Why Organic is Better
Utilizing organic products is better for the environment and better for you. When plants are supported by the use of chemicals, such as insecticides and pesticides, and the soil is not rich in nutrients the plant needs, the plants are weak and thus contains less nutrients. When plants are supported by rich soil that provides the proper nutrition to plants through natural decomposition instead of chemicals, the plants are strong and contain a higher amount of nutrients. Utilizing natural means to supplement soil also means no additional chemicals filtering into the ground water or in water runoff, which helps protects wildlife and the environment.
Important commercial high-yielding fruits such as apples, oranges, mango, guava, banana, and vegetables such as tomato and potato have lost their nutritional density by up to 25–50% or more during the last 50 to 70 years due to environmental, genetic, and field soil dilution factors1.
Healthy Plants = More Plant Goodness
Once you have decided that you want your food and or products to be organic, you will need to be able to determine what products are actually organic. Organic ingredients are products are labeled as "organic" or "certified organic". Certified Organic is an organic product that has been verified by a third party in accordance with guidelines set by the U.S.D.A. National Organic Program (NOP). These products are identified by the USDA organic stamp.
If it is Certified Organic, then it is Guaranteed to be good, Right?
Not exactly. When the plant material was harvested during the plant lifecycle, how long ago it was harvested, and how it has been stored all impact the quality. When buying product, inspect it for color, smell, and flavor. Dried herbs should be very similar in color, smell, and flavor as when it is fresh. Attempt to buy local when you can as the plants are more likely harvested at their peak versus larger commercial farms that are further away. The more time the product spends in shipping, the earlier it needs to be harvested to ensure it doesn't spoil before it reaches market.
Organic Products that are not Certified
Obtaining an organic certification is a lengthy and costly process. Younger companies may carry products that are organic, but not certified, while they are going through the process. Smaller companies may make the decision to wait until they are a bit larger before seeking certification in order to keep their prices down. Just because a product isn't certified, doesn't mean that it is a lesser product than a certified organic product. Many companies still follow organic practices and organic good manufacturing processes (oGMP) even when they are not certified. Inspect the product for color, smell, and flavor before using and compare your results with known or trusted products. This is actually good advice for any herbal product purchase whether it is organic, certified organic, or not.
Sustainability
Organic doesn't necessarily imply sustainability. Organic farming does take sustainability into account for the plants, but not necessarily for the land and the larger overall environment. There are inherit benefits of organic farming towards sustainability, but sustainability is really its own topic. Sustainability takes into consideration not just the ingredients or the manufacturing, but the whole process of an idea turning into a product that a customer consumes. While looking for those organic ingredients and commitment to oGMP, look for products that use sustainable packaging and other manufacturing processes.
Wildcraft Leaf & Root Products
Our products contain organic ingredients and eco-friendly packaging whenever possible. While the initial products are not certified organic, all edible (internal) use products are manufactured by a certified organic farm in an organically certified kitchen utilizing organic Good Manufacturing Process (oGMP). These products will carry the USDA organic certification once all the appropriate steps are completed. Bath and body products manufactured by Wildcraft Leaf & Root, LLC utilizes certified organic ingredients and follows oGMP.
FDA Disclaimer
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and is for informational purposes only.
References:
1. Bhardwaj RL, Parashar A, Parewa HP, Vyas L. An Alarming Decline in the Nutritional Quality of Foods: The Biggest Challenge for Future Generations' Health. Foods. 2024 Mar 14;13(6):877. doi: 10.3390/foods13060877. PMID: 38540869; PMCID: PMC10969708.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10969708/#