What is Organic?

In a changing world in which we are trying to improve how we live to ensure a better tomorrow, we have more options for many of the everyday products we purchase. One key option is the ability to purchase organic foods but what does this product mean for consumers.

What does it mean to be organic?

"Organic production is based on principles that support healthy practices. These principles aim to increase the quality and the durability of the environment through specific management and production methods. They also focus on ensuring the humane treatment of animals." from http://www.cog.ca/about_organics/what_is_organics/

Why do we want to go organic?

• Ensure some environment protection in which it decreases the amount of soil degradation and erosion. This thus ensure future growth on crops on the land.Soil degradation can cause soil compaction, low organic matter, loss of soil structure, poor internal drainage, salinisation, and soil acidity problems making it difficult for farmers to produce crops.
• Organic production allows farmers' to ensure biological diversity which can increase the fitness of surviving livestock/crops offsprings . Also increases the chances of survival of a crop if a disease hits.
• Recycle materials and resources.
• Ensure healthy livestock is produce in which hormones and antibodies are not used to promote growth but used when an animal absolutely needs it to promote health.

Organic Standards (Canada)
Link :http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/index-e.html

CAN/CGSB-32.310-2006 Amended October 2008 incorporating 1 Dec , 2009 amendment is a government document outlining how they will manage food projects through more natural means, what products will be produces organically (plant products, livestock, livestock product and livestock food for growth). Also is a good resource for term definition.

"As of July 1, 2009, you can start looking for the Canada Organic Logo and be assured the product is certified the Canadian Organic Standards (COS), even on imported products. The use of the official Canada Organic Logo is voluntary, so it will not appear on all certified organic products." from http://www.cog.ca/index.php?page=organic-regulations

If an item is label with another label or claim to be organic you as a consumer have the ability to complain to the CFIA in which they will do an investigation.

• Identify the producer or establishment targeted by your complaint (Name, address, contact information);
• Gather all relevant, supporting documentation, including:
• Description of the problem;
• Brand name of product;
• Size, universal product code (UPC code – 12 digits), and best before date;
• Date of purchase;
• A daytime number where an inspector can reach you as well as your home address (for the purpose of identifying which CFIA regional office to refer your inquiry to);
• Keep the remaining product in case a sample is needed for an investigation;
• Call, mail, or send an E-Mail to your Regional Office of the CFIA

(info from http://www.cog.ca/index.php?page=organic-regulations)

Interesting Links:
- Canadians Against Pesticides http://www.caps.20m.com/
- Organic Landscape Association http://www.organiclandscape.org/ for videos for gardening and lawn care http://www.organiclandscape.org/tipsvideos.html
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/orgbio/orgbioe.shtml
- CBC http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2010/12/20/con-food-safety.html
- CBC http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/03/05/alberta-cfia-hazelnut-recall-ecoli-110305.html
-CBC Marketplace-Superbugs in the Supermarket http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2011/superbugsinthesupermarket/

( Key to note these sites sources may not be reliable source of info thus always good to do more resource on a subject and make note where the info is coming from and if it has a author from some reliable form of publication)