Is Hydroponic Lettuce Considered 'Organic'?

The topic of hydroponics and organic food has been widely discussed and debated since the early 2000s. Hydroponic systems provide an environment for plants to be grown in without the use of soil, meaning they don’t have access to essential nutrients from the soil. With the increasing demand for organic food production, the question has come up as to whether hydroponic production can be considered organic.

The current administration of the National Organic Program continues to allow the certification of hydroponic operations despite the recommendation from the National Organic Standards Board that clearly states it is not compatible with organic production. That means in the U.S., organic hydroponic vegetables are allowed to be labeled and sold as “organically grown”.

However, other countries don’t take the same stance. Mexico, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and 24 European countries (including Holland, England, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain) all prohibit hydroponic vegetable production to be sold as organic in their own countries. This means “organic” hydroponic producers in other countries are often growing exclusively for a U.S. market and the vast majority of the “hydroponic organic” produce sold in the U.S. is grown in Mexico, Canada, or Holland.

In short, while the U.S. allows for the label of organic to be applied to hydroponic produce, other countries don’t, and the nutrient density is lowered by the lack of soil. We would recommend lettuce grown in natural soil with sunlight for maximum nutrient density, but of course, all things considered (seasonal availability, quality of the product, shelf-life, and cost), hydroponic lettuce is certainly a viable option.