California Baby® Calendula Growing Field
In a conversation recently with friends
who are considering marketing a supplement product line, I commented that
unless it’s certified organic, I
wasn’t interested in trying it. “Of course!” they said in unison, “It’s
organic, wild harvested, all that...” Being privy to the behind the scenes shenanigans
of the natural and supplement industry, I know that when it comes to vitamins
and supplements, the company you buy from makes a HUGE difference. “What do you
want us to do, get a certificate?” they responded incredulously. “That’s
exactly what I want you to do, and be sure to verify that it is current,” was
my reply. You may be thinking, ‘ohh, that Jessica is way too much of a
stickler,’ or ‘if a company says they use organic ingredients, shouldn’t that
be good enough for me.’ The answer is, yes, maybe. That is where the word
‘certified’ becomes very important.
What does "Certified Organic"
mean?
Here’s the deal straight from the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA)
(of which I am a member):
"Certified Organic" means the item
has been grown according to strict uniform standards that are verified by
independent state or private organizations. Certification includes inspections
of farm fields and processing facilities, detailed record keeping, and periodic
testing of soil and water to ensure that growers and handlers are meeting the
standards which have been set.
So there you have it, pixel by pixel. A
little bit of clarification to help you cut through the marketing hype. And
when it comes to vitamins and supplements, my suggestion is to only buy from a
company that has a reputation for extremely high ethics and quality (hint: it
won’t be the cheapest product on the shelf).
