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What is organic?
‘Organic’ means much more than just ‘natural’ foods. It is the world's strictest food standards, a certification that ensures that farmers withhold use of pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilisers, and GM crops for a transiton period of three years.
We hear the word organic used to describe various natural states these days, but at Glenisk, the word organic means "certified organic".In our case, all the farms that provide our milk, our ingredients ...even our plant is certified by IOFGA.
The term organic is used to describe an agricultural system where crops and livestock are grown and processed without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilisers.
Organic methods consider the eco-system as a whole and use natural earth-friendly techniques to assist plant growth, repel pests and protect and encourage wildlife habitats.
It makes sense that a healthy rich soil will produce strong plants that resist pests and diseases. And because organic farming uses practices that eliminate polluting chemicals and reduce nitrogen leaching, it also protects and conserves our water resources for future generations.
Organic milk comes from cows that have been fed only organic hay and grain. Farmers must also give livestock humane living conditions, including access to fresh air and pasture.
Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and toxic persistent pesticides. As with all agriculture, growth hormones are also banned.
It couldn’t be clearer – if we protect our land and animals, we are protecting the health of people for generations to come.
How do I know it’s organic?
An organic product must carry a registration number or certification mark to identify it as the product of an organic agriculture system. All organic products undergo inspection and certification by a certification body such as the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA), Organic Trust Ltd or Bio-dynamic Agriculture Association of Ireland (Demeter symbol).