What does a "sustainably harvested" label indicate?

The label "sustainably harvested" specifically indicates that the harvesting practices used are environmentally friendly. This means that the methods employed to gather resources—such as crops, fish, or timber—do not deplete the natural resource populations or harm the ecosystem. Sustainable harvesting aims to maintain the biodiversity of the environment, ensuring that the resource can continue to be available for future generations. This can involve practices such as selective cutting, responsible fishing quotas, and promoting the health of the surrounding ecosystem.

While complying with organic standards and being free from pesticides represent other aspects of food production and safety, they do not directly correlate with the concept of sustainability in harvesting practices, which focuses more broadly on environmental impact rather than just input standards. High-quality produce is also unrelated to the sustainability of harvesting practices, as it pertains more to the physical attributes of the food rather than the methods used to grow or harvest it. Therefore, only the concept of environmentally friendly harvesting practices aligns with the definition of "sustainably harvested."