I am a huge proponent of organics! Certified organic food production carries weight and makes a difference on personal, local, and global levels. Farmers cannot use toxic synthetic pesticides, GMOs, artificial fertilizers or ingredients, or any other unnecessary hormones or antibiotics. Restorative practices promote biodiversity, restore and maintain soil and natural ecosystem cycles, and enhance the health of plants and animals. 

 

12 reasons we should all go organic

From The Organic Center:

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1. Organic Is the Only Alternative Delivering Meaningful Health Results.

It is hard to miss the problems arising in the wake of the conventional food system–toxic exposures, birth defects, learning disabilities, obesity, water pollution, unacceptable suffering by farm animals, to name a few. While dozens of labels promise undefined and unverified benefits, the certified organic label stands apart in delivering what people need–nutritious food, grown using methods that minimize the use of toxins while building soil quality and protecting water quality. A growing, dynamic organic food sector will stimulate valuable changes benefiting all of agriculture, as well as everyone dependent on the American farmer for three square meals a day.

 

2. Reduce Your Exposure to Harmful Synthetic Pesticides.

On average, conventional farmers apply 2-12+ synthetic pesticides to their crops. The average serving of conventionally grown leafy greens, peppers, tree fruits, berries, and grapes contains three to four pesticide residues. Residues of some widely used pesticides may trigger subtle changes in a child’s development, and have been linked to a wide range of health problems including ADHD, autism, obesity, and certain forms of cancer.

 

3. Boost the Nutritional Quality of Your Food.

Organic crops are grown in healthy, biologically active soils. While crops on organic farms tend to yield somewhat less per acre and often take longer to grow than crops on conventional farms, plants nurtured by soil on organic farms produce crops that often contain higher levels of important antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.

 

4. Steer Clear of Unknown Genetically Engineered Food Risks.

Most of today’s genetically engineered (GE) foods were approved over 15 years ago during a period when the government was aggressively promoting biotechnology. The prevailing “wisdom” was that GE foods were “substantially equivalent” to conventional foods. We have since learned that even small differences in the genetic makeup of food can lead to unexpected human health risks. Because organic farmers are not allowed to plant GE seeds, nor use GE crop inputs, choosing organic is the only sure way to avoid GE food risks.

 

5. Decrease your Intake of Unnecessary Hormones and Antibiotics.

Most conventional livestock farmers use a combination of growth hormones, drugs, feed supplements, and high-grain diets to push their animals to grow faster, get bigger, and produce more milk and eggs per day. In fact, animals on conventional farms are often pushed so hard that they experience serious reproductive and/or other health problems leading to heavy antibiotic use. The National Organic Program (NOP) rule prohibits the use of virtually all synthetic animal drugs. At the end of the day, healthy animals produce healthier meat, milk and dairy products, and eggs.

 

6. Give Farm Animals a Healthy Measure of Respect.

A significant share of the livestock raised on conventional farms live in crowded, stressful conditions that erode animal health, increase drug dependency, and take away any chance of carrying out natural behaviors. However, the National Organic Program (NOP) rule, states that organically raised animals must have access to the outdoors, including pasture, and ample space to behave naturally. WHAT IS ORGANIC? Organic food production methods promote biodiversity, the biological cycling of nutrients, and plant and animal health. Certified organic farmers may not use toxic synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and unnecessary hormones or antibiotics. Instead, they use practices that restore, maintain, and enhance soil and ecosystem health. GMOs, artificial ingredients, or trans fats may not be used.

 

7. Preserve Local Crop Varieties for Future Generations.

Today 50% of all food eaten worldwide comes from four plant species and three animal species. A handful of multi-national corporations own and control over 50% of the world’s seed market. Small organic farms often preserve heirloom and rare seed varieties for future generations to enjoy. There are more than 10,900 certified organic farms and ranches in the U.S. and more than 4 million organic acres (2010 survey).

 

8. Improve Water Quality and the Safety of Drinking Water.

Rainfall landing on a field of crops will carry a certain amount of soil, nutrients, and chemicals downstream or into underground aquifers. The more chemicals applied per acre, the greater the challenge in preserving water quality. The Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico is the most graphic example of the enormous harm caused when farm chemicals flowing off of millions of acres congregate in the mighty Mississippi.

 

9. Promote Biodiversity and Beauty in Rural Landscapes.

Organic farmers not only encourage biodiversity, they depend on it – both above and below the ground. Experienced organic farmers have learned over many decades that combining multiple crops with livestock and other animals is the best way to promote soil health and fully utilize the rainfall and sunlight that falls on an acre in any given year.

 

10. Maintain Healthy Soil.

Healthy soil is the bedrock of all successful organic farms. Hundreds of studies conducted over the last 50 years have compared soil quality on organic versus nearby conventional farms and virtually everyone has concluded that organic management practices, including crop rotation, substantially enhance soil quality, restore nitrogen and organic components, and sequester carbon to help fight global warming.

 

11. Organic Food Delivers More Intense Flavors.

Studies suggest that organic fruits and vegetables more often than not have higher levels of flavor-enhancing nutrients, coupled with lower concentrations of water and sugars. The end result–typically more intense and complex flavors. Plus, no artificial food colors or preservatives are added to any organic foods.

 

12. Create Healthier Working Environments for Farmworkers and Rural Neighbors.

Farming is second only to mining on the list of the most hazardous occupations. Unless great care is exercised, exposures to toxic pesticides, caustic fertilizers, and other chemicals will pose risks for many people working on or living near farms. Organic farmers simply do not use high-risk chemical materials and so workers, and rural neighbors, have one less health risk to worry about.

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Want more?

Dr. Jessica Shade of The Organic Center recently shared eight main benefits of organic:

 

1. No pesticides.

“Eating an organic diet for a week can reduce pesticide exposure by 96%.” Pesticides have been linked to asthma, poor lung function, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, Diabetes, Depression and more. In addition to the potential human health effects, pesticides have negative effects on the environment and on the critical pollinators.

 

2. No agricultural antibiotics and growth hormone exposure.

Studies continue to show that the use of antibiotics in agriculture contributes to resistance, and the World Health Organization has declared this a global epidemic.

 

3. Better taste and nutrition.

When compared to conventional crops, Organic crops have up to 69% higher levels of antioxidants.

 

4. Good for the environment.

With all the pesticides and chemicals, our bee population is declining, and many crops depend on the bee population for survival.

 

5. Water Quality.

Our water quality decreases with the use of pesticides creating nutrient runoff (dead zones, algal booms) and pesticide runoff.

 

6. Climate Change.

Jessica discussed carbon sequestration in soil (bonus material: “The Solution Under Our Feet: How Regenerative Organic Agriculture Can Save the Planet”), decreased energy use and less greenhouse gas release as a result of going Organic.

 

7. Humans aren’t the only ones to benefit from Organic.

Organic extends to positive impacts for: birds, insects, amphibians, mammals and plants – all of which are critical to the environment.

 

8. Soil Health.

Organic means we have higher soil nutrition levels, a higher microbial diversity and activity and better soil structure.

 

The benefits of organic are countless. Join the movement!