Uncle Matt's Organic :: Organic farming uses no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. It's better for you and the planet.

Not only are Uncle Matt’s Organic products good for your body, but they're also good for the planet.

Organic farming uses no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. In fact, in order to be certified organic you must be free from these materials for a minimum of three years prior to your first harvest. Organic farming results in less damage to the environment and ecosystem. From the water we drink, to the soil we farm, to the air we breathe, less contamination means a safer planet for everyone. Uncle Matt’s Organic takes pride in protecting the next generation.

What it means to be Certified Organic

The most frequently asked question we get from consumers is "what does it mean to be certified organic?"

Organic farming is a process which prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or chemicals in growing crops. Instead, it uses beneficial naturally-occurring materials, in conjunction with proper soil and crop management practices, to develop and protect optimal soil health and crop ecology. Simply put, organic farming results in safer products for you, your family and the environment.

In order to be legally organic a grower must comply with the rules and regulations set by a private or state-certified agency. Each agency varies slightly on what inputs the grower is allowed to use for organic certification. To help standardize the organic industry, the USDA has recently passed national organic standards for all organizations to follow. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was formed to draft standards for the USDA. The NOSB is comprised of organic industry representatives ranging from growers and scientists to retailers.

Organic certification consists of a written application showing an organic farm management system, a history of management practices used on the farm for the previous three years, along with soil tests, crop plans, field history sheets, and other records which show an organic plan has or will be followed. Also a sworn and notarized affidavit is required verifying that all information is accurate, true, and complete, and that the grower intends to adhere to standards for the twelve-month certification period. For more on organic farming standards, please go to the menu: Florida Organic Grower Standards.

Uncle Matt’s Organic use the Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc.(FOG) agency for certification. FOG is a not-for-profit grassroots membership that is the largest and most respected organic organization in Florida and certifies operations outside of Florida and the U.S. FOG operates under license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in compliance with the Florida Organic Farming and Food Law (FS 504.22-504.36). For more information on FOG visit their Web site at www.foginfo.org.

Beware of organic imitations. Because of the recent surge in popularity of organic products, there are many companies trying to confuse consumers into thinking they are the same as organic. Products labeled "pesticide screened," "eco-friendly," or "chem-free" are NOT organic. They have no affiliation to the organic certification rules and regulations. When in doubt ask to see their certification from an accredited organization.

Florida Organic Grower Standards

I. Requirements for Organic Certification

FOG organic certification consists of a written application by the grower/processor, an on-farm inspection by a trained IOIA inspector, a subsequent committee review, affidavits, and laboratory testing. Certification is for one year and must be renewed annually by the grower.

The following must be supplied by each applicant prior to certification approval:
a) Method: A description of the organic plan or management system being used on the farm.

b) History: A history of management practices used on the farm for the previous three years.

c) Documentation: Soil tests, crop plans, field history sheets, receipts, and other records which show an organic plan has and/or will be followed. Also soil, water, or vegetative samples may be required as well as raw commodity or processed product sample testing for pesticide residues.

d) Affidavit: A sworn and notarized statement that this information is accurate, true, and complete, and that the grower intends to adhere to standards for the twelve month certification period.

Upon completion of the above steps and approval by a FOG inspector, the applicant will be issued an organic certificate valid for one year.

II. Requirements for Organic Farm Management

The following are regulations by FOG on what materials a farmer is allowed or prohibited to apply to their crop. We have included this information to help further explain the difference between conventional and organic farming. For the complete Policy and Procedures Manual please contact FOG at www.foginfo.org.

SOIL AMENDMENTS AND FERTILIZERS

Nitrogen-

a.) Allowed:

1) Green Manure
2) Composted materials
3) Nitrogen fixation
4) Animal manure subject to regulation
5) Vegetable meals
6) Fish Emulsion

b.) Prohibited:

1) Mined or synthetic sources of soluble nitrates or ammonia such as anhydrous ammonia, ammonium nitrate, and Chilean nitrate.
2) Sewage sludge
3) Contaminated organic materials

Phosphorus-

a.) Allowed:

1) Colloidial Phosphate
2) Rock Phosphate
3) Bone Meal
4) Animal manure subject to given restrictions
5) Plant matter
6) Marine Products

b.) Prohibited:

1) Synthetic or highly processed sources of phosphorus such as MAP, DAP, triple superphosphate, or phosphoric acid.
2) Sources having negative effect on soil health due to high salt index, excessive solubility, or other characteristics.

Potassium-

a.) Allowed:

1) Wood Ashes
2) Rock dusts (such as granite, feldspar, green sand)
3) Langbeinite (sulfate of potash magnesia)
4) Natural potassium sulfate
5) Kainite
6) Plant Matter

b.) Prohibited:

1) Muriate of potash or other sources of excessive solubility, high salt index, chloride content, or other characteristics having negative effect on soil health.
2) Sources contaminated with excessive heavy metals or deleterious materials.

CROP MANAGEMENT

Weed Control-

a.) Allowed:

1) Mechanical or hand cultivation
2) Crop rotations and use of smother crops
3) Mulching with organic materials
4) Inter-crop plant species, such as white clover
5) Mowing and grazing
6) Hot water
7) Microbial herbicides
8) Biodynamic preparations

b.) Prohibited:

1) Synthetically compounded or petroleum distillate herbicides.
2) Synthetic growth regulators
3) Newspaper mulches containing colored inks.
4) Photo-degradable and biodegradable plastic mulch.

Pest Control-

a.) Allowed:

1) Preventative management such as intercropping and crop rotations.
2) Biological controls, such as release of natural predators and parasites.
3) Sprays and dusts of low ecological profile, including insecticidal soaps, rock powders and diatomaceous earth.
4) Microbial and viral preparations such as Bacillus thuringiensis
5) Phermones used as traps and phermones used as mating disruptive if not applied to a food crop.

b.) Prohibited:

1) Synthetically compounded insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, rodenticides, molluskicides, ovicides, or repellants.
2) Traps containing prohibited pesticides.
3) Natural poisons that are environmentally persistent and have long-term effects, such as arsenic and lead salts.

Research Examines Organic Trends, Consumer Acceptance

A study by Synovate reveals that 54% of Americans have tried organic foods, while 29% claim to consume more organic foods and beverages than they did one year ago. Sixty-nine percent of "frequent organic eaters" (eat organic several times a week) claim they are eating more organic foods than one year ago; meanwhile, 43% of "occasional organic eaters" and 16% of "infrequent organic eaters" report eating more organic foods than one year ago. Overall, 14% of the U.S. population is eating more organic foods than they were one year ago. Produce continues its reign as the primary gateway to organics, with 72% of consumers surveyed purchasing organic fruits and vegetables. Even though 19% of Americans is more inclined to purchase organic foods regardless of price point, price still remains the biggest barrier for consumers who do not eat organic foods to try organic foods. Nearly seven out of ten consumers who do not eat organics claim price is a major factor in their decision.

What is "organic" food?

According to the USDA, "Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; petroleum-based fertilizers or sewage sludge-based fertilizers; bio-engineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled organic, a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards." (To learn about what it means to be Certified Organic, click here.)

Why Should You Care About Pesticides?

There is growing concern in the scientific community regarding the subtle ways in which small doses of pesticides affect people, especially during critical periods of fetal development and childhood when they can have long lasting adverse effects. Because the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers would be wise to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible.

Top Ten Reasons to Buy Organic

1. Protect Future Generations

"We have not inherited the Earth from our fathers, we are borrowing it from our children"- Lester Brown

The average child receives four times more exposure than an adult to at least eight widely used cancer-causing pesticides in food. The food choices you make now will impact your child's health in the future. Protect future generations-buy organic food.

2. Prevent Soil Erosion

The Soil Conservation service estimated that more than 3 billion tons of topsoil are eroded from United States croplands each year. This means that it is being built up naturally. Soil is the foundation of the food chain in organic farming. But in some conventional farming the soil is used more as a medium for holding plants in a vertical position so they can be chemically fertilized. As a result, American farms are suffering from the worst soil erosion in history. Prevent soil erosion sbuy organic food.

3. Protect Water Quality

Water makes up two-thirds of our body mass and covers three-fourths of the planet. Despite its importance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated pesticides ssome cancer causing-contaminate the ground water in 38 states. Polluting the primary source of drinking water for more than half the country's population. Protect water quality-buy organic food.

4. Save Energy

American farms have changed drastically in the last three generations, from family-based small businesses dependent on human energy to large-scale factory farms highly dependent on fossil fuels. Modern farming uses more petroleum than any other single industry, consuming 12 percent of the county's total energy supply. More energy is now used to produce fertilizers than to till, cultivate and harvest all the crops in the Unites States. Organic farming is still mainly based on labor intensive practices such as weeding by hand and using green manures and crop covers rather than synthetic fertilizers to build up soil. Organic produce also tends to travel fewer miles from field to table. Save energy-buy organic food.

5. Keep Chemicals Off Your Plate

Many pesticides approved for use by the EPA were registered long before extensive research linking these chemicals to cancer and other diseases had been established. Now the EPA considers that 60 percent of all herbicides. 90 percent of all fungicides and 30 percent of all insecticides are carcinogenic. A 1987 National Academy of Sciences report estimated that pesticides might cause an extra 1.4 million cancer cases among Americans over their lifetimes. The bottom line is that pesticides are poisons designed to kill living organisms and can also be harmful to humans. In addition to cancer, pesticides are implicated in birth defects, nerve damage and genetic mutations. Keep chemicals off your plate-buy organic food.

6. Protect Farm Worker Health

A National Cancer Institute Study found that farmers exposed to herbicides had a six times greater risk than non-farmers of contracting cancer. In California, reported pesticide poisonings among farm workers have risen an average of 14 percent a year since 1973 and doubled between 1975 and 1985. Field workers suffer the highest risk of occupational illnesses in the state. Farm worker health is also a serious problem in developing nations, where pesticide use can be poorly regulated. An estimated 1 million people are poisoned annally by pesticides. Protect farm workerssbuy organic food.

7. Help Small Farmers

Although more and more large farms are making the conversion to organic practices, most organic farms are small independently owned and operated family farms of less than 100 acres. It is estimated that the Unites States has lost more 650,000 family farms in the past decade. And with the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicting that half the country's farm protection will come from 1 percent of farms by the year 2000, organic farming could be one of the few survival tactics left for many family farms. Help small farmers sbuy organic food.

8. Support a True Economy

Although organic foods might seem more expensive than conventional foods; conventional food prices do not reflect hidden costs borne by tax payers, including nearly $74 billion on federal subsidies in 1988. Other hidden costs include pesticide regulation and testing, hazardous waste disposal and clean-up and environmental damage. Author Gary Null says " Ifáyou add in the real environment and social costs of irrigation to a head of lettuce, its price can range between $2 and $3". Support a true economy-buy organic food.

9. Promote Biodiversity

Mono-cropping is the practice of planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year. While this approach tripled farm production between 1950 and 1970, the lack of natural diversity of plant life has left the soil lacking in natural minerals and nutrients. To replace the nutrients, chemical fertilizers are used, often in increasing amounts. Single crops are also much more susceptible to pests, making farmers more reliant on pesticides. Despite a ten-fold increase in the use of pesticides between 1947 and 1974, crop losses due to insects have doubled spartly because some insects have become genetically resistant to certain pesticides. Promote biodiversity sbuy organic food.

10. Better Flavor

There's a good reason why many chefs use organic foods in their recipes they taster better! Organic farming starts with the nourishment of the soil, which eventually leads to the nourishment of the plant and, ultimately, our palates. Taste better flavor sbuy organic food.

Source: Sylvia Tawse, public relations manager for the Organic Trade Association