ABC's of the Farmers' Market

When you shop at the Downtown Farmers’ Market, you’ll want to be able to discuss farming practices and more with the local vendors you’ll meet and purchase from. We’ve put together a glossary to help you navigate your shop local needs as you wander from booth to booth in Historic Court District in Downtown Des Moines (DSM).

Glossary

A | B | C | D | F | G | H | I | N | O | P | R | S | T | V

A

Artisanal

Products are made by hand in small batches. (CUESA)

B

Biodynamic

In biodynamic farming, the farm is a living organism. In addition to organic practices such as crop rotation and composting, biodynamic farmers rely on special plant, animal and mineral preparations and the rhythmic influences of the sun, moon, planets and stars. (CUESA)

C

Certified Organic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for managing the National Organic Program, which was implemented in October 2002. Organic farming avoids the use of most artificial inputs, like synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and bans the use of animal by-products, antibiotics and sewage sludge among other practices. Any food product (except fish) using the word organic must be certified as such by an official USDA accredited certifier.

Closed Herd

Animals in a herd are all bred from within the herd. No animals are purchased from breeders or other sources and incorporated into the herd. This practice limits entry of diseases into the herd. (CUESA)

Conventional

Produced using standard practices widespread in the agricultural industry, such as monocropping and the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics and genetically modified organisms. This term is often used in contrast to “sustainable.” (CUESA)

D

Dry Aged

Meat (usually beef) that is dry-aged is hung in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room for a period of weeks, curing which microbes and enzymes break down the connective tissue, making the meat more tender. Most beef is wet-aged in plastic bags, which reduces the amount of water (and therefore, money) that is lost and hastens the process. Many people believe dry aging results in superior flavor. (CUESA)

Dry Farmed

Grown with little or no irrigation. Special techniques are often used to retain soil moisture. Tomatoes, potatoes and some orchard crops like apples and apricots can be dry farmed. (CUESA)

F

Fair Trade

For products from less developed countries (coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar and bananas), fair trade seeks greater equity through trading partnerships based on dialogue, transparency and respect. Many certifiers follow international standards developed by Fairtrade International. Fair Trade USA uses its own standards. The term generally means just compensation and fair treatment for farmers and workers, as well as investment in community development and environmental sustainability. (CUESA)

Farmstead Cheese

These cheeses are made on the farm using milk that was produced on the farm. They are often made by hand and in small batches. (CUESA)

Free-Range

Free-range (or free-roaming) implies that a meat or poultry product comes from an animal that was raised in the open air or was free to roam. Its use on beef is unregulated, and there is no standard definition of this term. The term “free range” is only regulated by the USDA for use on meat poultry products. USDA requires that birds have been given access to the outdoors but for an undetermined period each day. “Free range” claims on eggs are not regulated. To learn more about what is meant by this term, customers should ask the rancher about their specific practices. (CUESA)

G

GMO-Free/Non-GMO

The vast majority of processed foods in the U.S. contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), whose DNA has been manipulated in a laboratory using genetic engineering. Certified organic products must be GMO-free. The non-GMO claim is unregulated, but the Non-GMO Project?offers a third-party certification. (CUESA)

Grass Fed

This label on meat means the ruminant animal (cattle, sheep, goat or bison) was raised on a diet of fresh pasture during the growing season and stored grasses (hay or grass silage) during the winter months or drought conditions. The USDA standard was revoked in 2016; it is now a voluntary claim. Several organizations offer private certifications. Sometimes the term “pasture raised” is used interchangeably with “grass fed.” (CUESA)

Grass Finished

“Finished” animals have reached physical maturity and have developed fatty tissue. Some grass-fed animals, like most livestock in the U.S., are grain finished, or are fed grains for an underdetermined amount of time before slaughter. Other grass-fed animals are grass finished: they fed exclusively on grasses throughout their whole life.

H

Heirloom

Heirloom varieties, also called farmers’ varieties, traditional varieties or landraces, have been selected and developed by farmers through years of cultivation and seed saving for the next season. Farmers hand them down through generations. These varieties are often specifically suited to a certain climate and soil type, and have been selected for flavor, pest resistance, productivity and even beauty. Heirlooms are typically very genetically diverse and variable. (CUESA)

Heritage

Unlike the few animal breeds that dominate the meat industry, heritage breeds are rare and have a long history. Modern breeds have been selected for qualities that make them ideal for industrial meat production. Similar to heirloom fruits and vegetables, heritage meats typically have unique characteristics and tastes that make them highly desirable. Because these breeds are often native to particular regions and climates and may not be suited to industrial facilities, such animals may be raised in a more sustainable manner, with access to open pasture and a diet free from antibiotics and growth hormones.

Hormone-Free

There is no government or official definition for this term except on meat and poultry products as defined by the USDA. Use of the term “hormone free” is considered “unapprovable” by USDA on any meat products. Meat and poultry products carrying the “no hormones administered” claim imply that the animal must not have received any added hormones during the course of its lifetime. (CUESA)

Humane

Animals were raised with compassion in a way that minimizes stress and allows them to engage in their natural behaviors. (CUESA)

Hybrid

Hybrids are created by cross-breeding parents of different species or cultivars (varieties) to bring out the best traits of both. Seeds saved from hybrids will not “come true”; new seed must be purchased each year. Hybrids are not GMOs. They are produced by controlled crossing, not by gene splicing. (CUESA)

I

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A pest management strategy that minimizes impact on the environment. Pesticides are applied in such a way that they pose the least possible hazard and are used as a last resort when other controls are inadequate. (CUESA)

N

Natural

USDA guidelines state that “natural” meat and poultry products can’t contain artificial ingredients or added color and must be only minimally processed; there is no verification system. The claim “natural” on other products is unregulated. (CUESA)

No Antibiotics

In conventional operations, antibiotics are routinely fed to cows, hogs and chickens to promote faster growth and prevent diseases that run rampant in the cramped conditions in which food animals are kept. “No antibiotics” claims are regulated by the USDA and require ranchers to show documentation. (CUESA)

No Hormones

Hormones are used in industrial farming of cows and sheep to increase growth rate or milk production. Some hormones are natural, some are synthetic, and some (like rBGH) are genetically engineered. Like “no antibiotics,” the “no hormones” claim is regulated by the USDA. Documentation must be shown, but the USDA does not routinely test. Hormone use in pork or poultry production is prohibited by the USDA. (CUESA)

O

Organic

Organic farming relies on developing biological diversity in the field to disrupt habitat for pest organisms, and to maintain and replenish the soil. Organic farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. (CUESA)

P

Pasture Raised

Meat or poultry comes from an animal that was raised outdoors on a pasture. This term is sometimes used by ranchers to differentiate their product from “free-range” products coming from animals raised indoors. This term is unregulated, and there is no standard definition. (CUESA)

Pesticide Free

An unregulated term that implies there are no toxic sprays applied, at least not directly on the produce. Unlike the certified organic label, these claims are not verified by a third party. (CUESA)

R

Raw Milk Cheese

These cheeses are made from milk that is not pasteurized. In the U.S., raw milk cheese is required to be aged for at least 60 days. (CUESA)

S

Sulfured/Unsulfured

Some dried fruits are treated with sulfur dioxide to retain color and act as a preservative. Some people have allergic reactions to sulfur. Unsulfured fruits are often brown in color. Organic dried fruit must be unsulfured. (CUESA)

Sustainable

This term means different things to different people, but generally, it means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future. To CUESA, sustainable means socially just, humane, economically viable and environmentally sound. (CUESA)

T

Transitional

Farmers need to practice organic methods for three years on a given piece of land before the products grown there can be certified organic. “Transitional” means that the farmland is in the midst of that transition period toward organic certification. (CUESA)

V

Vine Ripened/Tree Ripened

These terms are applied to fruit that has been allowed to ripen on the vine or tree. In our industrial food system, fruit is often picked unripe in order to withstand shipping, and then sometimes treated with ethylene gas to “ripened” and soften them. Tree ripening and vine ripening allow the sugars in the fruit to fully develop, yielding better flavor. (CUESA)

From May to October, experience local artists, live music and entertainment at the Downtown Farmers’ Market featuring nearly 300 family farmers, bakers, artists and crafters from around the state. It’s easy to visit with plentiful and affordable street and ramp parking options.