Ecolabels
Ecolabels are intended to convey certain information about food, such as how it was grown, if the animal was humanely raised, and if it contains substances we are looking to include or exclude from our diet. Just as any other label, ecolabels can be misleading. Some labels have certifying agencies with strict standards that must be met. Others have no oversight and no standards associated with them. The ecolabels listed on this page are the same as those used to describe the agricultural practices of farms listed in our U.P. Farm Directory. We realize there are many others out there, but feel it necessary to at least provide the basics. We encourage you to do further research on your own when you come across labels that you are not sure about.
USDA Certified Organic
Organic farmers use compost, crop rotations, and cover crops to grow food, instead of chemical additives. Certified organic meat, eggs, and dairy are free of antibiotics and growth hormones, and are produced in environments where animals are fed 100% organic feeds and have access to outdoors and pasture. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, GMO seeds, sewage sludge, and irradiation are prohibited. Certified organic farmers follow strict rules and are monitored closely to ensure that the standards are being upheld. Organic farmers have a formal organic systems plan to document how they improve soil, manage animals, and use only natural materials or synthetics allowed on the national list. Their farms are inspected annually by accredited certification agents to guarantee they are following their approved system plan. (Click here for more.)
Certified Naturally Grown
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) is a grassroots alternative to the USDA’s NAtional Organic Program, meant primarily for small farmers distributing through local channels—farmers markets, roadside stands, local restaurants, CSA programs, and small local groceries. The CNG Standards and requirements are no less strict than the USDA National Organic Program rules. The primary difference between CNG and the USDA Organic Program is cost to farmers and paperwork requirements. (Click here for more.)
MAEAP
The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is an innovative, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes/commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks. This comprehensive, voluntary, proactive program is designed to reduce farmers’ legal and environmental risks through a three-phase process: education, farm-specific risk assessment, and on-farm verification that ensures the farmer has implemented environmentally sound practices. (Click here for more.)
Grass-Fed
To be labeled as Grass-fed, an animal must have been fed nothing but grass or forage for the entirety of its lifetime, with the exception of its mother’s milk during nursing. Animals cannot be fed grain or grain byproducts and must be given continuous access to pasture during the growing season. (Click here for more.)
Hormone-Free
The USDA prohibits the use of hormones in both pork and poultry production, but not in beef. Commercial farmers will use hormones to pump up the production of meat and dairy. The resulting products will carry the residuals of those hormones. Hormone-Free means that no hormones were given to the animal during its lifetime at that particular farm. (Click here for more.)
Raised Without Antibiotics
Use of the term antibiotic free is considered unapprovable by USDA on any meat products. Variations of this claim, such as no antibiotics administered, are allowed by the USDA, but they have no verification system established. In this guide, Raised without Antibiotics means there were no antibiotics administered to the animal. The only exception would be in the case of antibiotics administered to a sick animal that is quarantined away from the herd or flock for the duration of its illness and then reintroduced to the herd or flock. (Click here for more.)
Conventional (Defined by the Marquette Food Co-op)
Operations are considered Conventional if they use any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones, antibiotics, or common enhancers like Miracle Gro™, on any crop or animal at any time.
Authentic (Defined by the Marquette Food Co-op)
Operations are considered Authentic if they do not use any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones, antibiotics, and common enhancers like Miracle Gro™. The only exception would be in the case of antibiotics administered to a sick animal that is quarantined away from the herd or flock for the duration of its illness and then reintroduced to the herd or flock.
