Actually except for the difference in price, I haven't noticed much difference in taste between organic and conventional squash of the same variety. I have noticed more bugs and damage on the organic ones though.
I am growing upo gourds. It is not organic because it is from saved seeds and conventional fertilizer was used to grow that squash as well as compost. The squash I am growing now has not been sprayed with anything to control pests, however roundup was used previously within 20 feet of the place where the vines were planted within the last three years. I still add compost every time I plant and my pH was higher than the last time at 7.8. So, instead of the usual compost, I added peat moss and sulfur. Sulfur is an inorganic substance that is allowed under NOP standards. I still use conventional fertilizer. I just started picking the squash. The first one was on the ground and it rotted. The rest are on the fence and so far I have harvested six gourds about one to two feet long. They get bigger but they taste better when they are younger and the seeds are still undeveloped. I will probably get 20 or more from the one vine and that is normal for this squash. I made chicken and squash soup and it was delicious.
"Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. The organic standards describe the specific requirements that must be verified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent before products can be labeled USDA organic."
https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standar ... -standards
To be organic and call it certified organic
Organic methods must be used for three years, including, using organic seeds, and organic inputs
There needs to be a buffer zone between organic and conventional crops. I think it is a 25 ft buffer zone for my state. Nothing in the buffer zone can be inorganic an the zone must be maintained to prevent runoff from the inorganic fields from contaminating the organic ones. Plants in the buffer zones can be trees, grass or a crop, that can be managed organically but cannot be sold as organic so it must be separated from an organic crop.
No inorganic fertilizers or pesticides can be used.
Certification requires all of the above be documented and organic methods be maintained to meet certified organic standards and certification is granted before you can label a product as organic.
Organic farms are allowed to used pesticides but they are limited or OMRI listed and NOP approved products.
Some inorganic substances are allowed for organic use by the NOP. So even organic farms are allowed to use some inorganic substances and still be legally organic. Some of the listed organic pesticides can still be very toxic like neem and pyrethrins. Just because it is a substance naturally found in nature does not mean it is safe. Neem and pyrethrins are plant based extracts but they are concentrated many more times than they would be found in nature. Both neem and pyrethrins are toxic to bees and fish.
https://npic.orst.edu/reg/organic.html
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/FST-56.pdf
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