With a lot of hype to ‘buy,’ ‘grow’ and ‘eat’ Organic, one often wonders if it is worth all the fuss.
Is it a mere marketing propaganda to make people pay more for food (in many cases)?
Is there really something to this Organic-Craze?
Is it a passing trend or is Organic here to stay?
Join me on this quest…
Definition:
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Organic can be defined as: “of, relating to, yielding, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides.”
Generally, “Organic” refers to the way and manner in which products are grown and processed. So, “Organic Food” is produced using only methods that comply with the standards of “Organic Farming.” These standards however vary from country to country. It is therefore important to find out what exactly and precisely Organic implies in your area.
Overall, Organic Farming involves the following practices:
- Restricts the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
- Cycle resources
- Promote ecological balance
- Conserve biodiversity
- Not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents or synthetic food additives.
For example, In the United States “organic crops must be grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers” and “Organic livestock raised for meat, eggs, and dairy products must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed. They may not be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal by-products.”
Presently, the European Union, United States, Canada and several other countries require producers to obtain special certifications based on each government-defined standard in order to market food as organic within their borders. Subsequently, Organic Products are usually labelled as such.
Just don’t be deceived; ‘Organic’ is not the same as ‘Natural,’ ‘Eco’ or ‘Bio.’
MY TAKE: Before you buy Organic, know what it really means in your area or where the products are grown.
To be continued…
RESOURCES:
Organic Foods: What you need to know about eating organic
Let’s talk about… organic farming
Organic farming – helping the environment, thanks to the community