As an integral part of holistic living, purchasing organic produce ensures that you’re doing your part for the earth as well as for your family’s health and well-being. But, because organic produce and other organic products have become so popular in the past few years, it’s important to recognize that there are some essential organic produce dos and don’ts.

Do Buy Organic Milk

Not only is organic milk healthier for you and your kids because it’s not full of the same harmful hormones as regular milk, but it’s also better for the cows. Typically, at organic dairy farms—unlike at other dairy farms—the cows are treated humanely. They’re fed well and never pumped full of hormones or other chemicals that could trickle down to your family.

The most sustainable, eco-friendly organic choices are the ones that are more than just holistically healthy for your family; they’re also holistically healthy for everyone and everything involved.

Don’t Forget About Local Produce

Some of the best organic produce won’t have an organic label on it at all. Smaller, local farms don’t have the kind of money to spend on organic certification the way larger farms do, so they miss out on being labeled as “organic” in the store, even though they’re just as organic and healthy as any other nominally organic produce. Smaller, local farms generally don’t use the same harmful chemicals and pesticides that non-organic farms use.

Not only will you be supporting your local economy when you purchase local, organic produce, you’ll also be treating yourself and your family to natural, holistic, healthy produce.

Do Pay Attention to Labels

Just because something is nominally “organic,” it doesn’t mean that it’s nutritious or holistic. Plenty of organic foods are junk food with a fancy name slapped on them.

Be a savvy consumer and read the labels on everything you buy. The order of ingredients on the nutrition facts signifies the concentration of each component. So, if the first thing on the list is bleached flour, that means that bleached flour is the ingredient in highest concentration.

When you’re buying organic produce, organic milk, and other organic products, it’s always a good idea to do your research and make sure that whatever you’re buying adheres to your healthy, holistic diet.