Organic is a term that refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. In the U.S., the National Organic Program regulations address the methods, practices, and substances that can be used in producing and handling crops, livestock, and processed agricultural products.
It's important to note that the requirements apply to the way a product is created, not to measurable properties of the product itself. Although specific practices and materials used by organic operations may vary, the standards require every aspect of organic production and handling to comply with the provisions of the National Organic Program Regulation, which was based on the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).
Organically produced food cannot be produced using excluded methods (Genetically Modified Organisms), sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation.
