What is the difference between cotton and organic cotton and how do you certify organic products?

Question

What is the difference between cotton and organic cotton and how do you certify organic products?

Answer 1

Brian's answer is not exactly correct.. The difference is not whether pesticides or herbicides are used but whether naturally based pesticides and herbicides or methods are used.. For example, you can use pyrethrans, from a natural source, or lady bugs, etc. Herbicides there are some methods but they are fewer and I don't know what they are.

Also, this would include organic fertilizer vs, chemical based fertilizers.. If you can be certified that you are not using any of the inorganic methods, you then get the little star.

Answer 2

Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without the use of pesticides to kill insects or herbicides to kill weeds in the fields.

Cotton is certified organic by any one of a number of independent certifying bodies that depend on reports from farmers, sort of an honor code, as well as infrequent site visits to some farms (random checks, basically).

Answer 3

http://www.attra.org/organic.html

Organic farming means not using artificial substances in the production of a crop (food, or otherwise... to include animals and cotton).

It takes several years to certify organic through most government programs.  You have to be examined, your practices must be carefully documented (By you, and checked by a government authority), and you have to follow strict regulations.

Only way to do this is to do some research and figure out who you need to call to start the process.

Edit:  Some natural pesticides and fertilizers are restricted in organic farming, so you really do need to check the regs for where you are.