Organic foods are those grown, processed, and handled using only natural (non-synthetic) methods. Organic standards prohibit the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, all petroleum- and sewage sludge-based fertilizers, as well as any synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones, medicated feed, antibiotics, or other chemicals. As people have become more concerned with the health risks associated with chemicals in food products, organic foods have steadily become more popular. European and Asian countries are currently using a much larger quantity of organic products than the U.S.

In 1990 the U.S. Congress passed the Organic Foods Protection Act (OFPA), calling for the development of a program to regulate organic standards. The National Organic Program (NOP) was created. The NOP developed National Organic Standards that were implemented in 2002. Organic standards state that in order for a product to be labeled as organic, all parties who handle the product must be certified through the NOP.

S&P Marketing is certified as an organic handler by the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association in accordance with the USDA-NOP. We ensure that all of our organic products, including imports, come from NOP-certified growers, producers, and processors. We have an exceptional Organic Control Point Program the goal of which is to provide our customers with only the highest quality organic products. We inventory organic products to meet the annual needs of our buyers. Because organic products have been in short supply, we recommend that buyers book annual volume prior to the season’s commencement. We are aggressively working to expand our organic operations.

S&P’s organic inventory is need-based, and the bulk of it is held against contracts. We recommend that buyers book annual volume prior to the start of the season, as organic products may be in short supply. We typically have organic berry, pineapple, nopal and prickly pear products in excess inventory.