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Are Burpee Organic Seeds Certified?

Organic seeds are offered by many garden retailers. But consumers often wonder how they can know that the seeds they are paying a premium for are truly organic. Certifying organizations set and enforce standards to guide the organic industry and protect consumers from fraud.
  1. Burpee Organic Seeds

    • Burpee Seed Company is a large retailer of garden seeds, including flowers, perennials, herbs and organics. They offer organic vegetable seedlings, seeds and soil amendments supplied by producers that are certified organic operations.

    Organic Standards

    • The USDA's National Organic Program sets regulations for organic agriculture in the United States. These include prohibiting the use of antibiotics, genetically modified organisms, irradiation and sewage sludge in organic production. They also mandate that livestock must be fed all organic feeds.

    Organic Certification

    • Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit organization that certifies organic seed for many seed producers and suppliers, including Burpee Seed Company. Oregon Tilth uses standards, inspections and contracts to ensure that consumers are indeed receiving organic products. They work with the USDA's National Organic Program and help certify organics in other countries such as Canada, Japan and Korea and those in the European Union.