



| Henderson Family Farm An Organic Alternative |
| Organic Certification |
| A frequent question at the markets now days is just what does "CERTIFIED ORGANIC" mean. According to the Organic Farming Research Foundation, certified organic refers to agricultural products that have been grown and processed according to uniform standards, verified by independent state or private organizations accredited by the USDA. All products sold as "organic" must be certified. Certification includes annual submission of an organic system plan and inspection of farm fields and processing facilities. Inspectors verify that organic practices such as long-term soil management, buffering between organic farms and neighboring conventional farms, and record keeping are being followed. Certified organic requires the rejection of synthetic agro chemicals, irradiation and genetically engineered foods or ingredients. Organic farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Since 2002, organic certification in the U.S. has taken place under the authority of the USDA National Organic Program, which accredits organic certifying agencies, and oversees the regulatory process. To find out more about the national organic certification requirements and organic program, please go to the USDA National Organic Program website USDA Organics. |
| Lewis' Hen House & Veggie Farm was "Certified Organic" on February 12, 2008 by CCOF, an accreditation organization for organic farmers certified by the USDA. |