You wouldn’t think there’d be much opportunity for a better choice when it comes to something as simple as mustard, and for the most part, there isn’t…unless you care whether the mustard seed it’s made from was sprayed with toxic and persistent pesticides or herbicides and whether some of those chemicals may have ended up in the beautiful blue sky and water you love so much during the summer. If your choice in mustard can make such a big difference, imagine what you can do with all the other condiments! Seriously though, choosing the biggies—organic produce and milk—seems pretty obvious. But what does it mean when you see the word organic on a bottle of ketchup? It might not be so obvious. Here’s the deal about organic labeling. In the U.S. a food product can only be labeled “organic” if at least 95% of ingredients (excluding water and salt) meet National Organic Standards. These standards, among other rules, require that the crops (such as tomatoes) are grown without the use of persistent pesticides. Those standards also don’t allow irradiation, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and synthetic preservatives. What about the cost of organics? Is it worth it for a simple condiment? Of course the increased labor, stricter regulations and the constant record-keeping of growing organics can sometimes make organic foods cost a bit more at checkout. But, take yellow mustard for example, organic is actually less than 2¢ more per serving! If you’re looking for perfect summertime condiments that you’ll enjoy as much for their taste as for the difference they make, take a look at some of these favorites: SPICES Simply Organic Garlic Salt, Garlic Powder, Lemon Pepper and Chipotle Pepper Use these spices individually in your everyday cooking to add flavor to soups, pastas, veggies and potatoes. Or combine them to taste to make a dry rub for grilled meats. Find out more about how rubs can make grilling special in our online Guide to Grilling. Spice it up with these rub recipes:

• Spice-Rubbed Beef Short Ribs
• Hot and Sweet Spice Rub
• Lone Star Dry Rub

KETCHUP Organicville Organic Ketchup Besides being organic, Organicville’s ketchup is gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and contains no added sugar and has less sodium than other brands. Catch up to ketchup as an ingredient, not just a condiment, with these recipes:

• Grilled Shrimp and Eggplant Summer Noodle Bowls
• Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes

MUSTARD Organicville Organic Mustards: Stone Ground, Dijon and Yellow Annie’s Naturals Organic Mustards: Dijon, Honey, Horseradish and Yellow Organic mustard adds organic zing to these recipes:

• All-Natural Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
• Dijon Vinaigrette Potato Salad
• White Bean and Spinach Salad
• Honey Mustard Chicken and Veggie Kabobs
• Almond Crusted Salmon with Caramelized Onions and Basil
• Mango Dijon Shrimp
• Pork Chops with Cherry Mustard Sauce

BBQ SAUCE Organicville Organic BBQ Sauces: Original and Tangy Annie’s Naturals Organic BBQ Sauces: Original Recipe, Hot Chipotle, Smokey Maple and Sweet & Spicy BBQ sauce is the boss in these recipes:

• Tangy Barbecue Baked Beans
• Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Barbecued Chicken

COLESLAW Organicville Non-Dairy Coleslaw Organic Dressing Throw together quick coleslaw with this dairy-free, vegan dressing. Make a difference simply by choosing organic, even for your most humble kitchen condiments. It’s worth it for organic quality, flavor and to help preserve your favorite outdoor summer fun places. What organic favorites have a place in your fridge door?