 |
What Are Organic Foods?
Foods labeled certified organic must meet strict uniform standards set by the National Organic Program which are verified by independent state or private organizations. Certification includes inspections of farm fields and processing facilities, detailed record keeping, and periodic testing of soil and water to ensure that growers and handlers are meeting the standards which have been set. Because of these strict standards, with organic foods, there are some things that you won't ingest when you eat them, and this is beneficial to your health. You'll also have no worries about radiation, preservatives, additives, or artificial colors. You won't have to worry about nitrites or nitrates, and there's no MSG included.
This is important, because when food animals ingest pesticide-laden crops and other foodstuffs, they, too, will contain pesticides and this will end up in the meat you eat and milk you drink. Therefore, food animals are also raised organically, in that what they ingest is organic (meaning pesticide free, having ingested only high-quality foodstuffs natural to their diets, and that have been grown organically) so that they themselves will end up as organic food sources. 
These animals have also not been injected with hormones or excessive amounts of antibiotics, and they have not been raised on a factory farm. Therefore, when you eat organically, you also help prevent animal cruelty and other mistreatment.
Organic farming is sometimes regarded as hype, but in reality it is the oldest art of producing food. Surely, you don't think that the Romans and the Greeks were using antibiotics and pesticides so many centuries ago! Organic farming emphasizes the use of renewable resources as well as conservation of land and water. Farmers who engage in organic farming work in harmony with nature to maintain healthy soil that by its nature produces plants that can resist insects and disease. Organic farmers try to control pests by rotating crops; they also use "host crops" to attract insects that will help plants by performing cross-pollination. They can also be a food source for bugs that would normally eat the crops. Farmers also bring in predators to the pests who eat the crops, disrupt the mating cycles of troublesome insects, and trap and use other barriers to prevent pests from destroying crops. Nonetheless, organic farmers know that insects will eat a certain amount of their crops, no matter what they do. This is ok by them. The reasoning is, bugs have to eat, too, and this is nature in action, the "circle of life," so to speak. Of course, farmers don't want an entire crop lost because of infestation or other events, because this hurts their profits and also causes organic food prices to rise. And even though "conventional" pesticide use produces more food for less cost up front, the EPA states that 30% of insecticides, 90% of fungicides, and 60% of conventional herbicides are potentially cancer-causing agents. Therefore, you can see that the overall cost of such farming is high indeed.
The soil is the lifeblood of organic farming. It might sound funny to say that, since we take soil for granted, but it's true. Just as with any element that's used over and over, the soil, too, needs to be nourished in order to be nourishing to the food it grows. Farmers who grow organic food plan carefully to make sure that the soil has the right nutrients in the right combinations for crops to flourish. And the soil itself needs to be replenished after every harvest, since the crops themselves can deplete the soil.
Organic matter is compost made from plants and manure. Farmers can also use cover crops like legumes, grass, alfalfa and other nitrogen-rich crops to replenish soil nitrogen and other nutrients. These crops are harvested to some extent, true, but part of these crops are left right where they've grown and then tilled right back into the soil so that the soil itself gets fed with the crop's nutrients. In addition, crop rotation and natural mineral supplementation is also used. For example, farmers can adjust the soil's pH with limestone and sulfur. Nature's smallest creatures get into the act, too. Earthworms and microorganisms enrich and aerate the soil.
Standards for the processing of organic products cover all steps in the process from receiving organic raw materials, acceptable processing aids and ingredients, appropriate packaging materials and labeling, to cleaning methods, waste disposal and pest management at processing facilities.
The terms natural and organic foods do not mean the same thing. Natural foods may have been grown so using some of the same techniques as organic foods, such as free range raising of chickens, but only foods certified organic can claim that they are organic on the label. Money Saving Tips For Switching To Organic FoodsCook More Often: This may be easier said than done for those cooking for one. Organic foods can be pricey. At first, buy staple food like fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat and poultry and make your own dishes from scratch. Stock Up: Each time you shop, bring home one or two more organic items for your pantry. Join an organic food co op: Food co-ops allow consumers to purchase food in bulk directly from farmers and other suppliers at reasonable prices. We joined a co-op in an effort to buy organic foods at a reasonable price. It’s great! We shop once a week and stock up on organic foods. Check to find a co-op near you. Buy in Bulk: Buying in bulk will keep costs down. Look for many pantry staples often available in bulk, such as beans, rice, flour and much more. Shop in Season: Eating seasonal fruit and vegetables, especially when they're locally grown, is a real teat for your family. Shop at your local farmer’s market for fresh, tasty produce. Go Slow: You don’t need to go to your pantry and throw out everything. Gradually do this. And don't feel that you must buy organic everything. Even switching to a few organic regulars like organic milk, cheese, pasta, chicken, bananas makes a difference. Preserve: Growing up, my family had a vegetable garden. I remember my parents always canning food for future use. Seems we have forgotten about canning in today’s fast paced world. Try revitalizing the lost art of canning drying. Consult the National Center For Home Food Preservation for more information. The only downside is the price, but you're paying for superior quality. Organic food is about 50% higher in price than conventional food. This is a shame really. People suffering from diseases (and others on a lower income) would benefit greatly from natural, healthy food, but are often not able to buy it - leaving them with no choice other than to buy foods of dubious quality. It should be the other way round if you ask us! Organic food SHOULD be the (friendly priced) standard. Luckily, its popularity in the U.S. is growing, which hopefully will have positive effects on the price tag.
You can be sure that when something says certified organic, it will meet every definition of organic as previously described, and you and your family will be assured of the best and most natural food sources. Now, read about the many benefits of organic eating foods for the wellbeing of your family. Where can I find more information about organic foods? Organic Trade Association, a membership-based business association representing the organic business community in North America. Organic.org, a great source for additional information for answering the question what are organic foods. National Organic Program, the federal government's organic regulatory program housed in the United States Department of Agriculture. Organic Research, a website for information about organic regulation worldwide. To Buy or Not to Buy Organic: What You Need to Know to Choose the Healthiest, Safest, Most Earth-Friendly Food Covering fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, spices, and more, The Organic Cook's Bible The Organic Food Guide: How to Shop Smarter and Eat Healthier
|
Food journalist and former professional chef, Cindy Burke, writes an easy to read and informative book about what are organic foods. It includes a helpful shopping guide (handy at the market) on exactly what to look for when buying organic fruits and vegetables. 
by Jeff Cox who answers the question what are organic foods by addresing the what, where, when, how, and why of choosing and using more than 150 types of organic foods.
This handy guide by Steve Meyerowitz provides a quick introduction to what are organic foods: what "organic" and related terms like "locally grown" and "all natural" mean, how to read food labels, and how organic foods are related to nutrition and health. 
