Is Organic Food Better?
What are the Pros and Cons of Organic Foods?
Is organic food better for you than commercially grown foods? To better understand the pros and cons of organic foods, you need to first define organic foods. Then, find out where organic food companies, suppliers and markets are located and how to buy from them. Or better yet, grow your own organic produce.
Organic food benefits are significant: for you, your family and the environment. Gaining an understand of how to define organic food (certified or not), and how it’s labelled, is important when buying food for your family. Discover why genetically modified foods are not healthy for the environment (follow the links at the bottom of this page to read more about the impacts of GM foods).
We find it interesting, and alarming, that there is still much discussion about the value of organics. When you make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle and to miminizing the impact we have on the environment, it’s important to review the pros and cons of organic foods (the pros (in our opinion) are significant and the cons are typically related to cost).
We believe the answer is yes; organic foods are better for you, your family and the environment.
First, let’s define organic food.
It is food produced (grown, stored, processed, packaged and shipped) with the avoidance of most synthetic chemical inputs (such as pesticides, antibiotics, fertilizers, food additives, and more); with no genetically modified foods organisms; no irradiation; and no use of sewage, rejected food, or other unpalatable products not fit for consumption. Organic gardening and farming methods produce healthy foods.
Additionally, organic food must use farm land that has been free from chemicals for a number of years (often, three or more) and that has been tested to prove ‘clean’ soil.
Organic certification procedures require that the food producer and/or distributor keeps detailed written records (of where, when, and how the food was produced) and keeps the organic food segregated from non-organic food if working with both foods.