“Pesticide-Free” Herbs? Understanding Organic and Natural Labeling

A grower planning to sell herbs at a market asked if insecticidal soap counts as a pesticide. By definition, any substance used to mitigate pests is a pesticide. Insecticidal soap is synthetic and must be approved by a certifier for “organic” claims. “Naturally grown” or “pesticide-free” labels should follow organic guidelines: use synthetics only as a last resort in an IPM system. Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) is a common alternative to USDA organic for small-scale growers. Resources: ATTRA, Georgia Organics.