Freshwater Creek Garlic is 100% Certified Organic
Our garlic is grown without the use of herbicides, weed suppressants, hormones or antibiotics, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Freshwater Creek Garlic grows from our own non-Genetically Modified certified organic seed. How, what and where we grow is audited, tested and independently certified to be organically grown. Every part of our farming is considered.
What does this mean for the consumer?
A non-chemically engineered garlic. Fresh product without any herbicide or pesticide residues. Garlic that has been hand planted and harvested, and hand cleaned to remove soil as best as possible. But it also may mean the occasional imperfection, bruise or soil discolouration. Real garlic, grown organically.
1. What is certified organic?
To buy certified organic means the product you are buying comes with the guarantee it has been grown or manufactured free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, weed suppressants, hormones and antibiotics, and seed is non-genetically modified, non GM.
The process must be water efficient and biodiversity friendly. Testing is carried out to ensure there are no contaminants or heavy metals. It must be grown or produced to the Australian Certified Organic Standards. To be certified, a strict set of processes, policies, audits and testing is followed. Typically, land takes three years to be certified organic.
2. What’s the difference between ‘organic’ or “organically grown” and produce that is certified organic?
There are no audits or checks if “organic” and “organically grown” is actually organically produced without chemicals, herbicides, pesticides and artificial fertilizers and meets the Australian Certified Organic Standards. There are no audits or checks to ensure the land is not contaminated with chemicals or heavy metals.
3. How can I trust it’s really organic?
You can’t… unless it carries a organic certification logo and registered number like our Australian Certified Organic Logo. You can check a producers certified organic registration
Beware of imitations – there are plenty of products that are marketed as organic but they are not tested or audited. There are many well meaning farmers and producers, however this doesn’t mean they meet Australian Certified Organic Standards.
Beware imported produce – all fresh produce imported into Australia is fumigated with methyl bromide under the strict Australian bio-security quarantine laws.
4. Do organic standards apply to produce once it’s left the farm gate?
Absolutely. Processing and manufacturing sites producing certified organic products are not permitted to use harmful cleaning chemicals, and conventional produce must be segregated from certified organic produce.
8. What’s the difference between Certified Organic and ‘natural’ and ‘eco’?
“Natural” and “eco” don’t fit within any regulations, nor meet a Standard.
“Natural” claims on food and drink don’t have to be produced under strict standards; to be certified organic, ingredients or the product must be produced cruelty free, be pasture fed, socially responsible, free range, biodiversity friendly, non GM and grown free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, hormones and antibiotics. Unlike certified organic there is no consensus about what “natural” or “eco” means. These are often used as marketing terms, similar to “superfoods”.