Question about buying produce from local farms

MrsGsoon

I am fortunate to live in an area where there are countless road-side farm stands within a few miles of my home.  This is where I buy all of my produce in the spring, summer, and fall.

Some of these stands state that they sell "organic" produce (and therefore price their food much higher) and others do not. I know for a fact that all of the food is grown on the small local farms where I purchase it. 

What do you think the difference is between those stands that state they are organic vs. those that do not? How might I go about finding this out for sure?

I hope this question makes sense! I'm basically just wondering if the produce might actually be the same, just that one farmer stuck a sign reading "organic" on the front of his stand. 

KatiesCats

Ask them?

Becoming certified organic is a long process, and one of the requirements is that the land be pesticide-free for (I think) three years.  So farmers may use "eco-farming" methods, which are essentially the same as organic, but they can't say they're organic because it hasn't been enough years yet.

kris216

Organic certification is expensive, and some small farms can't afford it.  The best way to get a feel for the farm is to visit them and talk to the farmers.  Some of the small farms around here say they use organic methods, they just can't afford certification, and we either believe them or we don't. 

GRKaters

kris216:

Organic certification is expensive, and some small farms can't afford it.  The best way to get a feel for the farm is to visit them and talk to the farmers.  Some of the small farms around here say they use organic methods, they just can't afford certification, and we either believe them or we don't. 

This is the case with some of the vendors at our farmer's market. They use organic practices but don't have the "official" certification.

 

derky17

GRKaters:

kris216:

Organic certification is expensive, and some small farms can't afford it.  The best way to get a feel for the farm is to visit them and talk to the farmers.  Some of the small farms around here say they use organic methods, they just can't afford certification, and we either believe them or we don't. 

This is the case with some of the vendors at our farmer's market. They use organic practices but don't have the "official" certification.

That is the case with ours as well.  I would just ask the farmers if they are certified organic, or just practice organic methods of farming.  You can always ask the other farmers who don't label themselves as "organic" to see how much and what kinds of pesticides, herbicides, etc they use and see if that coincides with your ideals of what you want to eat.

SuperGreen

Ditto what everyone else said.  If the farmers are using the word "organic," then legally they should be USDA certified organic, which is a lengthly expensive process.  That's probably why their food costs more.  Lots of local farmers, like ones at my Farmer's Market, use organic methods (no pesticides or fertilizers, no GMOs, etc..) but can't afford the certification.  So they say their food is "ecoganic" or whatever cute name they come up with.  Ask the farmer how they grow their food.