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If you are trying to improve your diet, the following may be of interest in helping you determine just what organic means.

What does organic really mean? For farmers, this means they have met strict standards from the National Organic Program, a division of the Department of Agriculture, for at least 5 years. They also undergo yearly facility inspections and testing of their produce, water and soil. For consumers, it means that your purchases have been grown or raised using these guidelines:

No spraying of crops with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or rodenticides.

No chemical preservatives, waxes or eradiation are allowed to kill bacteria.

No growth hormones, lactation promoters or antibiotics used with animals.

No genetic modification of crops or animals.

No artificial fertilizer, human or industrial waste permitted.

Animals supplemented with organic feed only.

Animals are free-ranged and raised ethically.

Strict controls are placed on crop rotation and composting.

There are also very important things to know about labeling requirements. Agricultural products labeled "100% organic" must contain all organically grown ingredients and processing aids, products labeled "organic" must contain at least 85% organically produced ingredients, except for added water and salt, products labeled "made with organic ingredients" must contain at least 70% organic ingredients and products which state "contains less than 70% organic ingredients" cannot use the term organic anywhere on the principle display label.