Environmental-consciousness-raising is a worthy goal, whether it’s bringing attention to the plight of migratory birds or the average citizen’s carbon footprint. An article in today’s Washington Post suggests that there’s also a potential downside, especially when it comes to environmental certification:  consumers may be confused or misled by labels and the standards they require.

According to the article, about 600 labels worldwide — 80 in the United States — are issued by companies and nonprofit organizations that offer a promise of environmentally friendly qualities, according to a new survey by the World Resources Institute, Duke University and the environmental analyst Big Room Inc.  Different groups are competing in some cases for the right to proclaim their label the gold standard.

At Greensbury, we sell only organic meats because we know exactly which standards are required to earn a farmer the “certified organic” label from the USDA. The only way we can promise our customers a truly superior product is to embrace the USDA’s very strict guidelines for certified organic meats. Look for the USDA seal on our package. What this means to you:

• organic farmers do not use antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones.
• organic meat comes from animals that are given 100 percent organic feed.
• organic animals are given access to the outdoors and/or pastures.
• organic farms do no use most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.
• organic farmers emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.
• organic farms are inspected by a Government-approved certifier to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic meats must be certified, too.

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