Glossary

See Grass-Finished

The peanut-free label means that a food product does not contain peanuts or peanut products, such as peanut oil or peanut butter. It does not necessarily mean that a product was produced in a peanut-free facility, but some labels may make this specification as well. Although tree-nut allergies and peanut allergies are distinct, some people with one allergy also suffer from the other. Allergen-free foods do not contain peanuts. See also Tree Nut Free.

The term permaculture is a combination of the words permanent and agriculture, or simply culture. It is an ecological system design for land use that seeks to achieve sustainability by taking inspiration from natural processes and relationships. Developed by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren during the 1970s, permaculture seeks to harmoniously integrate the land with all of its inhabitants (from the smallest bacteria in the soil to humans) and take nutrient and weather cycles into account. It is based on a series of ethics that recognize humans as part of the Earth and therefore proposes that we should not exploit it for our own exclusive benefit. Permaculture also acknowledges that all humans are connected through society, so our use of the Earth’s resources should be equitable for both the present and future generations. Permaculture relies on fewer inputs than conventional agriculture, favors human and animal power over fossil fuel-powered machinery and chemicals and emphasizes turning waste into resources through methods such as composting. It also focuses on creating polycultures to increase biodiversity. Permaculture principles can be incorporated into all types of human ecosystems, from farms to individual homes to entire communities, and it is especially useful for restoring degraded landscapes.

Pesticide-free is an unregulated term used to indicate a product grown without the use of pesticides. Some food producers use this label during their three-year transition phase to Certified Organic, when they are no longer using pesticides and other chemicals but cannot yet label their products as organic. However, without third-party verification this term is unreliable. Although the Certified Pesticide Residue Free label requires that products have no pesticide residues at the point of sale, it does not mean that they were grown without the use of pesticides.

Pick-your-own (also referred to as U-Pick and You-Pick) is a form of agritourism applied to many fruit and vegetable crops, most commonly berries, apples, stone fruits, small tomatoes and pumpkins.

Polyculture, the opposite of monoculture, refers to the cultivation of a variety of species on the same plot of land, thereby increasing the biodiversity of the area. This approach views land management holistically and attempts to mimic the cycles and balance of a natural ecosystem.

Pots, creels, weirs and traps are devices used to passively harvest seafood, such as crab, herring, lobster and prawns. Often created specifically for one species of fish or shellfish, these fishing methods result in a selective catch with low environmental impacts and limited harm to the fish or shellfish.

In order to maximize the health benefits of probiotic foods, a sufficient amount of prebiotic foods must be consumed through certain high-fiber foods including many fruits, vegetables and grains. Prebiotics are sometimes called fermentable fiber. Non-digestible prebiotic nutrients are used as an energy source for the beneficial bacteria that live in human intestines. They play a role in boosting immune system function, aiding calcium absorption and improving digestion, among other things. Some primary sources for prebiotics are chicory root, artichokes, garlic, leeks, onions and whole-wheat flour.

The term producer-only is sometimes interpreted differently among farmers’ markets, but it usually means that a market’s vendors grew or produced all the goods they are offering for sale.