In the simplest terms, according to The National Organic Standards Board, “organic food handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.”
This commitment is evident in the farming and processing practices of organic farmers. For example, organic products from livestock must also adhere to strict guidelines. They must be allowed to roam freely on land free of prohibited substances, can only be fed certified organic feed and cannot be injected with antibiotics or growth hormones. However, if livestock were to get sick, the farmer’s first priority is to treat the animals illness. If this requires the use of antibiotics (which are prohibited in products labeled certified organic), the farmer must use the antibiotics, but cannot sell their product as a certified organic product. This highlights the industries commitment to the greater good of the environment over the bottom line.
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