Organic Farming Practices

What “Certified Organic” Actually Means

  • Certified organic is a status granted to farms, processors, and handlers that follow a strict set of rules designed to protect soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance. These rules cover how crops are grown, how animals are raised, and how products are processed, stored, and transported.

  • Certified under the USDA National Organic Program

  • No synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers

  • No GMOs

  • Annual third-party inspections

  • Detailed record keeping from seed to harvest

What “Certified Organic” Does Not Mean

A common misconception is that organic means “chemical‑free.” In reality, organic farmers may use certain natural substances and a limited number of approved synthetics that are allowed under specific conditions. The key is that they must appear on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances and be used within strict guidelines.

How We Manage Weeds Without Glyphosate

  • Diverse crop rotations

  • Cover cropping

  • Mechanical cultivation

  • Soil-building practices

  • Timely planting and field monitoring

  • Managed field borders and buffer zones

  • Soil microbiome health

  • Organic matter building

  • Reduced erosion through cover crops

Why This Matters

  • Soil Health

  • Long-term land stewardship

  • Food integrity

  • Flavor & Freshness

Our Policy on Glyphosate

Early Morning Harvest does not use glyphosate—before planting, during the growing season, or as a pre-harvest desiccant.

  • Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many conventional herbicides (commonly known under brand names like Roundup).

  • It is sometimes used in conventional systems for weed control or crop dry-down before harvest.

  • It is prohibited under organic certification standards.