Food labeling 101: GMO, organic, and other common grocery labels decoded

A quick, easy guide to nine commonly seen (and misunderstood) food labels, from 'GMO' to 'grass-fed.'

5. Conventionally grown

John Nordell/Staff/File
Vegetables are artfully displayed in the produce section at a Whole Foods Market in Boston.

Definition: The opposite of organic. Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

What it means for you: Again, it’s a matter of cost versus peace of mind, environmental outlook, and occasionally taste. Conventionally grown food is cheaper, and in many cases has been bred to last longer. But if you’ve ever tasted a fresh tomato, you know that the commercially grown varieties can be comparatively lacking in color and taste.

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