Why I Eat Organically Produced Foods.
A huge part of my philosophy around food is to eat organic produce wherever possible. That’s mainly because I want to:
Avoid as many pesticides as I can.
Steer clear of artificial additives, colours and flavourings.
Stay right away from GMO foods.
I’ve endured a lot of snide remarks from those not on the same wavelength (or planet I sometimes think!) as me.
‘It’s just a marketing ploy! Organic is no better!’
‘This is a carrot and it grows in the ground so it‘s organic!”
‘It’s OK for you! You only have yourself to feed but it’s too expensive for me to buy organic for all my family!’
‘It’s too hard to find!’
If you’re into buying organic produce you’ll have heard them all too, and then some, I’m sure!
At the end of the day, we live in a free world and people are free to choose what they put in their mouths and bodies so I leave people in peace to eat their glyphosate sprayed, chemically enhanced and often genetically modified fruits and vegetables and move on to enjoy my clean organic fare – you can’t change the minds of people who aren’t open to change!
You can make your own choice too, but please look at the differences between Organic and Non-Organic (Conventional) Farming practices before you make that choice. Look at the costs of investing in Organic foods for yourself and your family versus the costs of sickness and ill health in years to come as a result of eating chemically laden foods. Read, research and do your homework – your health depends on it. Here’s why I choose Organic.
What does “Organic” mean?
The term “organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. While the regulations vary from country to country, most countries agree that organic crops must be grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers.
Now I don’t know about you but there are enough good reasons in that sentence alone to have me going way out of my way to seek out organic produce regardless of the cost!
Standards Australia state: The principal objectives of an organic production system include—
(a) The production of quality food and fibre;
(b) The enhancement of biological cycles in farming systems;
(c) Maintaining or improving the fertility of soils;
(d) Working as far as practicable within a closed system by minimizing the use of non- renewable resources;
(e) The avoidance of land, water and atmospheric pollution resulting from agriculture and processing practices; and
(f) The co-existence with, and the protection of, the environment and the welfare of animals.
Now, I’m no Einstein or rocket scientist but am I missing something here? Shouldn’t all farming be about producing quality food and fibre, enhancing farming systems, improving soil fertility, minimizing non-renewable resources, avoiding land, water and air pollution and protecting the environment and the welfare of animals?????????????
Are you as bewildered as I am? I just don’t get it! Surely the objectives of non-organic food production should be the same? Aren’t Organic and Non-Organic Farmers all living on the same planet, and shouldn’t they both have a moral obligation to take care of our planet? Shouldn’t our Standards Australia be demanding all farmers take care of Australia for all Australians through applying the principles above to their farming practices?
So, just how do the different principles above affect the end results of our farmer’s farming efforts– our foods?
| Organic vs. Non-Organic (In no particular order) | |
| Organic produce: | Conventionally-grown produce: |
| Grown with natural fertilizers (manure, compost). | Grown with synthetic or chemical fertilizers. The most commonly used are phosphorus and nitrogen fertilisers and they can leach into the groundwater and wash into waterways, resulting in serious environmental damage and have been known to cause human health concerns. |
| Uses less energy in production. | Modern conventional farming uses more petroleum than any other industry. More energy is now used to produce synthetic fertilisers than to till, cultivate and harvest crops. |
| Weeds are controlled naturally (crop rotation, hand weeding, and tilling). | Weeds are controlled with chemical herbicides. Many of the herbicides were registered long before extensive research linked 60% of them to cancer and other diseases. |
| Pests are controlled using natural methods (birds, insects, traps) and naturally-derived pesticides. | Over 400 chemicals and pesticides are used to control pests, and residues are often found in non-organic foods. Research has shown that 30% of insecticides and 90% of fungicides are known to lead to cancer, nerve system damage and endocrine problems. |
| Organic farming methods prevent soil erosion and build healthy soils. | Conventional farm soils have been shown to have:
More nitrogen leaching Less nutrient holding ability Less efficient biological nutrient cycling More runoff and erosion Less soil fertility |
| Organic food has higher levels of some nutrients. | Conventional foods have lower levels (up to six times) of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is produced naturally in plants as a protective compound against stress and disease. |
| Organic foods are as nature intended them to be. | Many non-organic crops are genetically engineered with the Bt toxin in order to resist infestation from insects. Root exudates from these plants release the toxin into the soil, where it retains its activity for at least 234 days, long after its release. |
| Organic farming helps protect water quality. | Pesticides and other chemicals widely used in conventional farming contaminate groundwater and rivers and pollute primary sources of drinking water. |
| Organic food has lower nitrate levels. | High nitrate levels in food and drinking water are converted to carcinogenic nitrosamines. Nitrates have been shown to impair the ability of the blood to carry oxygen and may pose a risk of methemoglobinemia. |
| Organic food is not irradiated. | Irradiation causes chemical reactions that alter the chemical makeup, nutritional content, and the sensory qualities of the food. |
Food for thought – right? And that’s just fruits and vegetables and a few of the facts!
There are numerous reasons why I choose organic foods but at the end of the day, it just doesn’t make sense to keep bombarding my body with more and more chemicals.
Sadly Organic food in Australia is often more expensive than non-organic foods due to the more labour intensive techniques employed but the more you know about the overall benefits of organic food, the more you begin to realise it is a wise investment for your health (and that of your family) in the long term. I believe the prices will come down as more consumers demand clean products but meantime here are some handy tips to help you set some priorities so it may be possible to purchase organic food and stay within your food budget.
Shop at farmers’ markets. Many towns and cities host a weekly farmers’ market, where local farmers sell their produce at an open-air street market, often at a discount to grocery stores.
Join a food co-op. A natural foods co-op or cooperative grocery store typically offers lower prices to members, who pay an annual fee to belong.
Organic food buying tips
Buy in season – Fruits and vegetables are cheapest and freshest when they are in season. Find out when produce is delivered to your market so you’re buying the freshest food possible.
Shop around – Compare the price of organic items at the grocery store, the farmers’ market and other venues (even the freezer aisle).
Avoid the Dirty Dozen! Some types of conventionally grown veggies are much higher in pesticides than others and should be avoided. The following fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticide levels and are often referred to as the ‘Dirty Dozen”.
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Peaches
- Pears
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Celery
- Tomatoes
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Potatoes
Above all else – be informed and do what you feel is right for YOU. There will always be people with vested interests in both camps who will try and win your hard earned dollars. Those on the conventional farming side of the fence have to defend their livelihoods and justify why they do what they do in order to continue doing it and sleep at night. I listen to their views but until they can prove to me that Organic produce is more harmful to my health than non-organic – I’m going to stick with Organic!
References:
WA Government Primary Industry and Regional Development: Nitrogen and Phosphorous Fertilizers
The Australian Organic Food Directory: Why Choose Organics
SAI global AS6000: Certified Organic
The Dirty Dozen: The Dirty Dozen
Interesting Reading:
The Great Food Debate: Impact of Pesticides
Australia’s Most Dangerous Pesticides: Most Dangerous Pesticides
Health Department – Pesticides and Consumers: Health Publications