How does Bates define “local, natural, organic”?

Christine Schwartz: We take pride in saying that we define local as the state of Maine. We think it’s a very powerful thing. In terms of natural and organic, natural is the way you grow something and it’s actually the same as organic growing, except that these products are not certified. Organics are certified products. There’s a process that you have to go through for your farm to be certified organic and it’s quite costly and time-consuming — it takes years to get it done.

— From an August 2008 conversation with Christine Schwartz, director of Bates Dining Services