Organic Produce: The Facts – Tufts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates labeling of organic foods, says organic fruits and vegetables must be grown without the use of most synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, and the seeds cannot be genetically engineered. Surveys done over the years show that organic produce is often (but not always) more costly to grow and thus more expensive than conventional produce. There are a number of factors to consider when deciding whether or not to buy organic produce, according to the Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter.