The United States requires organic crops to be grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides. Organic livestock raised for meat, eggs and dairy products must be allowed to roam freely on grass and given organic food. They can’t be given growth hormones or antibiotics.
There are many advantages to eating organic food:
How your food is raised can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional well being, as well as the well-being of the surrounding environment. Certified Organic Specialty Products often have more nutrients than conventionally produced foods.
Organic produce is more resistant to pesticides. Conventional agriculture uses many chemicals, including synthetic herbicides and fungicides. These residues can stay on our food.
Organic food lasts longer than conventional food and is therefore fresher than regular food. Organic produce may be grown in smaller farms near the destination where it will end up being sold.
Organic farming is better for our environment. Organic farming is better for the environment because it reduces pollution, conserves water, and reduces soil erosion. Organic farming also requires less energy.
Organically raised animals are not subject to growth hormones and antibiotics. Mad cow disease (BSE) is a growing concern due to the consumption of animal byproducts. Antibiotics can also lead to antibiotic-resistant strains. Organically raised animals have greater mobility and are more able to enjoy the outdoors. This allows them to be healthy.
Certain nutrients may be more plentiful in Certified Organic Gums or organic meat and dairy than others. In 2016, a European study found that organic meats and milk contained higher amounts of certain nutrients than those from conventionally raised varieties.
GMO-free organic food can be found. GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), and GE food (Genetically Engineered Foods), are plants whose DNA has been altered in ways that cannot be found in the natural world. Most often, this is done to create a pesticide or resist it.
Organic food vs. locally-grown food
There is no standard definition of “local food”, unlike organic standards. It could come from your region, your state or even your country. You can buy food at local markets during large portions of the year. There are many benefits to buying locally grown food
- Financial: Local economies retain the money. More money is directed to farmers instead of being spent on marketing and distribution.
- Transportation: For example, in the United States the average distance a meal has to travel to reach your table is over 1,500 miles. Picking produce must be done while it is still young. Then, gassing must be used to “ripen” the product after transport. Foods are also processed in factories using radiation and preservatives to preserve them for transport.
- Freshness Local food is picked when they are ripe. This makes it fresher and more flavorful. While some local farmers might use organic methods, it is possible that they are not able to afford to be certified organic. To learn more about the methods of farmers, speak to them at a farmer’s market.
What are GMOs?
GMOs and the effects they have on the environment and human health continue to be a controversial topic. GMOs can be used to create insecticides or make crops resistant to herbicides. Sweet corn grown in the United States has been genetically engineered to resist Roundup herbicides and produce its own insecticide, Bt Toxin.
GMOs are also found in U.S. crops such as soybeans, alfalfa and squash. GMOs are also found in processed foods like bread and cereals. GMOs are more likely to be found on packages that contain corn syrup or soy lecithin.
