Natural, all-natural, free-range, cage-free, pesticide-free, made-with-organic-ingredients, grass-fed, eco-friendly…With labels like these, how are you supposed to tell what you’re eating?
If you’re putting it in your body, we think you should know exactly how it was made and what it contains. So today, we’re taking the most common label of all and breaking it down—in a totally transparent way.
ORGANIC. What exactly does it mean? What are the pros and cons of eating organic? And how can you tell if something is really organic?
On the most basic level, organic means that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) took a look at where and how that food item was produced and said, “Yep, this satisfies our federal standards.” The USDA organic standards address soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and the use of additives or GMOs.
Organic standards govern the entire growing process, from seed to harvest to retail. The idea is that organic farmers use only natural processes to produce their food. So no bioengineering, no chemicals, and no hormones. Because the production process is different for different types of products, each process is governed by a unique set of rules. So, produce has different standards from grains, which have different standards from dairy, which has different standards from meat.
Here are the rules for growing organic fruit and vegetables and producing organic meat, dairy, and eggs.
It’s up to you. To help you make an educated decision, here are the pros and cons of eating organic (and why we ultimately recommend it).
We know this is no small setback. Organic farming is more labor-intensive, organic certification is expensive, and organic feed for animals costs double the conventional type. Plus, organic farms are generally smaller, which means they produce less volume and therefore make less money. Because of these things, organic is always more expensive.
To keep it cheap, shop at your local farmer’s market, join a food co-op, or grow your own food! Additionally, check out community supported agriculture farms—these are local, organic farms where individuals or families in the community sign up to purchase a share of produce in bulk regularly.
Other price-conscious options?
Buy in season and buy local. The produce will be cheaper, the transport costs will be way less, and it will be overall fresher. And don’t be afraid to shop around! Compare prices—every store prices a little differently, and if you search them out, you’ll find good deals.
Sometimes, the cost is a deal-breaker. That’s okay.
Here are the things you should absolutely buy organic and the ones you can do without.
Apples, sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, celery, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, kale, collard greens, summer squash, nectarines, peaches, spinach, grapes, hot peppers, and strawberries should be bought organic as much as possible. Add dairy, meat, and eggs to this list! When it comes to these items, you’ll be grateful you ate organic.
Asparagus, avocado, mushrooms, cabbage, sweet corn, eggplant, kiwi, mango, onion, papaya, pineapple, frozen sweet peas, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, and cantaloupe are known as the “clean 15.”
In other words, they’re OK to eat non-organic and relatively safe when grown conventionally.
Simple. It says so. The USDA has established an organic certification program that issues a specific seal only organic-certified food items can boast. If it doesn’t have this seal, it’s not organic. Now, go shop to your heart’s content and get yourself some organic eats!
No. Organic farms do use pesticides, but only naturally-derived pesticides. They’re less toxic, but they still might pose some health risks.
Unfortunately, no. We understand the urge, but while peeling and washing veggies will reduce some of the effects of conventional growing, it can’t quite eliminate all pesticides and fertilizers. Plus, if the soil a plant was grown in is contaminated, the fruit/veggie will be too.
Yes. All sorts of junk food meet the organic requirements, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good option for everyday eating. Keep an eye out for ‘organic’ processed foods, and don’t let the label fool you.
“100% organic” means exactly that—all ingredients involved are organic. “Organic” means the food item is made with at least 95% organic ingredients. There’s also “Made with organic ingredients,” which tells you that at least 70% of the ingredients are organic.
These days, anywhere! Most grocery stores have a great organic selection—, especially for produce. Does organic food taste better? Absolutely. It’s fresher, healthier, and picked at a riper stage.
Protect your and your family’s health by eating organic. Yes, it costs more, but in the end, you’ll be happy you did! Plus, organic always tastes more flavorful and fresher—more joy per bite!
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