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Sometimes we see labels on products that will say 100% organic or 100% natural or 100% organic and natural. Obviously, if we are using both words, organic and natural, they are not interchangeable. But, in a nutshell, what really is the difference?
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm. Or in the words of the National Organics Standard Board, "Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.
Sometimes we also see "Certified organic". This is a labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. The act provided for a National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) that develops and recommends the standards for the National Organic Program (NOP) as administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). A certified organic product means that a state or private certification organization that is accredited by the USDA has verified that the product meets its strict organic standards. The certifier inspects the location where the organic product is produced and handled to ensure that all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards are being followed. In order to maintain their accredited certifier status with the USDA, certifiers are required to conduct annual on-site inspections of all their clients.
The term "natural" suggests that products have been minimally processed or are free from synthetic ingredients, but, there are no federal regulations that must be complied with in order to label a botanical product "natural."
