Worldwide Organic Food Recognition Since 1928

Demeter--The Highest Global Certification

for Food Grown Organically

Demeter International is the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture (www.biodynamics.com/biodynamics.html).  Demeter Biodynamic Certification is used in over 50 countries.

The First Ecological Label Ever!

 

The Demeter Certification Program, established in 1928, was the first ecological label for organically produced foods, long before most folks had ever heard of "organic food"!  The name Demeter refers to the Greek goddess of grain and fertility.  Demeter began in Berlin, Germany, as a cooperative in 1927, with its  trademark registered a year later.  In 1941, the Nazi Government dissolved the Union for biodynamic agriculture.  After World War II, it was reestablished, and in 1997, 19 independent Demeter organizations established Demeter International (http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter_International).

 

The Demeter biodynamic certification--the oldest traditional organic certification in Europe--is regarded as the highest grade of organic farming in the world.  Certification is hard to achieve and needs to be renewed annually.

 

Certification requires biodiversity and preservation of the ecosystem, soil husbandry, livestock integration, absolutely no genetically engineered organisms, and a view of the farm as a living holistic organism.

Demeter Certification in the USA

 

In the United States, Demeter USA (http://www.demeter-usa.org) has provided biodynamic certification service since 1985.  After the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2002 set up the National Organic Program (NOP), Demeter USA formed Stellar Certification Services so that Demeter certified producers could also be legally  labeled as organic.

 

In this strange world we live in, where some things are just plain backward, Demeter USA had to take the step to form Stellar Certification Services--even though Demeter standards are far higher than those required for the NOP!

 

There is a plus, however.  Demeter USA points out that "Choosing both certification through Demeter/Stellar saves time and money, as only one application fee, one inspection, and one royalty fee are required, offering our farmers un-paralled value and expertise in the world of sustainable agriculture certification."

 

Furthermore, some customers, familiar with Demeter's high standards, willingly pay more for Demeter certified biodynamic produce than for the sometimes questionable NOP labeled food.