Why You Must Look For 'Organic Farming' Practices

Organic farming is a certified farming system that follows regulated standards for how food is grown, reared, processed and labelled.

What Organic Farming Means

Organic farming means producing food under certified organic standards. In the UK, farmers and food businesses must be certified by an approved organic control body if they want to sell or label food as organic. Organic systems restrict the use of artificial fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, feed additives and certain medicines, while setting rules around animal welfare, soil management, record keeping, inspections and labelling. Organic farming is different from regenerative farming because organic is certified and legally controlled, while regenerative farming does not currently have one legal UK definition.

It is not simply a lifestyle phrase, a marketing style or a vague claim about being natural. If a farmer, food producer or business wants to sell food as organic in the UK, they must follow organic rules and be certified by an approved organic control body. Now this can come with a larger price tag but does it have to?

GOV.UK says businesses must be certified by an organic control body if they produce or prepare organic food and want to sell or label it as organic. Once registered, they must follow strict guidelines, keep thorough records and allow annual and random inspections.

For shoppers, this matters because the word organic carries formal meaning. A product should not be called organic unless the business is certified and the product meets the relevant standards

For BFFD, organic farming matters because shoppers searching for organic food near them need clear, trustworthy information. Supplier listings should explain whether a farm, farm shop or producer is certified organic, what products are organic and how customers can buy them.

Why Organic Farming Matters

Organic farming matters because many shoppers want food produced under clearer standards.

People may choose organic food because they care about soil, biodiversity, animal welfare, pesticide use, food provenance or environmental impact. Others choose organic because they want a certified system with inspection and record keeping behind it.

Organic certification gives structure to those expectations. It does not mean every organic farm is the same, and it does not mean shoppers should stop asking questions, but it does provide a recognised framework.

The Soil Association says its organic standards for Great Britain contain the requirements for organic certification in accordance with the relevant retained organic regulations. Soil Association Certification also describes itself as the UK’s leading organic certification body.

For BFFD, the important point is clarity. If a supplier is organic, users should be able to see that clearly. If a supplier is not certified organic but farms in a low input, pasture based or regenerative way, that should be explained honestly without using organic wording incorrectly.

Organic Certification in the UK

For shoppers, the practical advice is to look for a recognised organic certifier, a control body code where relevant and clear product information. For suppliers, the practical advice is to check current guidance before describing food as organic.

GOV.UK guidance says that to get certified as an organic farmer, the business needs to apply to an approved UK organic control body, convert land to organic and pass inspections. If approved, the control body issues a certificate, which is valid for one year and can be renewed annually.

The UK has approved organic control bodies that certify organic food, feed, seed and other agricultural products. GOV.UK maintains a list of approved UK organic control bodies, which was updated in August 2025.

Organic Farming, Regenerative Farming and Pasture Raised

Organic, regenerative and pasture raised are often spoken about together, but they are not the same thing.

Organic Farming

Organic farming is certified and regulated. It follows defined standards around production, inputs, welfare, inspections and labelling

Regenerative Farming

Regenerative farming usually describes approaches that aim to improve soil health, biodiversity, water and farm resilience. It does not currently have one legal definition in the UK.

Pasture Raised

Pasture raised usually means animals have access to pasture, grassland or outdoor ranging areas, but the exact meaning depends on the product and supplier information.

Organic Farming and Food Provenance

Organic farming and food provenance work well together. Organic certification can tell shoppers that a product is produced under recognised standards. Provenance can tell shoppers where the food came from, who produced it and how it reached them. A certified organic carrot still needs a place, a grower and a route to the customer. Organic beef still comes from a farm, animal system and supply chain. Organic honey, milk, eggs, bread or cheese all carry stories that go beyond the logo.

This is why BFFD does not treat organic as a label alone. A strong supplier profile should show certification status, but it should also show the producer, location, products, seasonality, opening times and buying route.

Organic food becomes more meaningful when people can connect the standard with the supplier behind it.

What Organic Farming Can Include

Organic farming varies by sector, but it is generally associated with restricted inputs, certified standards, inspections, soil care, animal welfare rules and traceability. Organic systems can include fruit and vegetable growing, arable farming, livestock, dairy, eggs, poultry, horticulture, processed food, farm shop products and specialist food production.

Business Companion describes organic products as those produced with strict restrictions on fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides, or for livestock, on feed additives and medications, with specific requirements for how animals are housed. This helps shoppers understand the practical difference between organic and general food marketing language.

The Easiest Types Of Organic Food To Source

Organic vegetables

A certified organic grower produces vegetables under organic standards and sells through a farm shop, veg box, market or direct order.

Organic dairy

A dairy farm produces certified organic milk, with standards covering feed, management, records and inspections.

Organic eggs

Organic egg production follows organic standards, including rules around feed, welfare and certification.

Organic Meat

A Butcher often has organic products from its own farm or certified organic suppliers, with clear labelling and supplier information.

Free Range and BFFD

BFFD is being built to make free range food easier to find and understand.

If someone searches for free range eggs near me, local free range eggs, free range poultry, farm eggs, local poultry farms or farm shops selling eggs, they should be able to find clear supplier options rather than scattered posts and uncertain listings.

BFFD helps by organising food discovery around product, place and supplier type.

A strong BFFD listing can show:

Supplier name
Location
Product type
Free range, organic, pasture raised or other claims where relevant
Opening times
Collection or delivery details
Seasonal notes
Update date
Website or contact details
Further information about the farm system

Free range should not be a vague marketing phrase. On BFFD, we try to make it part of a clearer food discovery journey.

Very Common Misunderstandings About Free Range

Related Terms

Food Miles

The distance food travels before consumption.

Local Food

Food grown, reared, made or sold closer to where people live.

Regenerative Farming

How to improve your regenerative farming.

Pasture Raised

Animals raised with access to pasture & outdoor areas.

Organic Farming

A certified farming system with defined standards.

Farm To Fork

Exploring the best route from crop to plate.

Food Provenance

Exploring the best route from crop to plate.

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FAQ

So.. What does free range mean?

Free range usually means animals or birds have access to outdoor space. It is most commonly used for eggs and poultry, with specific marketing rules applying to those products.

What does free range mean for eggs?

For eggs, free range refers to hens kept under free range production conditions within egg marketing standards. These standards cover how eggs are produced, marked, graded, packed and marketed.

Is free range the same as organic?

No. Organic is a separate certified farming system with additional rules. Free range focuses mainly on outdoor access under relevant standards.

Is free range the same as pasture raised?

No. Free range usually refers to outdoor access. Pasture raised suggests a stronger connection to pasture or grassland, but the exact meaning can vary and should be explained by the supplier.

Does free range always mean local?

No. Free range describes a production system, not a location. A free range product can be local, British or imported depending on the supplier.

Can free range birds be kept indoors during bird flu restrictions?

Yes, mandatory housing measures can restrict outdoor access during avian influenza outbreaks. Rules around whether eggs or poultry can still be marketed as free range have changed in recent years, so shoppers should check current supplier information and official guidance.

How can I find free range eggs near me?

You can look for local farms, farm shops, farmers markets and egg producers. BFFD is being built to help users find free range eggs and local producers by location, product and supplier type.

Why does BFFD care about free range food?

BFFD cares about free range food because shoppers need clear, honest information about how food is produced. The platform helps connect people with suppliers who can explain provenance, farming systems and product availability.

Find Organic Food With Clearer Information

Organic farming should be easy to understand, not hidden behind vague claims. BFFD is being built to help shoppers find farmers, farm shops, growers and specialist producers with clearer links between food, place, production and trust.

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