These days it seems that everyone is going green and eating organically. According to the Food Marketing Institute, more than half of Americans now buy organic food at least once a month. However, there is plenty of opposition toward the growing organic movement, which has many Americans confused and misinformed. So what is the real story behind organic food?
Is there an official definition of organic?
Seeing or hearing the term “organic food” in grocery stores or farmer’s markets, sometimes begs the controversial question: What does it mean? The National Organics Standard Board adopted the following definition of “organic” in 1995: “Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs, and on management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony.” In simple terms, organic foods are grown with the purest and most natural ingredients, including farming techniques that help the land.
Does organic food cost more than conventional food?
There really is not a straight yes or no answer. However, organic meat and dairy can cost more to produce than their conventional counterparts. According to the Organics Consumer Association, some factors include the elements that contribute to the end product, such as growing, harvesting, processing, transportation, packaging, and storing. In addition, producers have to adhere to stricter guidelines. For example, organic farmers cannot use conventional methods such as sewage sludge and chemical fertilizers, which are both inexpensive.
However, the Organic Farming Research Foundation reports that if all the indirect costs of conventional food production, including the cleanup of polluted water, garbage pick-up
and processing, landfill and waste reclamation, environmental protection activities, and healthcare costs were factored into the food costs; organic food would cost the same or be less expensive.
Is organic food more nutritious than conventional food?
The final verdict is still out on this matter. According to a study published in the July 2009 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, organic and conventional foods seem to be similar in their nutrient content. The study detected some differences, but these were possibly due to differences in fertilizer use, and ripeness at harvest.
The President’s Cancer Panel report released in May 2010, exhorted consumers to “choose food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, and growth hormones to help decrease their exposure to environmental chemicals that can increase their risk of contracting cancer.”
Is buying organic food better for the environment?
When growing organic fruits, grains, and vegetables, farmers use natural methods that foster a healthier environment. For example, organic farmers rotate their crops to sustain the land’s vital nutrients, according to the Organic Trade Association. They also use natural fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers, which are linked to the contamination of lakes and streams.
Does organic food taste better?
Taste is subjective. However, if you want organic fruit that tastes a little fruitier, buy product that is locally grown, that is in season, and has not been vegetating on the shelf too long.
So, is it worth it?
If you are trying to balance health, help the environment, and support your local farmers market, then buying organic may be a solution. However, this lifestyle may not be for everyone. Hopefully, this illustration clears up a few of the why’s and how’s of organic food, and allows you to make an educated decision.
Switching to organic food can be challenging for individuals and families, but by starting with baby steps, it is often a lifestyle they can adapt to in the end. In his latest book, Raising Baby Green, Dr. Alan Greene identifies a few key organic foods that can make a big impact on the family diet.
Milk: Non-organic milk is loaded with hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics. According to a 2006 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) survey, there were certain pesticides in about 30 percent of conventional milk samples, with low levels in one organic sample.
Peanut Butter: It is a basic favorite in childhood. According to the USDA, more than 99 percent of peanut farms use conventional farming practices, which include a fungicide to treat mold. Given that peanut butter is popular among children...and adults, the switch should be simple.
Potatoes: A 2006 USDA survey found that potatoes account for 30 percent of our overall vegetable consumption. In addition, a 2006 USDA test found that 81 percent of commercially farmed potatoes tested, still contained pesticides even after washing and peeling. Since potatoes are such a big staple in our diet, a simple switch to organic might be a better option.
Apples: The second most commonly eaten fruit, apples are also one of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits.
Condiments: Ketchup is a staple in most households. Scientists from the USDA Western Regional Research Center, found that organic ketchup has double the antioxidants of conventional ketchup.
Sources:
Food Marketing Institute: http://www.fmi.org/
National Organics Standards Board: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nosb
Organics Consumer Association: http://www.organicconsumers.org/
Organic Farming Research Foundation: http://ofrf.org/
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: http://www.ajcn.org/
Organic Trade Association/President’s Cancer Panel report: http://www.ota.com/index.html
Raising Baby Green: www.drgreene.com/