How & Why You Should Go Organic!

How & Why You Should Go Organic!

"Organic" refers to a method of farming used to grow and process agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and meat. Organic farming excludes conventional methods of fertilization and pesticides for weed control. Organic farmers use natural fertilizers to feed soil and plants and use crop rotation or mulch to manage weeds. In addition, organic farming is a more sustainable option since it’s designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution.

Why choose organic?

· Pesticides: Conventional farmers use synthetic pesticides to protect crops from molds, insects, and diseases. However, residue from these pesticides can remain on and in produce. Buying organic produce reduces exposure to pesticide residue.

· Micronutrient levels: Recent research suggests levels of micronutrients are higher in organically produced food than conventionally produced food.

· Artificial additives: Conventional foods often use fortifying agents such as preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colorings and flavorings, and monosodium glutamate. Organic regulations ban or severely restrict the use of these additives.

· Environment: Organic farming is a more sustainable way of farming by reducing pollution and conserving water.

Identifying Organic Foods

The USDA has established an organic certification program requiring organic food to meet strict government standards. These standards regulate how much food is grown, handled, and processed. Products certified 95% or more organic hold a USDA organic seal. The packaging term “all natural” does not imply the foods is also organic. These two terms are NOT interchangeable.

Buying Organic Produce

Purchasing foods that are all organic can be inconvenient and expensive. Luckily, not all foods are produced with the same volume of pesticides. There are certain produce items with high pesticide content that should be purchased organic as often as possible. There are also produce items traditionally grown with a lower amount of pesticides. These items should be chosen when an organic option is not available. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases a list of foods with the highest and lowest pesticides each year. Below are this year’s Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen.

· EWG's Dirty Dozen:

1.      Strawberries

2.      Spinach

3.      Kale, collard & mustard greens

4.      Nectarines

5.      Apples

6.      Grapes

7.      Bell & hot peppers

8.      Cherries

9.      Peaches

10.   Pears

11.   Celery

12.   Tomatoes

Other high pesticide foods not listed in the Dirty Dozen: apricots, artichokes, cantaloupe from Mexico, raspberries.

EWG's Clean Fifteen:

1.      Avocado

2.      Sweet corn

3.      Pineapple

4.      Onion

5.      Papaya

6.      Sweet peas (frozen)

7.      Asparagus

8.      Honeydew melon

9.      Kiwi

10.   Cabbage

11.   Mushrooms

12.   Cantaloupe

13.   Mango

14.   Watermelon

15.   Sweet potato

Other clean foods not listed in Clean Fifteen: bananas, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, carrots, chard, lettuce, okra, papaya, peaches (canned), radishes, and tangerines.

Do what's best for your body and the environment.... Go Organic!

Rachel Oppitz, ND