Why We Don't Use Organic — And Why We’re Still Rooted in Integrity

Why We Don't Use Organic — And Why We’re Still Rooted in Integrity

Recently, while selling juice at the farmers market, I had a customer come up and ask a very thoughtful question: “Do you use organic fruits and vegetables in your juices?”

I paused for a moment, took a small breath, and replied honestly, “No, we don’t — but we use the freshest, highest-quality produce we can find.”

I went on to explain why. Just last year, three of our main ingredients were part of a national recall — and they were labeled organic. That kind of situation could’ve put my customers at risk and my company in legal jeopardy. It shook me. As a business rooted in faith and integrity, I had to ask: What does “organic” really mean if it can't even guarantee safety?

I also shared that it’s nearly impossible for me, or any small business, to verify whether produce is truly organic. Many of us just don’t have the means to personally inspect a farm, much less confirm their compliance with USDA organic standards.

Now, the customer politely thanked me — but she didn’t make a purchase. That stung a little.

Still, before I go any further, I want to thank her. Yes, thank her. Because it’s questions like that — the hard ones — that help us grow. When a business is willing to take what feels like a lemon moment and turn it into lemonade, those seeds yield a harvest far beyond money.

That day, we sold out. Every bottle. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of being rejected simply for telling the truth. And even with a heart full of gratitude, I would absolutely choose transparency again. Because what Juice Be Happy produces flows from our core values — not just our cold-press juicers.

So I did what any faithful, curious business owner would do: I started researching.

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 What I Discovered About Organic Labeling

Here’s what I found: While organic produce sounds cleaner and safer, the reality is far more complex.

There’s no consistent record showing that organic produce is recalled less often than conventional. In fact, some of the largest food recalls in recent years involved certified organic products.

Digging deeper, I learned that some farms earn the USDA organic label, but inspections often rely more on paperwork and farmer declarations than actual soil or crop testing. Full-farm inspections are difficult, and inspectors are limited. That means, in some cases, it’s possible to “appear” organic on paper without always practicing it in the field.

Now — let me be clear: I’m not accusing anyone. Many farmers are doing their absolute best, working long hours to provide for their families. Organic certification can bring a financial boost, and for generational farmers barely getting by, that matters.

But it also means the word “organic” doesn’t always mean what customers think it means.

 The Story of Randy Constant

One name that kept coming up in my research was Randy Constant, a Missouri native, top of his class, who worked in the seed industry before founding an organic farming company in 2001. On paper, he looked like a model farmer. But over time, it was revealed that he played a central role in one of the largest organic fraud schemes in U.S. history — selling non-organic grain as certified organic.

His story is tragic, layered, and human. It reminded me that even good intentions can be overshadowed by pressure, profit, and lack of oversight.

 What It Means for Juice Be Happy

So no, we don’t currently use certified organic produce. But we do:

✅ Use the freshest, most local ingredients we can find
✅ Stay informed and intentional about what goes into our juices
✅ Operate with full transparency and integrity

We’d rather earn your trust with truth than impress with a label we can’t verify. Our mission is to nourish your body and spirit — and to do it honestly. That’s what Juice Be Happy stands on.

And while we may not carry the “organic” badge, we carry something deeper: a commitment to goodness, faithfulness, and joy — in every bottle.