What do you exactly want when you buy organic coconuts or products such as organic virgin coconut oil, organic coconut water, organic coconut milk, organic coconut cream, and organic coconut extract?
Many people have the perception that chemicals are not used in growing coconuts. Hence they feel that all coconuts available in the market are organic or natural coconuts. They also feel that coconuts are mostly obtained from the wild in tropical countries, and that there is nothing like coconut farming. But this is not true.
You can see coconut farms in many parts of the world and chemicals are used in growing coconuts in all these parts. Hence not all coconuts are organic coconuts or natural coconuts. Inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are used in growing coconuts as well. For example, according to the Coconut Development Board, India rhinoceros beetle is the most common coconut pest in India. This can be controlled using chemicals such as sevidol (a mixture of sevin and BHC), naphthalene balls, and carbaryl.
When we talk of organic coconuts, chemicals such as inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, etc., are not used. An organic coconut farmer has to use organic means in growing the coconuts. The company that produces certified organic coconut products has to ensure that the coconuts used for making these products are organic in nature.
