Why Organic Food is Healthier
t is becoming quite difficult to strike a balance between the give and take that mankind have with Mother Nature. One of the largest processes that individuals carry out is the procedure of growing crops.
With the growing requirement for food because of the increase in population, boost in quality of living, etc., numerous crop farmers took steps such as using artificial bug sprays and insecticides, using artificial fertilizers, etc. to supply a boost for the crops. However, these plants and food grains have a detrimental long-term effect on our body. First of all, they do not have the same taste as the foods grown under the organic process would have.
Also, these foods lack the same quantity of nourishment that the food grown using the organic approach would have. The use of unnatural fertilizers and harvest enhancing products is one of the main reasons why the elderly tell you that ‘the food nowadays does not taste the same as it did back then'. One thing that has been brought to my attention is the importance of eating organic food to give your body the ability to heal itself. I have pearly penile papules and eating better has helped my condition.
So, if you are wondering the reason why organic food is healthier, you should consider the fact that the flavor of a specific food goes a long way in giving an individual the pleasure of having that kind of food. For example, if you don't have the tangy, juicy taste of an orange when you have it, would you feel satisfied with that fruit?
Another essential reason why organic food is healthy would be the fact food is the main and highest provider of nourishment to the overall body. Some of the artificial types of growing foods remove the important nutrients that foods provide us with. If ever the body isn't getting the type of nutrients, which are required, there's every possibility that the person can become more prone to illnesses and diseases.
Organic food can be also healthier than the food that is harvested using artificial materials and flavors, because it gives a greater yield of crop, a more rewarding quality of crop and also the soil has greater water retention. This too helps to ensure that the harvest is good enough throughout the droughts.
In the case of organic food, care is taken that the process of growing the food is 100 % natural, that makes it a much better supplier of nourishment to the body, another one of the reasons why organic food is more healthy.
The only real solution to this challenge is organic food, the food which is grown only using natural pesticides, insecticides, along with other aspects related to the activity of growing a crop. The growth of organic and natural crops is overseen by the respective organizations and bodies in different nations.
When the concept of organic farming first became popular, the people who were serious in organic farming would need to purchase their produce straight from the farm owners. These people would search for the food crop that was created without the use of artificial fertilizers as well as artificial insecticides.
However, today there are many mainstream farmers who use organic procedures to cultivate food grains, thus making organic food grains available quite commonly.
Question by Amily C: How much organic food you give to your kids?
I give my daughter organic milk, organic strawberries and few other fruits/veggies. I am wondering how much other mothers out there are using organic products. Sometimes the prices are so high for organic food, I end up buying regular fruits. Have you ever thought about getting a class 3 weapons license?
Best answer:
Answer by Don Keedik
REGULAR FRUIT IS ORGANIC YOU DUTCH BAGEL
What do you think? Answer below!
Small growers play part in sustainability
IN AN important recognition for small scale food growers, Brisbane-based organic food information portal Cityfood Growers has been placed as a finalist in the small business section of Queensland’s 2011 Premier’s ClimateSmart Sustainability Awards. Want to find cheap life insurance?
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Are Organic Foods Healthier Than Non Organic?
The Real Truth behind Organic Foods
Many people are unaware of what organic food really is. It seems that everywhere we go now someone is promoting something that is "organic". Are these foods worth your time and money?
It almost seems like some people are afraid of organic food. Could this be possible? Are people afraid that eating one morsel of organic food is going to somehow instantly initiate them into the organic food cult where you're only allowed to wear sandals made from tree bark and deodorant is prohibited?
People will say things like, "Well, you can't be that organic because you wear make-up and you don't smell."
What? That's not what organic means at all! All it means is that the food or the product has been grown the way Mother Nature intended: without the use of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. In other words, naturally!
Are some people afraid of the price? Organic does not automatically mean "break the bank". Many times when you compare the price of the organic food versus the conventional food, they are only a few cents different.
Is there such a thing as Cheap Organic Food?
Are Organic foods really worth their sometimes high prices? Is there any way to make organic eating affordable?
Many times people's biggest resistance to buying organic is the higher price. But there are ways to make organic eating cheaper and much more affordable for you and your family. I have discovered a holistic natural way to cure Pearly Penile Papules and you can do it in the privacy of your own home.
What exactly is Organic Food?
Organic food is food grown or raised without the use of synthetic (chemically formulated) pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers. This method of farming allows foods to grown in nature as they were intended. Consider that conventional farmers in the United States spray 2 billion pounds of pesticides a year on crops to compensate for poor farming practices. Do you know where those pesticides end up? In our food supply!
Aside from pesticide contamination, conventional produce tends to have fewer nutrients than organic produce. On average, conventional produce has only 83 percent of the nutrients of organic produce. Studies have found significantly higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, and significantly less nitrates (a toxin) in organic crops.
Here is how to master the art of "going organic on a budget":
Stop buying crappy "non foods" (and, yes, crappy is a scientific term). Most protein shakes, "health" bars, and processed foods are actually pretty expensive and when you completely eliminate them from your grocery list, you will save hundreds of dollars. Take a good look at the price of sugar cereals, packaged cookies and cakes, and frozen TV dinners. You will see how the prices of these foods quickly add up. That same amount of money can be better spent on a week's worth of organic produce.
Start eating reasonable portions and you'll find the food was not that expensive. When you really look at how much you eat and how much you are supposed to be eating, you clearly have mistaken yourself for a 200 lb sumo wrestler. You have portion distortion to say the least and eating less meant spending less!
Seek out local farmers markets. You will find prices are so much better and you'll always get fresh food in season. And, honestly, if the price of cherries was the equivalent of diamond earrings, choose a different fruit. Go for the apples, pears, or bananas. Variety is good anyway so choose the fruits and veggies without the diamond prices.
Buy organic foods "selectively". The following foods have been shown to have the highest levels of pesticide residue, so they should really always be purchased organic:
Fruits:
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Strawberries
4. Nectarines
5. Pears
6. Cherries
7. Red Raspberries
8. Imported Grapes
Vegetables:
9. Spinach
10. Bell Peppers
11. Celery
12. Potatoes
13. Hot Peppers
Animal products
*Always look for animal products (meats, poultry, and dairy) that have no added antibiotics and growth hormones. Ingesting meats that have been injected with these harmful substances is equivalent to eating the hormones and antibiotics themselves. Very dangerous!
These foods tend to be lower in pesticide levels so can be purchased conventional if necessary:
Fruits:
14. Pineapples
15. Plantains
16. Mangoes
17. Bananas
18. Watermelon
19. Plums
20. Kiwi Fruit
21. Blueberries
22. Papaya
23. Grapefruit
24. Avocado
Vegetables:
25. Cauliflower
26. Brussels Sprouts
27. Asparagus
28. Radishes
29. Broccoli
30. Onions
31. Okra
32. Cabbage
33. Eggplant
There's no material item that comes close to matching "feeling good" about yourself. Take a look at where you're spending your money now and figure out how to fit organic foods into your budget (even if it's a slow transition). It is worth your effort. Eat Healthy!
Find out the basic reasons why USDA certified organic food is more expensive. Kimberlie Cole Livestock Farmer: West Wind Farms | www.grassorganic.com Alfred Farris Grain Farmer: Windy Acres Farm | www.windyacresfarmshop.com Mary Rogers Organic Crops Research Associate: University of Tennessee Department of Agriculture | organics.tennessee.edu Dr. Forbes Walker Soil Scientist: University of Tennessee Department of Agriculture | organics.tennessee.edu Created by Michael Tapp | www.michaeltapp.com
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Question by timetochange: oRGANIC FOOD???
IS ORGANIC FOOD BETTER FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BEWTWEEN ORGANIC FOOD AND THE REGULAR FOODS, BESIDES THE PERSERVATIVES???????????????
Best answer:
Answer by iluvmyquarab
Organic foods are better for you because when it's Organic it means that while the food was growing (like apples or celery) they can't spray it with nasty pesticides and stuff or alter it's growth chemically. Basically you're getting food that's closer to it's natural form rather than all pumped full of antibiotics and weird stuff.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
'Organic' food labels create perception of healthier fare
Don't judge food by its organic label because "organic" doesn't necessarily mean good it's for you.
Read more on Cornell News Service
How You Can Eat Healthier Using Just Organic Foods
When you go to the grocery store or supermarket to buy food, do you pick simply any produce or are you specific about getting organic foods? There is a big difference between the two of them and, after reading this article you may decide that organic foods are the right choice. Let's take a look at the advantages of purchasing organic produce.
While organic and not organic produce may look identical, organic foods must be able to meet specific standards of manufacture, including special growing and treating requirements that are unique to foods that can be classified "organic". For harvest foods, the organic products can't be grown using any chemicals. Eventually, the food can't be genetically altered.
Previously, organic foods were grown on small family-owned farms. Today, however, they are grown on larger farms and are easily available in most supermarkets and health food stores. In United States, parts of Europe and Japan, the production of organic foods is federally regulated as opposed to other countries where special organic certification is required for these foods to be sold.
Organic foods might include vegetables and fruits, which are not treated and come directly from the farmers through farmer's markets and supermarkets. Some of these foods are only available during certain seasons. One can also buy organic eggs, dairy products and meat in their fresh and unprocessed forms.
Organic eggs are usually supplied by free-range chickens. Organic meats must not arrive from animals that have been treated with any hormones, steroids or antibiotics. Hey, compare rates on SR22 insurance Texas while you are here.
One can find organic foods in the organic products section of the supermarket but usually they are more expensive than their conventional food equivalent. Processed organic foods can comprise of canned products, frozen foods, prepared items and snacks.
Although, non-organic ingredients must be free of artificial food additives and none of them can be processed using chemical ripening methods, genetic modification or irradiation. Sometimes, the organic food must be produced using energy-saving techniques and packaged in recyclable or biodegradable materials.
It's not quite easy to identify whether or not the food is really organic. Sometimes, you need to buy directly from an organic farmer in order to be sure the food is organic. Recently, though, organic foods can be identified by governmental labeling, announcing that the food is "certified organic".
Keeping in mind the safety and healthiness of organic foods, you may wish to make you and your family doing well by buying organic products. The food tastes superior and you can be sure you are getting a product that won't be harmful to you. http://www.ETOXZAFER.com
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Washington apple growers lose money without organic labels
David Granatstein, a WSU sustainable agriculture expert who tracks organic crops, says organic fruit that is sold as conventional fruit allows the industry some leeway to meet growing consumer demand for organic food. But he says growers lose money when organic crops, which cost more to grow and bring in higher retail prices, are sold without an organic label. I got a great deal on SR22 Iowa auto insurance.
Read more on The Oregonian
A Simple and Easy To Understand Guide To Organic Food
What is organic food? While we may have heard about it for over thousand times,many are still in the dark about organic food and its benefits.We hope this article would shed some light on organic food.
The Organic Revolution - The organic revolution is a global phenomenon witnessed in every part of the world. Global organic food market was about USD40 billion in 2006 and over 30 percent or USD12 billion of the global demand stems from the US. The world organic market has been growing by 20% a year since the early 1990s, with future growth estimates ranging from 10-50% annually depending on the country.
What Is Organic Food - Organic food are foods that are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge.and processed without ionizing radiation or food additives.For livestocks, they are reared without the routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.
The word organic food does not only apply to the food from your own home garden, but also to the store bought food products, in which no synthetic artificial inputs are used. In the contemporary times, the term organic food is usually used in reference to the certified organic foods. It has been claimed by health experts that organic food is more nutritious. Some of the features that can be associated with organic food are more attention to quality, good taste, proper selection of crop varieties etc.
Organic Gardening - Organic Gardening is gardening without the use of man-made chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It is said by some of its supporters to be more in harmony with nature. An organic gardener strives to work in harmony with natural systems and to minimize and continually replenish any resources the garden consumes. Organic produce is also known for its superior flavor.
Organic Fertilizers - Organic fertilizers can actually be cheaper, because you can make them yourself. Fish emulsion is a common organic fertilizer. It is a sort of tea made from dead fish. Seaweed fertilizer is another tea-like fertilizer that many organic gardeners swear by. And of course there is natural compost that can help you make use of your kitchen waste! The benefits of organic gardening far outweigh the few drawbacks. It may be a bit more work, but it is so rewarding!
Organic Food Consumption - Organic food consumption has become the trend of the time, but still there are many who do not have a clear idea regarding the definition of organic food and this can be attributed to the fact that we do not possess adequate organic food information. Well, organic food in simple terms can be defined as food that is natural and does not involve the usage of any kind of preservatives or artificial pesticides. Read further to explore organic food facts.
Organic Food Production - Organic food production is legally regulated. Currently, the United States, the European Union, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain organic certification in order to market food as organic.Organic products protect us from toxic and chemical induced diseases while nourishing our bodies to promote good health. Non-organic food only appears to be cheaper, but it costs us our health, our farmland, our eco-systems and taxes to pay for the disasters that chemical farming create. Chemical farming has led to dramatic erosion of the soil, killing off whole species of birds and near extinction of some of our beautiful wildlife. Sustainable Organic Agriculture is already feeding people around the world. Chemical farming can seriously damage farmer's health.
Benefits of Organic Food - Organic foods contain phenolic compounds that protect you from developing heart disease and cancer. Organic food ensures high food quality, which other conventional foods cannot commit. Since organic food is natural and fresh, it boasts off its rich taste. So, head your way towards leading a healthy lifestyle, by eating organic foods. Why not get a free auto insurance rate quote for DUI insurance from my site here.
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Question by Dr Watson (UK): Organic Food . . .?
Why is organic food more expensive? What happens to it when being grown/produced that means it has to cost more than it's non organic opposite?
Best answer:
Answer by jazzkidzmom
It's trendy to be "organic".
Add your own answer in the comments!
Homemade Baby Food: A Guide to Making and Storing It
Considering making baby food at home? This guide offers the pros and cons of homemade baby food, plus a step-by-step guide to how to make it.
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Is “Organic” Food REALLY Organic? The Answer Might Surpise You
The last decade has witnessed an increased interest in things "organic" as more and more consumers seek out products that are healthy, ethical, and environmentally friendly. Nowhere is this more evident that in the food industry.
In fact, the organic food industry has gone from a cottage industry start up to a multi-billion dollar business in less than a decade. Global sales of organic food were estimated to be billion in 2006 with the world organic market growing rapidly by about 20% annually. In the US, organic food products are the fastest growing sector of the food marketplace.
Because of the rapid growth of the organic food industry, it is no surprise that big food companies and retailers have joined the act. Because of these alliances, unlikely organic products are sprouting up everywhere including organic cheetos and organic McDonalds coffee. The new movie FOOD INC eloquently speaks to this issue. Hershey Foods owns Dagoba, Kraft owns Boca Foods and Back to Nature, and Heinz is a big investor in Hain Celestial which is connected to many small organic companies including Earth's Best, Spectrum Organics, and Frutti di Bosco.
So who standarizes and regulates this burgeoning worldwide industry? Every country has its own regulations in labeling organic products.
In the USA, the Organic Food Production Act was passed in 1990 giving mandate to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to set national standards and in 2002, the USDA set up the National Organic Program (NOP) to regulate organic food products. The USDA regulations cover issues such as genetic modification, radiation, bioengineering, pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, and other man-made chemicals but they do not cover some environmental as well as ethical and social issues.
Certification covers all processes involved from production to processing, packaging and transport. The products that fall under NOP jurisdiction are fresh and processed agricultural food products, including dairy products, meat and livestock and food crops. It covers food products only and does not include non-food organic crops such as cotton and plants for cosmetics and personal care products.
Because the NOP is a very small understaffed subagency it cannot undertake inspection of food producers to verify organic claims and thus is dependant on no less than 54 accredited agencies within the US in addition to 44 accredited foreign agencies for products produced outside the US.
In the US, the following terminology is allowed on organic food products.
"100% organic" - single ingredient such as a fruit, vegetable, meat, milk and cheese (excludes water and salt).
"Organic" - multiple ingredient foods which are 95 to 100% organic.
"Made with organic ingredients" - 70% of the ingredients are organic. Can appear on the front of package, naming the specific ingredients.
"Contains organic ingredients" - contains less than 70% organic ingredients.
To say the least, organic labeling is both complicated and confusing. However, only those products that meet the '100% organic' and 'organic' criteria are allowed to carry the USDA Organic seal and the USDA emphasizes that the term 'organic' is not synonymous to 'natural' or 'all-natural'.
In addition to the labeling conundrum and the dependancy of the NOP on other entities for certification, all is not well in the organic realm. Several well-publicized events point to the fact that current regulation by the NOP may not be effective.
(1) In 2005 The Cornucopia Institute filed a complaint against Aurora Organic Dairy for multiple violations of federal organic regulations. Aurora is the supplier to big supermarket chains like Safeway, Wal-Mart, and Costco.
(2) In January 2007 The Cornucopia Institute reported that the retailer giant Wal-Mart was mislabeling certain products organic. The product packaging says "all natural" but Wal-Mart added the word organic to its price labels.
(3) August 2008. The USDA announced that 15 of its accredited certifying agencies had been placed on probation due to various violations of the NOP organic standards, according to AlterNet. The violations included several certifying agencies from outside the US and included agencies in China, a country which has recently been implicated in toxic contaminations, including lead to melamine. One product concerned an organically certified ginger which contained a non-allowable pesticide called aldicarb. The ginger, sold under the 365 label at Whole Foods Market, contained a level of aldicarb not even permissible for conventional ginger, let alone organics. Aldicard causes nausea, headaches and blurred vision even at low concentrations.
(4) April 2009: The Cornucopia Institute urged organic food consumers to petition to the NOSB for the removal of non-organic soy lecithin from the National List. The Institute claims organic lecithin is now commercially available.
(5) June 2009: A federal judge in St. Louis dismissed class action suits filed by consumers against Aurora Dairy for organic milk fraud.
Additionally the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances has become a minefield!
To be certified "organic", a product must contain 95% organic ingredients or materials during its production. The other 5% should be on the list of allowable synthetic substances. A National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances was prepared in 2002 but has since been amended because food producers can file a petition to include substances that are not on the original list but which they think are essential in their production. In June 2007, a final amended National List was issued with the number of allowable substances increasing from 77 to 245, according to the LA Times. Subsequently, the advocacy group Organic Consumers Association expressed objections to the inclusion of some of the new products allowed, especially the food colorings.
And even organic labeling, itself, has recently come underfire due to the abovementioned scandals and controversies involving the NOP. Advocacy groups have put forward the following objections.
(1) Lax national standards. This has created a certification procedure that is unreliable, especially those occurring abroad and to add insult to injury the original Organic Act's mandate for pesticide testing has been declared optional.
(2) Loophole in the Act. The ability to petition for amendments to the National List are being viewed by many as a big loophole resulting in food producers using the process to their advantage. The original goal was to shrink rather than expand the list. So far, only one substance has been removed whereas more than 60 have been added.
(3) Consumers are not getting what they are paying for. For paying extra, consumers expect food that is free from pesticides and chemicals. If the national organic standards were to be lowered, consumers are actually being "ripped off."
(4) Watered down. Many believe that with the participation of corporate giants in the organic food market, the organic principle has been seriously "watered down". They put this down to big companies' strong lobbying power, forcing NOP to make concessions and lower national organic standards to accommodate them.
(5) Greenwashing. Some groups even go as far as accusing the NOP of greenwashing, that the organic seal is just a marketing ploy. Some specific examples of greenwashing activities include importing organic powdered milk from New Zealand and keeping a larger number of organic cows in a smaller space.
Consumer groups and some organic pioneers say they are concerned that the 'corporate alliance' movement - a response to the practices of corporate food production that promotes a natural chemical-free approach to farming - will eventually create a watered down organic food industry unless firm standards are maintained by the NOP, which is unlikely, in view of its past performance.
Other groups feel that conflicts of interest may arise between conventional and organic food production. Organic production used to be a niche market for small organic farmers. As organic production goes mainstream, these small farmers would be outcompeted and driven out of business.
As people become more and more health and socially conscious, the demand for organic products is increasing. However, as economists point out, "as mainstream consumers are growing hungry for untainted food that also nourishes their social conscience, it is getting harder and harder to find organic ingredients." For the purists, however, the philosophy also requires farmers to treat their people and livestock with respect and, ideally, to sell small batches of what they produce locally so as to avoid burning fossil fuels to transport them.
Economic principles, however, do not coincide with purist organic philosophy. The whole supply chain of organic food production is becoming more complicated as the market grows rapidly. The producers are forced to take short cuts in order to stay competitive. In the US, for example, there aren't enough organic cows to produce organic milk. Even if there were enough cows, there aren't enough grains to feed them. And it is no longer possible to feed cows with raw grass to obtain raw grass-fed milk unless the farmer applies fertilizers to his pasture to make the grass grow faster. Some companies are forced to look offshore for organic ingredients, thereby violating several organic principles, not necessarily in the production process, but in terms of low labor costs and high transport costs.
The organic food industry has clearly outgrown the original regulations meant to protect it and its consumers. And the increased demand for organic food may actually be its own undoing. How 'organic is organic food' is even more important now than in the past!
Question by stroumfaki828: Organic food?
I buy organic food all the time, it's pricey but I'd rather eat organic food. My question is why do we have to pay for organic food ? Shouldn't everyone be able to eat organic ?
Best answer:
Answer by nadia g
In a recent study it was proven that there are no more benefit in eating organic food and buying expensive organic food is a waste of money. A Gimmick for which you are paying good money.
Give your answer to this question below!
Some Of The Best Organic Food Suppliers Online
If you’re thinking about going organic there are a few things which you might want to look into first. And one of the most important aspects of trying to go organic is finding good organic food suppliers from whom you can get your organic foods. This includes not only organic fruits and vegetables, but also organic meat and poultry, organic dairy produce as well as organic processed foods.
All of these things come under the heading of organic foods, and when you’re looking to find organic food suppliers for your own needs, then you will have to take these into account as well. On the one hand, and depending on where you live, you have the option of going to the source to get your organic foods, but this will only work if you live in close proximity to organic farmers.
If you do live near an organically run farm, then you have will most likely not have a problem obtaining your organic produce and things. However, since an organic farm will only be able to produce a limited number of organically grown items, it does behoove you to find other organic food suppliers who will be able to look after your other organic needs.
If on the other hand you live in a big city which is miles away from the nearest organic farm, you will have to look around for your organic food suppliers. The best place for you to look would be your local food chain or supermarket, but it’s not guaranteed that these places will have organic foods to begin with or whether they will have a wide range of organic products for you to choose from.
That said, your next option when looking at organic food suppliers is to locate your nearest health food store, make certain that it sells organic foods items and go there for all your organic food needs.
This option however, comes with a few drawbacks, the largest one being the elevated price. Not all health food stores will be expensive, but to a very great extent many health food stores carry food items which are costly, and when you throw in the word “organic” into that mix, it just drives up the prices. Organic foods are costly enough without having to add health food store prices into it as well.
Another option for you to take, and this does seem to be your best option is to go through the many online organic food suppliers to get your organic food needs. Here you will find that you have a larger array of organic foods to choose from as well as a larger number of organic food suppliers.
www.howdini.com How to buy organic produce - Organic foods Looking for organic produce, but not sure you've got the real thing? Anna Lappe, organic food expert, tells you the simple ways to tell whether produce is organic or not. First, let's explain what organic produce is: Produce that is grown organically has not been produced with sewage sludge, it hasn't been irradiated, it doesn't include genetically modified foods, or most man-made chemicals. How can you tell whether a piece of produce is organic? If you're in a store that has an organic section, obviously head for it. But if there isn't an organic section, you have to do a little bit of extra work. * The first thing you should do is look for the USDA certified organic label. If they don't have that, look for the PLU number on most fruits and vegetables. You'll find this on a small label that's been stuck to the fruit. * If the PLU number is four digits long, it's not organic. * If it's 5 digits long and begins with the number 9, it is organic. * You can also look at the fruit. Unfortunately, nonorganic fruit tends to be shinier and more perfect looking than organic. Why buy organic produce? It's healthier for your body. It's healthier for the environment, since it doesn't require pesticides. It's healthier for the farm workers who handle the crops. Babies and small children are especially vulnerable to residues of toxic pesticides and other chemicals. Keywords: how to buy organic produce how to buy organic food ...
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Question by slopoke6968: organic food?
if organic food is grown without any pesticides how do they keep the insects away?
why is it more expensive if they are saving money on chemicals and such?
do we need to wash it more and watch out for buggies??
Best answer:
Answer by inbrokenglass
Organic farmers use a lot of different ways to keep pests away. There is companion planting which means you plant crops with other plants that are known to have qualities that keep the pests away, like nasturtiums and onions. Farmers may encourage or introduce beneficial organisms like certain kinds of spiders or insects that aren't harmful to the crops but will devour any pests that they come across. Many farmers use crop rotation, crop selection and animal manures. Some use traps and crop cover while some will even let animals like chickens roam in their gardens to keep pests down. On a smaller scale there is always the tried and true "walk through and pick the bugs off" method. Many simply allow for a certain amount of pest damage regardless of the methods they use. Keep in mind that most organic growers will use a combination of many of these methods on their crops.
These methods are more time consuming and often more expensive than just spraying crops down so it tends to add some to the price. Also there are far fewer organic farmers than there are chemical using farms so there is often a longer transit time to account for which adds to the price.
The upside is that organic produce DOESN'T need as much prep as non-organic since you're not trying to scrub off the pesticide and chemical fertilizer residue, a task which often requires peeling resulting in taking off all the nutrients held in and just under the peel. Organic veggies and fruits are pretty much wash and go. I use almost exclusively organic produce (and have for years) if it's something I'm not growing in my own garden and I've not noticed any buggies in them! Organic produce also isn't subjected to irradiation or genetic modifying, some folks appreciate that aspect too.
What do you think? Answer below!
Organic marketing conference highlights food safety on the farm
Food scares from contaminated peanut butter to leafy greens toeggs have pushed food safety to the top of many consumers’ minds.And farm practices — both conventional and organic — areincreasingly coming under scrutiny as a result of that concern.
Read more on The Times-News