Most people consider a food organic if it was grown without the use of pesticides or other chemicals. While this view of organic food is technically true, the issue of sustainability also needs to be considered. Sustainably grown organic foods are not only good for the health of the consumer, but also for the environment. The following will address the differences, if any, between the practices of small, self-described organic farms and those of large agricultural corporations, and what the different organic labels on food packaging mean. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay It is good to know the difference between organic farming and sustainable farming. Although organic and sustainability generally go hand in hand, the two are not always mutually exclusive. There are specific rules to follow to be considered organic, but sustainable farming goes further. Animal products considered organic must come from animals with access to the outdoors in addition to animals fed organically and without antibiotics. Animals can spend their entire lives indoors with access to the outdoors through a window, or only be allowed outside for a short time each day in a small, enclosed space, and still technically be considered organic. In a sustainable system, animals are allowed to roam outside as much as possible, as they would if they were in their natural environment. If they are in a fenced area, they have plenty of room to move around. A sustainable farmer may choose to provide shelter for an animal at night or when the weather is bad. Sustainable farmers may sometimes choose to give antibiotics to a sick animal, but no meat, eggs or dairy products are passed to the consumer until the antibiotic is cleared from the animal's system. Neither uses artificial hormones. Organic food can be grown on farms of any size. While a small organic farm tends to follow sustainability practices, large organic farms tend to grow monocultures on several acres. Food produced in large industrial complexes is not produced using sustainable practices. An exception might be a large brand made up of a cooperative of several small farms. Almost all food can be shipped thousands of miles before reaching its final destination, but a sustainable food aligns with the philosophy of sustainability when it is sold closer to the local area from which it is grown . The best way to ensure organic produce is grown in your area is to purchase it at a farmers market. This is also a good time to learn about the practices the farmer uses to grow his food. In a grocery store, food source information can usually be found on the packaging when it indicates where the food was produced. Small organic farms are generally known for their sustainability practices. They grow small mixed crops and/or practice crop rotation for soil health and pest control. Mixed cropping helps ensure that if one crop fails, all is not lost. Evidence of mixed crops can be seen at any farmer's market where one findsusually individual sellers selling various products from a single farm. A great example of a small organic farm that practices sustainability is Polyface. This is a family-owned farm in Virginia that provides fresh meat and eggs. The animals feed on the land or are supplemented with organic food. The farm is managed in the best interest of the animals and the land. Polyface doesn't just make claims; they can actually show what they're talking about. They occasionally offer intensive seminars to small groups where they show and educate what is done on this type of farm. Scheduled self-guided and escorted tours are offered throughout the month. This farm also stays true to its philosophy by only selling its products locally. Large organic corporate farms have some advantages over non-organic businesses, but there are still some pros and cons in the grand scheme of things. The impact of significantly reduced use of pesticides and herbicides is a good thing for the health of the general population and for the environment. That being said, some of these companies don't always follow sustainable practices in other areas. For example, instead of maintaining only the number of cows that a land's natural resources can support over the long term, a large organic dairy farm can confine dairy cows most of the time to a large compound. For these companies, the more the better, because profit is the main thing. This allows them to sell organic dairy products at lower prices than a comparable product from a smaller farm that has higher standards of animal care. In the long run, paying a higher price is worth it when all the factors that go into making the product are considered. The Cornucopia Institute studies certified organic dairy brands and publishes a dairy brand rating scorecard based on ethical organic farming practices. Brands can be assigned a rating of 5 for exceptional down to a rating of 0 for ethically deficient. One such brand that receives a rating of 0 is the Horizon brand owned by Dean. About half of the milk sold by Horizon comes from small farms that likely have good sustainability practices. The problem lies with the other half of Horizon's milk production coming from large industrial farms, including two independent corporate facilities. One such facility contains 4,000 to 5,000 cows crowded together with little access to pasture. Loleta Cheese in California is a Cornucopia Institute-ranked 5 organic dairy farm that has a dairy farm near its cheese manufacturing facility. Their cows have access to large pastures and all cows purchased are organic from birth. Loleta Cheese's organic dairy products follow what most people think of when they see the organic label. When shopping at a grocery store, variations in organic labeling can sometimes be confusing. Many factors come into play for a food to carry the organic label on its packaging. In 2002, the USDA, through its National Organic Program, created a standard set of guidelines that food producers must follow to display its USDA Organic seal and labels, or to be able to claim the organic claim. Single ingredient foods such as organic fruits and vegetables may have a sticker or sign on the product.