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What Does 'Certified Organic' Actually Mean?

What Does 'Certified Organic' Actually Mean?

What Does 'Certified Organic' Actually Mean?

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About the Author

Asti Renaut

Asti Renaut (BHSc. Comp Med, BA, Adv Dip Nat, Adv Dip Herb Med, MNZAMH)

Asti Renaut is a degree-qualified medical herbalist and naturopath with over ten years clinical experience. Asti practices in Christchurch, New Zealand, treating a wide range of health issues. She especially enjoys working with infants and children, and finally has one of her own to practice on! One of the cornerstones of Asti's practice and philosophy is the importance of education and sharing information. She believes that empowering clients to understand their own bodies and health, and giving practical tips and tools to use from the garden and kitchen are just as important for wellness as qualified professional care. 

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In today’s world, many consumables are labelled ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ because savvy marketing departments know that these words can sell products. This is commonly called ‘greenwashing’! People are often shocked to discover that these words can be just empty promises. For switched-on consumers who want their foods and therapeutic goods to be genuinely pure and organic, the only option is to purchase goods that are certified organic.

Although a dictionary definition of ‘organic’ is more broad, ‘organic’ means something very specific when used in the context most of us understand when discussing the foods and medicine choices we make.

When choosing certified organics, you are choosing a product that:

  • Is free of synthetic chemical herbicide and pesticide residues, as these are not used in the growing of organic products
  • Has not been genetically modified
  • Is grown and manufactured without animal testing
  • Is grown in a way that looks after the long-term health of the ecosystem it exists within, ie. the surrounding land, water, and insect and animal life
  • Is grown and harvested in a genuinely holistic and sustainable manner.

Agencies that certify organic products and organic growers do so with an annual audit system. In New Zealand, BioGro is the largest and most well-known of these regulatory bodies. It visits farms and growers to look at all their systems and management plans, and then gives accreditation only when strict standards have been met. These standards must then be checked and maintained regularly.

Kiwiherb’s relationship with BioGro stretches back to 2001 when our first products were accredited with certified organic status. Today we continue to be totally committed to organics, preferentially sourcing certified organic ingredients wherever possible, so you know that the products you’re using for your health are as clean and pure as possible.

Choosing to purchase certified organic products is your only assurance that what you are buying is authentically organic. There are many cheap imitations! Deciding that organics is a priority for you and your family is a choice that ensures you are getting premium quality foods and therapeutic products, while also ensuring that these products are being produced in a way that will mean the very environment we live in will be a little better off too.

BioGro_Logo.jpgIn essence, when choosing certified organics, what is good for you and your family is also good for the planet! What could be better than that?