When buying a product, you come across different information such as “nutritional value”, “diet products” or “organic products”. This can be confusing, and lead you to consider that “organic” is just one more attribute, without expressing its real meaning: “plant products, animal products or their derivatives, which are produced and made with natural substances.”
Although the concept of organic is very attractive, the question is: how do you prove that a product is truly organic? The answer to this question is that, to bear the name on the packaging, the product must have been examined and certified by an institution.
One of the most important certifications is USDA Organic, which is awarded when the products were grown and processed using natural substances and excluding the use of chemicals that are harmful to health and the environment. According to the USDA, the requirements for a crop to be considered organic are as follow:
- Prohibited substances must not have been applied to the soil for at least 3 years prior to the organic crop harvest.
- Crop nutrients and soil fertility are managed with crop rotations, tillage and cover crops, taking advantage of animal and crop waste materials, and some permitted synthetic materials.
- Pests and diseases are managed through physical, mechanical and biological controls. If these practices are insufficient, an approved biological, botanical or synthetic substance can be used.
- The operations use organic seeds and other planting materials.
- The use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation and sewage sludge is prohibited.
Heincke’s organic panela has received USDA Organic certification, as it is grown and processed naturally and free of harmful chemicals. We are proud to contribute to generating a triple impact in the world, focusing on the development of society, nature and the economy.
Source:
- https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means
- https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/organic-standards
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