Climbing The Organic Ladder
There are several levels, or ‘grades’, of organic farming. We’re proud that Luna Nueva, our organic farm in Costa Rica, is certified to have achieved the highest level of organic farming.

The Levels

Organic
To grow organically is to grow without the use of pesticides, herbicides or genetic engineering. That’s good, but simply growing organically can still leave the soil unable to support any future planting.

Sustainable
To grow sustainably is to grow organically in a way that preserves the soil for future planting of organic crops – for years to come, for generation after generation.

Biodynamic
Biodynamic growing takes full advantage of the complex relationship between the farmer, soil, plants, animals, sun, moon and tides. It recognizes the farm as a closed, self-nourishing system, often using livestock to work the earth instead of machinery.

Demeter Certified
Demeter International is the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture and the oldest traditional organic certification in Europe.

Demeter certification is regarded as the highest grade of organic farming in the world and the most difficult to come by. That’s because it requires biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, soil husbandry, livestock integration, prohibition of genetically engineered organisms and labor-intensive practices that treat the farm as a living holistic organism.

New Chapter’s organic farm in the rainforests of Costa Rica, where we grow our own ginger and turmeric, is Demeter certified. Without question, it’s worth the effort.