Eco Friendly

What Does it Mean to Go Organic?

With a phenomenal 20% annual growth rate, organic food is the fastest-growing U.S. food segment. This is partly because organic food just tastes better. Organic, farm-fresh brown eggs, for example, make fluffier and better-tasting omelets and frittatas than ordinary eggs. Inexpensive organic mini carrots make salads and side dishes crispier and more flavorful.

Organic food also helps the environment. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.”  

Although the USDA “makes no claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food,” many people believe there are toxins in many common grocery store foods. An apple grown and harvested conventionally, for example, can have as many as 36 different pesticides sprayed on it.

Organic farmers find natural alternatives for controlling pests, such as using citrus oil, eucalyptus and tobacco, strategies that sometimes reflect ancient agricultural techniques. Organic crops are grown without bioengineering or ionizing radiation, and without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or waste materials. Animals raised on organic farms graze in pastures, rather than eat feed enhanced by slaughterhouse waste, and are not given hormones or antibiotics.

Government-approved certifiers inspect organic farms to ensure they meet USDA organic standards. In some cases it takes years to transform chemical-tainted fields into soil clean enough to pass an organic quality inspection. Companies that handle or process organic food must also be certified.

The USDA Organic seal tells you that a product is at least 95 percent organic. The use of the seal is voluntary and may not appear on all organic products. Products that are less than 70% organic can list those ingredients on the side of the package but cannot make any organic claims on the front. 

The next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up an organic product you've never tried. It might become something you’ll want to eat every day.