Here’s your guide to terms relating to farming practices, animal husbandry, and food processing. However, please bear in mind that many of these terms do not have legal definitions and may mean different things to different people. When shopping the Westchase District Farmers Market, we encourage you to ask our vendors about their farming practices.
Artisanal
The term “artisanal” implies that products are made by hand in small batches, but the term is unregulated and sometimes used by large manufacturers.
Biodynamic
Biodynamic farming views the farm as a living organism. In addition to organic practices such as crop rotation and composting, biodynamic farmers rely on special plant, animal and mineral preparations and the rhythmic influences of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. The term is not regulated, but some biodynamic products are certified by Demeter Association.
Cage free
This unregulated term suggests that eggs are laid by hens permitted to roam in the henhouse (but not necessarily with any access to the outdoors).
Certified Farmers Market
A location approved by The Texas Department of Agriculture for farmers to sell their products directly to consumers.
Closed Herd
Animals in a herd are all bred from within the herd. No animals are purchased from breeders or other sources and incorporated into the herd. This practice limits entry of diseases into the herd.
Conventional
Produced using standard practices widespread in the agriculture industry, such as monocropping and the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms. This term is often used in contrast to “sustainable.”
Dry aged
Meat that is “dry-aged” is hung in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room for a period of weeks to develop flavor and tenderness. Under controlled temperatures, the muscle fibers relax, yielding a less resilient piece of meat that is more tender to chew. Most commercially available meat is “wet-aged,” meaning it is wrapped in plastic and then refrigerated for a shorter period of time.
Dry farmed
Grown with little or no irrigation. Dry farming sometimes requires special techniques to retain soil moisture. Tomatoes, potatoes, and some orchard crops like apples and apricots can be dry farmed.
Farmstead Cheese
Farmstead cheeses are made by the same people who raise the animals that produce the milk. In other words, they are cheeses “from the farm.”
Free Range
Suggests that the product came from an animal that was able to roam. The USDA only regulates the term for poultry, not beef, pork, or eggs. Meat birds are required to “have access to” the outdoors, but no amount of time or space is specified. Free-range hens are often kept indoors in large warehouses.
GMO-Free / Non-GMO
The majority of processed foods in the US contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), whose DNA has been manipulated in a laboratory using genetic engineering. GMO-free products have no genetically engineered ingredients. Certified organic products must be GMO-free. The non-GMO claim is unregulated, but some products are verified by a third party, like the Non-GMO Project.
Grass Fed
This label on meat means the ruminant animal (cattle, sheep, goat, or bison) has been raised on a diet of fresh pasture during the growing season and stored grasses (hay or grass silage) during the winter months or drought conditions. It is only reliable if the product has a “USDA Process Verified” shield; otherwise, it is a voluntary claim. Sometimes the term “pasture raised” is used interchangeably with “grass fed.”
Grass Finished
Finishing refers to the time that cattle are normally fattened up before slaughter. Some grass-fed animals (including “USDA Processed Verified”) are grass finished, meaning they ate exclusively grasses during the 90 to 160 days before slaughter. Some grass-fed animals, like most meat animals in the US, are grain finished.
Heirloom
Heirloom crop varieties have been developed by farmers through years of cultivation, selection, and seed saving, and passed down through generations. Unlike hybrid crops and GMOs, heirloom varieties always produce seed with the same characteristics of the parent plant.
Heritage
Unlike the few animal breeds that dominate the meat industry, heritage breeds are rare and have a long history. Modern breeds have been selected for qualities that make them ideal for industrial meat production. Similar to heirloom fruits and vegetables, heritage meats typically have unique characteristics and tastes that make them highly desirable. Because these breeds are often native to particular regions and climates and may not be suited to industrial facilities, such animals may be raised in a more sustainable manner, with access to open pasture and a diet free from antibiotics and growth hormones.
Humane
Humane implies that animals were raised with compassion in a way that minimizes stress and allows them to engage in their natural behaviors. Humane certifications (like Certified Humane and Animal Welfare Approved) have varying standards; requirements may include nutritious feed, ample fresh water without added antibiotics or hormones, and sufficient space and shelter. The term “humane” is otherwise unregulated.
Hybrid
Hybrids are created by cross-breeding parents of different species or cultivars (varieties) to bring out the best traits of both. Seeds saved from hybrids will not “come true”; new seed must be purchased each year. Hybrids are not GMOs. They are produced by controlled crossing, not by gene splicing (see “GMO free” and “heirloom”).
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A pest management strategy that minimizes impact on the environment. Pesticides are applied in such a way that they pose the least possible hazard, and are used as a “last resort” when other controls are inadequate.
Naturallly-Grown / All-Natural
USDA guidelines state that “natural” meat and poultry products can’t contain artificial ingredients or added color and must be only minimally processed; there is no verification system. (“Certified Naturally Grown” is a nonprofit certification program for small farms, similar to organic.) The claim “natural” on other products is unregulated.
No Antibiotics
In conventional operations, antibiotics are routinely fed to cows, hogs, and chickens to promote faster growth and prevent diseases that run rampant in the cramped conditions in which food animals are kept. “No antibiotics” claims are regulated by the USDA and require ranchers to show documentation. The “USDA Process Verified” shield means the company paid to have the agency verify the claim.
No Hormones
Hormones are used in industrial farming of cows and sheep to increase growth rate or milk production. Some hormones are natural, some are synthetic, and some (like rBGH) are genetically engineered. Like “no antibiotics,” the “no hormones” claim is regulated by the USDA. Documentation must be shown, but the USDA does not routinely test. Hormone use in pork or poultry production is prohibited by the USDA.
Organic
Produced without the use of (most) synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, sewage sludge, or genetically modified organisms. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy come from animals fed only organic feed and given no growth hormones or antibiotics. All products sold as organic must be certified by organizations accredited by the USDA, such as California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Certification includes extensive record keeping and annual inspection of fields and processing facilities. Organic products must be made with at least 95% organic ingredients.
Pasture Raised
“Pasture raised” implies that meat or poultry comes from an animal that was raised outdoors on pasture. This term is sometimes used by ranchers to differentiate their product from “free-range” products coming from animals raised indoors. This term is unregulated and there is no standard definition.
Pesticide Free
“Pesticide free” (or sometimes “no sprays”) is an unregulated term that implies that there are no toxic sprays applied, at least not directly on the produce. Unlike the certified organic label, these claims are not verified by a third party.
Raw Milk Cheese
These cheeses are made from milk that is not pasteurized. In the U.S., raw milk cheeses are required to be aged for at least 60 days.
Sulfured / Unsulfured
Some dried fruits are treated with sulfur dioxide (SO2) to retain color and act as a preservative. Some people have allergic reactions to sulfur. Unsulfured fruits are often brown in color. Organic dried fruit must be unsulfured.
Sustainable
This term means different things to different people and is sometimes used loosely. Generally, it means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future. To CUESA, sustainable means socially just, humane, economically viable, and environmentally sound.
Transitional
Farmers need to practice organic methods for three years on a given piece of land before the products grown there can be certified organic. “Transitional” means that the farmland is in the midst of that transition period toward organic certification.
Vegan
Foods with this label contain no animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs, gelatin, or honey.
Vine Ripened / Tree Ripened
These terms are applied to fruit that has been allowed to ripen on the vine or tree. In our industrial food system, fruit is often picked unripe in order to withstand shipping, and then sometimes treated with ethylene gas to “ripen” and soften them. Tree ripening and vine ripening allows the sugars in the fruit to fully develop, yielding better flavor.
