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At some point, food labels got complicated.
Walk into a store like ours and you’ll see terms like organic, non-GMO, wild harvested, and natural everywhere. That’s a good thing, but we thought it'd help if you understand the differences.
Most of the products we carry fall into one or more of these categories, and for good reason: they signal cleaner, more trustworthy food. But they’re not all created equal, and knowing the nuances helps you shop with more confidence.
Here’s a breakdown of what these common labels mean, how they differ, and why they matter.
Non-GMO means the food, or ingredients used to make it, have not been genetically modified in a laboratory setting.
No altered DNA, no gene-splicing technology.
It’s an important filter, especially for avoiding ingredients like genetically modified corn, soy, canola, and sugar beets, which dominate much of the industrial food system.
Non-GMO is a key step in the right direction, but layering other labels, like Organic, provides a fuller picture.
Certified Organic food is produced without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, GMOs, irradiation, or artificial preservatives.
It’s one of the strongest, legally defined food standards available, backed by third-party inspections.
Organic also emphasizes soil health, biodiversity, and reduced chemical exposure for both people and the planet.
While no label guarantees perfection, choosing Organic helps reduce your exposure to unwanted chemicals and supports a more sustainable food system.
Organic often includes Non-GMO by default, plus higher environmental and health standards.
This is where things get personal.
"Organically Grown" reflects organic principles but without formal USDA certification.
Many small farms & suppliers follow organic methods (no synthetic pesticides, no GMOs, regenerative practices) but opt out of the certification process due to cost or paperwork.
It doesn’t make the food lower quality. In fact, their products often exceed organic standards.
Organically Grown relies on transparency. We only source these products from suppliers we trust.
Wild Harvested foods come straight from nature, uncultivated, and gathered where they naturally grow.
Think wild herbs foraged responsibly, without disrupting ecosystems.
Wild harvesting offers some of the most nutrient-dense, clean foods available. But like anything, ethical sourcing matters.
When done well, wild harvested products connect you to food in its purest form the way humans have gathered it for generations.
"Natural" is the most loosely defined term in the food world.
There’s no universal, legally binding definition for "natural" on packaging in the U.S. Some products labeled "natural" are clean and simple; others, less so.
That’s why we don’t lean on this label alone. Instead, we focus on sourcing products that meet higher standards, like Organic, Non-GMO, Wild Harvested, or Organically Grown.
"Natural" might mean something or it might mean nothing.
We dig deeper so you don’t have to guess.
Our store exists to simplify your choices:
We care about clean, trustworthy food with fewer question marks.
These labels are helpful tools, but they’re not the full story.
Real trust comes from slowing down, asking questions, and building relationships with your food and where it comes from.
At Tare, we’re here to help make that process feel less overwhelming.
If you ever want to dive deeper, ask questions, or just geek out about your pantry staples...you know where to find us.
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