Organic Gardening: The OMRI to the Rescue

Reported by foodem.com, the online wholesale food marketplace-

Organic, organic, organic; this word is thrown around so loosely these days, especially when it comes to gardening. It seems as if every company has some type of organic line or product that they’re pushing on consumers.

There are dozens claiming their products are the “best” for organic gardening, but how do you know for sure? It’s extremely difficult to know which products are truly organic and pose no danger to precious crops.

Not all organic products are created equally, but there is a solution to that, the Organic Materials Review Institute or OMRI.

The OMRI, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1997, provides organic certifiers, growers, manufacturers, and suppliers an independent review of products intended for use in certified organic production, handling, and processing.

For those researching products and brands, the OMRI offers an online list of products that’s regularly updated to contain the most current information. To ensure USDA organic standards are met, OMRI® Listed products undergo a vigorous review.

For product suppliers looking to distinguish their products from the rest and have access to a growing market, the OMRI offers certification program. They also offer a Certifier Subscription to organic certifiers. Subscribers receive a comprehensive package of services designed to assist certifiers in reviewing material inputs for organic operations. Additionally, certifying subscribers receive detailed reports on the National Organic Standards Board, regular email updates on issues of importance to certifiers, advice and guidance on evaluating non-OMRI Listed commercial products, priority access to OMRI staff for events and conferences, discounts on OMRI trainings, and bulk discounts on OMRI publications.

No matter if you’re an organic home-gardener, a supplier or a certifier, there is an entity out there to inform and guide your organic decisions.

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