certified organic

National Organic Standards developed and finalized in 2000 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assure shoppers that foods marketed as "certified organic meet consistent, uniform growing and production guidelines. Beginning on October 21, 2002, producers and handlers must be certified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent to sell, label, or represent their products as either "100 percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic (ingredients or food).