What does “Organic” mean?
In the most basic sense, organic means grown or raised naturally. For crops, this means that no chemicals (e.g., pesticides), sewage sludge, radiation, or genetic engineering are used on the product. For organic animal products like eggs, dairy, and meat, there is an additional aspect: the chickens and cows are not given antibiotics or growth hormones.
In addition to the above, organic tends to indicate that the product is grown or raised with Mother Nature’s health in mind, and thus usually includes sustainable practices that will maintain or even improve the quality of the soil such as composting, crop rotation, and choosing plants which are suited to the region. In other words, you won’t find organic tomatoes grown in the desert, or organic strawberries from Alaska. Organic animals are nearly always raised (and, in the case of organic meat, slaughtered) humanely: organic chickens are cage-free, organic cattle are free-range, and the animals are usually vegetarian to boot
In short, organic products are better for humans, animals, and the Earth. They don’t contribute to pollution, they promote humane treatment, and they contain only what nature meant for them to have – no chemical residues, growth hormones, or “Franken foods.”