AeroGrow Seeds
AeroGrow seeds are not certified organic at this time, for two reasons: 1) We have scoured the earth for seeds of the best and tastiest small-variety vegetables, herbs and flowers that are available, and we have chosen to give preference to the best varieties rather than limit our choices to only those seeds that are commercially available as organically-grown, and 2) the tiny size of a seed relative to the plant that grows from it, and the fact that the seed itself is not consumed. Please note, however, that we never use genetically-modified seeds.
AeroGrow Nutrients
For produce to qualify as organically-grown, the fertilizers used must be derived from decomposed plant or animal material. This works well in soil, where microbes and insects convert this decaying plant and animal material into a mineral form which is readily available to the plants (a process known as “mineralization”). In an aeroponic/hydroponic environment, however, there are no microbes to perform this conversion from decaying organic matter to mineral form, so the organic-matter fertilizer becomes a smelly mess that the plants cannot absorb.
To avoid this problem, our nutrients are made instead primarily from mineral salts that directly provide all the macro- and micronutrients needed by plants for robust, healthy growth, in a form that is readily absorbable.Our nutrients do contain an organic component that is not itself a nutrient per se but that supercharges a plant's ability to take up nutrients for great growth. This complete plant nutrition assures that AeroGrown produce is extremely high in nutritional value.
AeroGrow Produce
There are actually more vitamins, antioxidants and phytonutrients in AeroGrown produce than in most “certified organic” produce purchased from the supermarket: For example, AeroGarden Salad Greens have been shown to contain 55% more Vitamin C than Earthbound Farms Organic Mixed Baby Greens from Whole Foods and 200% more vitamin C than a clamshell-packaged head of Organic Butter Lettuce from Whole Foods. Hundreds of studies have shown that many vitamins, antioxidants, and other phytonutrients degrade during post-harvest transportation and storage (average time 5-14 days) before reaching the consumer. Supermarket produce is often picked before ripe - before vitamins, antioxidants, and phytonutrients reach maximum levels.
Also, AeroGrown produce is as “local” as you can possibly get! Studies show that children and adults eat more veggies when homegrown, such as in the AeroGarden. For more information, click here.
Produce grown in the Aerogarden does not carry the risk of food-borne illness via bacterial contamination that can come from commercial packaging, handling, or soil organisms (e.g., bacteria such as E. coli). (For references, click here.) Immune compromised patients, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, are currently being told not to eat raw, organic produce, such as salads, due to the risk of infection. With the AeroGarden, salads, fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, and other vegetables can now be part of their diet again.
No ripening chemicals, such as ethylene (e.g., for ripening tomatoes) or modified atmosphere packaging (e.g., bagged lettuce), are used. AeroGrown produce acquires no extra chemicals during transport and storage (e.g., truck and industrial refrigerator exhaust).
