.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO): A plant, animal, or microorganism that is transformed by genetic engineering.

Humus: The result of organic material being decomposed into a dark soil-like material that contains plant nutrients.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): The use of different techniques in combination to control pests, with an emphasis on methods that are likely to cause least damage to the environment and to the particular pest.

Irradiation: Exposure to ionizing radiation.

Natural: Natural foods do not contain additives or preservatives but ingredients may have been grown using conventional farming methods or genetically engineered grain.

No Preservatives: A product that is not made with any of the ingredients nitrates, nitrites, BHT, and sulfites.

Organic Farming: Agriculture that does not use chemicals, genetic modification, or irradiation, using only natural products.

Organic Matter: Any material that was recently living or produced by a living organism and is capable of being decomposed.

Paraben-Free: Used to describe products that do not have parabens, which are chemical preservatives added to personal-care products for extending shelf life.

Persistent Toxic Chemicals: Detrimental materials that remain active for a long time after their application.

Pesticide: A general term for chemicals used to destroy living things that people consider pests.

Soil Association Certification Ltd: United Kingdoms' leading certifier of organic food.

Sustainable: Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment.

Wild-Crafted: A plant gathered in the wild in its natural habitat from a site that is not maintained under cultivation or other agricultural management for manufacturing into a herbal supplement.

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