SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL TERMS

• Certified Organic - Crops are certified organic by an independent, third-party certifying agency. Among other requirements, synthetic pesticides such as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides and commercial fertilizers are not used in production.
  
  

• GIA: Grown in Accordance to Organic Standards or Chemical Free - Producer verifies that products are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides such as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, and commercial fertilizers are not used in production.  Producers are growing in accordance to organic standards but are not certified organic by a third party. 
  
  

• IPM: Integrated Pest Management - An approach to managing pests that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical means to reduce environmental risks. Aims to use synthetic chemicals in lower amounts than in conventional production. 
  
  

• CSA: Community Supported Agriculture - A farm that uses a specific type of direct-marketing in which customers purchase annual “shares” of the farm’s products and becomes “members” of the farm. 
  
  
•  PYO: Pick-Your-Own - Customers go to the farm to pick and purchase their produce. PYO farms are often berry operations.
  
  
• Food Alliance Midwest - An independent third party certifier of farms that meet the organizations strict requirements of environmental and social responsibility. Visit www.foodalliance.org/ for more information.
  
  
• Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association - Membership-based organization in the Lake Superior region of NE MN and NW WI moving farm practices and food systems into a sustainable future. Visit www.lakesuperiorfarming.org for more information.
  
  

• 7th Generation Index - An approach that includes all these efforts: soil fertility is increasing, crop and livestock diversity is practiced and/or growing, efforts reduce the use of fossil fuels, production of an alternative energy, and efforts for wildlife enhancement.
  
  
• Farmers Market - A form of marketing in which producers sell their products directly to the public in a designated public place. Consumers obtain seasonal, fresh produce, farmers stay in touch with their market, and both can enjoy the social and energetic atmosphere that is unique to these types of markets.