Sustainable versus Organic

The Difference between Organic and Sustainable
Organic farming generally falls within the accepted definition of sustainable agriculture. However, it is important to distinguish between the two, since organic products can be (unsustainably) produced on large industrial farms, and farms that are not certified organic can produce food using methods that will sustain the farm's productivity for generations. Some organic dairy farms, for example, raise cows in large confinement facilities but are able to meet the bare minimum requirements for organic certification, while a non-organic certified small farm could use organic guidelines and be self-sufficient by recycling all the farm's waste to meet its fertility needs.

To distinguish between organic and sustainable, here are some comparisons:

• Certification
  Organic farms must be independently certified every year and approved by the USDA, while a farm using sustainable practices do not require any official certification. Organic is an actual certification; sustainable is more a philosophy or way of life. The best way to be sure about the growing practices is to buy directly from a farmer - that way you can ask questions if you are uncertain about the sustainability of his or her practices.
  

  USDA Definition: “Organic Production”

  A production system that is managed in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act and regulations in this part to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.ⁱⁱ
  That comes up alot with Wine, a lot of would be wine drinkers stay away because of Sulfides, but even organic wines put sulfides in their wines, just not as much.
• Sustainable versus Organic
  In order to bear the USDA "Certified Organic" seal, a product must contain 95 to 100 percent organic ingredients. Products that contain 100 percent organic ingredients²⁵ can be labeled "100 percent organic," while products that contain more than 70 percent, but less than 94 percent organic ingredients can be labeled "Made with Organic Ingredients," but cannot use the USDA "Certified-Organic" seal. ²⁶
  
  Violators of organic labeling regulations can be fined as much as $10,000 for each offense.²⁷ Farmers need to prove that their operations comply with all the requirements specified by the USDA, establish and submit their organic farming system plans, keep all records regarding their organic operations, and permit on-site inspections in order to be certified as an organic producer.²⁸