We don't rank or recommend a product because it pays us — we rank it because it holds up against the same set of criteria we apply to everything on this site. Here's what that actually looks like.
What we check, every time
1. Certification
Does the product carry an actual, verifiable organic certification (USDA Organic, COSMOS/Ecocert for skincare, etc.) — not just the word "organic" somewhere on the packaging? We treat certified and uncertified "organic-sounding" products as fundamentally different claims, because they are.
2. Price, normalized
We compare price per ounce, per serving, or per use — not just the sticker price on the package. A larger, cheaper-looking bag isn't automatically the better value, and a smaller premium jar isn't automatically worse.
3. Ingredients
We look at what's actually in the product, not just what the front label emphasizes. This matters especially for supplements and skincare, where a product can be "organic" in one ingredient and synthetic in most others.
4. Sourcing
Where available, we note sourcing details that go beyond the organic claim itself — Fair Trade certification, single-origin sourcing, or supply chain transparency — since these are separate (though often related) considerations.
5. Value relative to conventional alternatives
We ask whether the organic premium is actually justified for that specific category, using the same pesticide-residue and animal-welfare logic behind our Worth It calculator — not a blanket assumption that organic is always worth more.
6. Real-world availability
A product that's technically excellent but never in stock isn't useful to a shopper standing in a grocery aisle. We favor genuinely available products in our recommendations.
Where our data comes from
- Publicly published USDA National Organic Program standards and guidance
- Manufacturer-published ingredient lists and certification claims
- The EWG Dirty Dozen / Clean Fifteen pesticide residue rankings (for produce-specific guidance)
- Direct product research on retailer sites, including Amazon, for current listings and pricing
We aim to link to primary sources wherever possible rather than restating secondhand claims. If you spot outdated information, our contact info is on the About page — we welcome corrections.
How affiliate relationships fit into this
Some links on this site are affiliate links — including Amazon Associates links — meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This is disclosed on every page where it applies.
Affiliate relationships do not determine which products we discuss or how we compare them. We don't accept payment in exchange for a specific ranking or recommendation. Full detail is on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
What our tools do and don't tell you
Our interactive tools (like the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen checker) are built on the criteria above, applied consistently. A "high-priority to buy organic" result doesn't mean a conventional version is unsafe — it means that category tends to test higher for pesticide residue in USDA testing data, which is a different, narrower claim. We try to be precise about that distinction throughout the site.
Corrections
Standards, certifications, and product formulations change. If something on this site is outdated or inaccurate, we want to know — reach out via the contact info on our About page and we'll review and correct it.