With so many options on the shelf at the grocery store, not to mention the enormous number of food selections from online sources, it is difficult to know that the food we eat is nutritious, delicious, and free of unwanted pesticides or preservatives. We see a lot of hype around one certification or another, with new standards being presented to us all the time. How do we know that the food we put on the table supports the health of our families, communities, and the planet?
Organic certification is Mountain Rose Herbs’ go-to standard for ensuring that our herbal offerings are grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, GMO seed stock, or irradiation. However, truth be told, there can be a lot of variation in the quality of offerings from brands displaying an organic certification. Because we sell predominately organic certified products, we rely on industry partners like The Cornucopia Institute, as well as rigorous in-house testing for quality and purity, to ensure that the herbs and spices we provide enhance the lives of our customers.
Third-party oversight is critical to help us make educated choices about the food we eat. The Cornucopia Institute is a nonprofit consumer education and watchdog organization. They research brands and investigate the industry to identify and elevate authentic organic foods and farmers. Cornucopia uncovers the truth behind organic food and advocates for an organic label you can trust. One primary focus of their work is to constantly scrutinize the enforcement and application of the USDA’s National Organic Program. It’s a good thing, too; food is the foundation of health, and harmony for humanity, and we need all the help we can get to thrive.
Cornucopia believes you have a role to play. They provide tools and opportunities for action so eaters can actively engage in the food system. Among the many ways they accomplish this is their rigorous rating system for the various organic brands on the grocery store shelf. Cornucopia’s Organic Scorecards rate eggs, dairy, plant-based beverages, and many other food categories we eat every day. Another notable Cornucopia resource is its Organic Berry Map, which points you to certified organic, soil-grown berry farms in your state. These tools can help us confidently make nutritious selections when shopping for food.
There’s an Ayurvedic proverb that goes something like: “When our diet is wrong, medicine is of no use; when our diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” This simple yet profound statement highlights the importance food plays in our lives in relation to our overall health. Also, organic agricultural practices have many benefits besides the healthful qualities we enjoy at the dinner table. Organic farming supports the vitality of our ecosystems—building soil health and reducing erosion, supporting clean waterways by eliminating toxic runoff, and fighting climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and sequestering carbon. These are just a few reasons why supporting organic food production is so important and why the work of organizations like The Cornucopia Institute is essential.
Please join Mountain Rose Herbs in supporting the organic certification standard and The Cornucopia Institute in holding the USDA accountable for upholding the enforcement and application of the National Organic Program.
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