September is Organic Awareness Month
What is Organic?
"Organic" refers to a farming and production approach that emphasises natural and sustainable practices. It involves avoiding synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilisers, along with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Instead, organic farming relies on natural methods like crop rotation, composting, and biological pest control to promote soil health and biodiversity.
Organic products, including fruits, vegetables, and animal products, are produced in accordance with strict standards and certifications to ensure they meet these criteria, offering consumers a more environmentally-friendly and health-conscious choice.
What is Organic Certified?
The meaning of "organic" can vary across different regions worldwide. However, in Australia, the term "certified organic" consistently signifies a set of stringent criteria:
Sustainability and Regeneration: Certified organic products in Australia are produced in a manner that prioritises sustainability and promotes soil and ecosystem regeneration.
Free Range and Cruelty-Free: They are derived from sources that ensure animals are raised in free-range environments and are not subjected to animal testing.
No GMOs: Certified organic products in Australia are strictly free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Avoidance of Harmful Chemicals: These products are cultivated without the use of harmful or synthetic chemicals.
To earn the "Certified Organic" label in Australia, products must undergo a rigorous certification process. This process involves thorough inspection and approval by an independent third-party certification agency, which verifies that the entire production chain, from farm to final product, adheres to the Australian Certified Organic Standards.
Moreover, the commitment to these standards doesn't end with certification; companies are subject to annual and random audits to ensure ongoing compliance with these requirements.
September Seasonality:
Fruit
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Banana
- Cherry
- Cumquat
- Grapefruit
- Honeydew
- Lemon
- Lime
- Lychee
- Mango
- Mulberries
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Tangelo
- Watermelon
Vegetables
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Corn
- Eggplant
- Lettuce
- Onion
- Parsnip
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Silverbeet
- Spinach
- Sweet Potato
- Tomato
- Zucchini
