07/01/2026
Did you knOw?
🌱 Let’s talk about the “O” word… Organic.
It’s one of the most commonly used words in food today—and also one of the most misunderstood.
First things first: Organic is a regulated certification, not just a farming style. In the United States, a farm can’t legally market products as “organic” unless it meets the standards established by the USDA’s National Organic Program and becomes certified (with a few limited exemptions for very small farms). Certification involves detailed records, inspections, fees, and ongoing compliance. Farmers meeting and often exceeding these regulated standards are simply natural grown. This is why your questions are SO IMPORTANT and not intrusive!
So… is there anything organic at ROOTED? Absolutely. How about the Athens, Tx Farmers Market? Yupp, seasonally and currently.
Do we call something organic if it isn’t certified? Absolutely not.
Transparency matters too much to us.
Here’s what many people don’t realize: there are countless small farmers who use little to no synthetic pesticides, build healthy soil, rotate crops, pasture their animals, and go above and beyond what consumers picture when they hear “organic.” Yet many choose not to pursue certification because the cost, paperwork, inspections, and time simply aren’t practical for a small operation. For some, that money is better invested in fencing, seed, feed, irrigation, or caring for their animals. For others— it’s worth the dime.
That doesn’t automatically make their food better than certified organic—and it doesn’t make certified organic farms worse. It simply means certification and farming practices are not always the same conversation, so we need to differentiate.
At ROOTED, we’d rather tell you the whole story than rely on one label or heresay.
🥩 Want to know how a particular beef producer raises their cattle?
🐖 Curious about how the pigs are pastured?
🥕 Wondering how those tomatoes, cucumbers, or squash were grown?
🐓 Have questions about how the chickens are raised?
Ask us. 😀
If we know, we’ll tell you. If we don’t, we’ll contact the farmer or producer directly and get you the answer.
Our goal has never been to sell food with the trendiest labels. Our goal is to connect you with the people who grow and raise your food so you can make informed decisions for your family.
And if you’ve read something online—or seen conflicting information in a local Facebook group—we invite you to come straight to us. We’d much rather have a conversation than let misinformation make the rounds.
Food shouldn’t be confusing. The people growing it shouldn’t be invisible.
We’re here to bridge that gap, one honest conversation at a time. 🤜🏽🌱🤛🏾
