FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What Does Certified Organic Mean? The words "Certified Organic" on a label means that a public or private organization (such as OGM - Organic Growers of Michigan) has verified that a product meets or exceeds defined organic standards.

2. What Is Organic? Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. They are nurtured and packaged without the use of synthetic chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. It is a way of looking at agriculture, keeping the long-term health of the soil in mind. A grower or a processor that is "Certified Organic" has had its procedures verified by an independent organization, and they meet or exceed a rigid set of defined standards.

3. What Is Organic Food? Organic food is food for human or livestock consumption that is produced under a system of organic farming and that is processed, packaged, transported and stored so as to retain maximum nutritional value without the use of artificial preservatives, coloring, additives, ionizing radiation or prohibited materials.

4. Why Choose Organic? Choosing organic is great for your health because the foods won't contaminate your body or contaminate our land, water and atmosphere. Choosing an organic lifestyle saves energy and our precious resources, prevents soil erosion and protects the health of future generations.

5. Who Is OGM ? OGM, Organic Growers of Michigan, is a private, professional organic certification service corporation offering a process standard to verify the integrity of growers and handlers of products to meet organic standards.

6. What Are GMOs? GMOs are Genetically Modified Organisms, which, by QAI's standards, are not allowed in organic production.

7. Who Is American Farmland Trust? American Farmland Trust is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting agricultural resources. AFT's mission is to stop the loss of productive farmland to development and urban sprawl and to promote farming practices that lead to a healthy environment.

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