When the current organic movement got started in the 1980's, a couple friends were considering some organic produce both because of higher prices and some of their own health concerns. One "organic consultant" they talked to claimed he could tell if the field would pass organic standards by looking at the soil through a hand lens, among other things. They just listened to him and moved on to other sources.
Of course outdoors, what if a neighbor's dog who eats processed dog food poops in the field, or a deer or crow eats GMO corn and poops in the field. Is it still organic? Lots of goofy questions can be asked. If you really want organic, to me, it needs to be grown in a greenhouse where every aspect of the product can be controlled. I think organic does have merits and we should be responsible using any pesticide, but could we really feed the world without some level of "commercial agriculture" with the production it brings. Many other countries are less environmentally friendly than the US in using and regulating pesticides. For those who have not gone through pesticide training, the word pesticides includes insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, fungicides, and others.
Looking at internet sites on approved organic pesticides, many are almost or as toxic as those created in the lab. Some sites listed nicotine sulfate as an approved pesticide for organic. Nicotine can be pretty toxic since it affects the nervous system. Copper sulfate, sulfur and others can be pretty nasty too. They typically break down much quicker than conventional pesticides, but are still pretty nasty.
Attached is a list of approved pesticides and a write up from the Lee County Extension office in Florida. It seemed the most neutral discussion on the subject that I could find.
