Organic Sweet Onions available now
They're here! Fresh, organic Sweet Onions from Chile! Available now in bulk or in bright yellow 3- and 5-lb D-pack bags. Supplies are limited. Call today!

What is "organic?"
Since 2002, the USDA has ensured that anything labeled "organic" is produced using the highest organic production and handling standards in the world.

Before a product can be labeled "organic," a USDA-approved certifier inspects the food where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all USDA organic standards. Processors and packinghouses have to be certified, too.

To be sure a product is organic, consumers can check the product's label. The USDA has developed strict labeling rules to help consumers know the exact organic content of the food they buy. The USDA Organic seal also tells you that a product is at least 95 percent organic. Sweet Onion Trading Company's organic sweet onions, of course, are 100 percent organic.

Use of the USDA seal on organic foods is voluntary, however, using the seal without meeting the strict national standards is protected by an $11,000 per incident fine to violators.

The USDA makes no claims that organic foods are better for consumption than other foods, only that the product has been grown according to national standards set for organics.

According to USDA's National Organic Program, the organic crop production standards for sweet onions specify:

Land will have no prohibited substances applied to it for at least 3 years before the harvest of an organic crop. The use of genetic engineering (included in excluded methods), ionizing radiation and sewage sludge is prohibited. Soil fertility and crop nutrients will be managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, and cover crops, supplemented with animal and crop waste materials and allowed synthetic materials.

Preference will be given to the use of organic seeds and other planting stock, but a farmer may use non-organic seeds and planting stock under specified conditions. Crop pests, weeds, and diseases will be controlled primarily through management practices including physical, mechanical, and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or synthetic substance approved for use on the National List may be used.