Most summer weekends, you can find me at a farmers market, admiring the colorful produce and standing in a long, long line to get my daughter’s face painted like a unicorn.

With so many vendors trying to attract customers, I’ve noticed a dictionary’s worth of food labels and signage – words like natural, organic, grass-fed and many more.

Some of these food labels are official, but many are just catchy marketing phrases. Navigating this linguistic landscape can be a bit confusing, so here’s a guide to help you understand them better.

And don’t hesitate to ask the farmers if you have questions. They’re happy to chat about what they do on the farm to grow safe, healthy food.

Organic.
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