USDA Organic

Organic flowers have a special place in my story. In 2002 Organic Bouquet brought what it called the world's first commercial crop of certified organic roses to market, grown in Ecuador and certified by a USDA-accredited agency. I later led that company.

What it covers

The USDA National Organic Program is the federal standard for anything sold as organic in the United States, including flowers. It governs how a crop is grown: which substances are allowed and prohibited, how land is managed, and what records must be kept. A product that hasn't been certified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent can't carry the USDA Organic seal.

How it's verified

The USDA doesn't inspect farms itself. It accredits certifying agents, domestic and foreign, who inspect farms and handlers and issue the certificates. You can look up a certified operation in the USDA's Organic Integrity Database.

What it doesn't mean

Organic is a growing method, and a good one. But it says nothing about whether workers were paid a fair wage or went home safe, and an allowed organic input can still be harmful if it's mishandled. That's why I tell people organic is a start, not the finish. Read why.

What to ask

• Who is the certifying agent?
• Is the farm listed in the Organic Integrity Database?
• Is the flower itself certified, or just "grown organically"? Only certified product can be sold as organic.

Sources: USDA National Organic Program; Beyond Pesticides (2002). Requirements change; check the certifier's current standard before relying on a detail.