The FDA defines ‘natural’ as a product containing nothing artificial or synthetic. Our products adhere to this definition and are further defined as being harvested or obtained from nature and/or natural sources. The term organic has two conventional meanings.
First, it applies to organic products obtained from living organisms, but in a more formal sense, it refers to products bearing the OMRI Listed® seal. These products are formally re- viewed and approved for organic growing by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) of Eugene, Oregon. OMRI Listed® products are produced without conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or bioengineering.
Components such as perlite, gypsum, limestone and RESiLIENCE® silicon are defined as ‘natural’ which means they are not carbon based but they are obtained from natural deposits and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals – these materials are mined, ground up and screened, and expanded in the case of perlite.
Organic products are defined by Sun Gro as ingredients that are carbon based, were once alive and are without the addition of synthetic chemicals. Some examples are peat moss, bark, organic fertilizers and organic wetting agents.
I started working with Sun Gro Grower Trials about six years ago. In my opinion their products are the best, exceed my expectations, and the result prove it. — They make it right.
— Jessica Beekman, Austin, Texas
Many Sun Gro products and ingredients are OMRI Listed® and are acceptable as USDA NOP input material. The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and generates income through fees collected for the review of these products. OMRI provides professional, independent, and transparent review of materials and processes to determine their suitability for producing, processing, and handling organic food and fiber. OMRI Listed® products have been reviewed by OMRI and determined to be in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards and may be used in an organic growing system. For more information about OMRI, visit their website at www.omri.org.
- Tomatoes: Greenhouses—they need room to grow and consistent sunlight.
- Leafy greens: Greenhouses and vertical farms—their short roots and quick growing cycles make them a good fit for most growing systems.
- Strawberries: Greenhouses—vertical farms haven’t figured out pollination and fruiting at scale yet.
- Microgreens: Vertical farms—they’re harvested young and grown in dense trays, making them a good fit for stacked systems.
- Cucumbers: Greenhouses—they need room to grow vertically and natural sunlight.
- Mushrooms: Indoor farms—they need a humid environment, darkness, and high CO2 levels that neither vertical farms nor greenhouses can create.
- Peppers: Greenhouses—they need pollination and consistent sunlight.
- Tomatoes: Rockwool, perlite, and coco coir.
- Leafy greens: Peat-based mixes, coco coir, perlite.
- Strawberries: Peat-based mixes, coco coir, and perlite.
- Microgreens: Peat-based mixes, coconut coir, and fiber mats.
- Cucumbers: Coco coir, pine bark, and perlite.
- Mushrooms: Coco coir, vermiculite, and sawdust.
- Peppers: Peat-based potting mixes, coco coir, and perlite.
Read full article here.