Eating Organic: What does it actually mean?
If you do the grocery shopping for your family you are most likely aware that many foods have “certified organic” labels on them. You may know that eating organic foods has its benefits, but you don’t really know why eating organic is better. I know I used to avoid choosing organic foods at grocery stores, because they were always more expensive than non-organic foods. I did not know enough about the organic food industry to understand why I should be purchasing organic foods my family.
It’s not only the nutritional benefits of eating organic that made us make the switch, it was the positive impact organic food production has on the environment that made choosing organic foods for my family a no brainer. Let’s explore what eating organic actually means so you can make a more informed decision for you and your family.
What does eating organic mean?
What is all the hype around organic foods, and is eating organic really worth it? When you see a certified organic sticker on produce or vegetables in the grocery store, what does that actually mean? Organic produce can only be grown in soil that is free from pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and other prohibited substances by the USDA. In order for meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products to be classified as organic, they must be raised without any growth hormones or antibiotics.
If knowing your produce was grown in soil that includes these pesticides isn’t enough to make you think twice about avoiding non-organic foods, you should be aware that many of these substances have been classified as “probable human carcinogens”. Studies have shown that these common herbicides used in non-organic farming can lead to many health and development issues in both kids and adults.
Okay rewind, how do I really know if these organic foods weren’t grown on a farm that uses any of these pesticides or growth hormones? Great question! All products that are labeled organic must be inspected beforehand. The farms that grow organic products are inspected to ensure their soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and general farming methods all adhere to the USDA regulations to be classified as organic. It makes sense why organic foods are slightly more expensive, since organic food production is much more labor intensive.
Is eating organic better for you?
Support small farms by shopping at your local farmers market for your produce.
Alright, so if I choose to buy organic food I avoid ingesting those nasty pesticides and growth hormones, but are there any nutritional benefits to eating organically grown food products? In fact, many studies have shown that organic food products have higher percentages of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients. It should be noted that just because something is labeled organic does not automatically mean that it is healthy, however, it does mean that you and your family will be ingesting less chemicals and toxins.
Why is organic food better for the environment?
One of the most important reasons you should choose organic foods vs non-organic foods actually involves the environment. It’s no secret that climate change and is a serious issue, and non-organic farming practices have significant negative effects on the environment. Organic farming production reduces pollution and soil erosion, conserves water, increases the fertility of soil, and uses less energy.
In fact, studies have shown that “if only 10,000 medium-sized farms in the U.S. converted to organic production, they would store so much carbon in the soil that it would be equivalent to taking 1,174,400 cars off the road, or reducing car miles driven by 14.62 billion miles.”
You may not believe that choosing to buy organic strawberries the next time you are at the grocery store can really have an influence on the environment, but think about if every family in America made that choice. Choosing to purchase organic products supports organic farming, organic food production and the organic food industry overall. We need to start somewhere, with baby steps, little changes and small choices.
From seed to table
I encourage you to do your own research to become educated about the organic food industry. Become more informed about how large corporate farming practices are destroying our environment.
Many people have no problem spending extra money on quality when it comes to clothes, electronics, cleaning products and other comfort items for their home, why not shuffle your budget to allow you to purchase organic food products for your family. You won’t only be making better choices for your family, but you will also be making healthy choices for our planet.
This is why at Fresh Earth Bistro we have created fun and engaging ways for you to teach your children how to garden. By teaching kids how to grow their own produce, we can help create a world where people can live sustainably, by growing their own food.
You don’t have to be an expert at gardening to grow your own vegetables, you just have to be motivated to live a healthy lifestyle. Check out our gardening grow kits and kids gardening activity books to help teach you and your family how to start growing your own produce!