True or False: An organic grower earning less than $5,000 annually can label their product as organic.

The statement is false because in order for a grower to label their product as organic, they must comply with the regulations established by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). These regulations require that any operator selling organic products must be certified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent if their gross agricultural income from organic sales exceeds $5,000 annually.

However, if a grower earns less than this threshold, they are not required to be certified, but they also cannot label their products as organic. Thus, the inability to use the organic label for growers earning below the $5,000 threshold underscores the importance of compliance with certification protocols in the organic industry. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of organic labeling and ensuring consumer trust in organic products.