Economic and Environmental Impacts of Organic Food

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Hey folks, if you've been checking things out on my blog I'm sure you've noticed that most of the ingredients in my recipes are organic. If you have been interested in switching to a more organic diet you may want some more information on the benefits of eating organically. And while the health benefits are numerous did you know that organic foods can also help to improve the environment as well as the economy? Well it's true!

It's commonly known these days but often overlooked that many farmers use pesticides and other chemicals when growing many of the fruits and veggies we eat on a daily basis. Now even though many of these pesticides and chemicals have said to be safe, many still have concerns. Conventionally grown crops are sprayed with significant amounts of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and chemical fertilizers. These chemicals are designed to kill other forms of life and you may very well be eating them. Don’t think you’re safe just because you rinse your food. While it does help, many of the chemicals are deeply absorbed and just the act of rinsing off your produce is not a sufficient method of removing these toxins.

Were you aware that many soils become contaminated when the use of pesticides, fertilizers and other similar chemicals are present? And due to soil contamination many farmers who wish to switch from conventional methods of farming to organic methods must overhaul their fields or wait a specific period of time until their soils can be considered clean again.

In this economy many farmers are getting a second chance with organic foods. It can be a very expensive venture running a farm and getting certified as an organic grower can be a difficult task. QAI (Quality Assurance International) is an organization that issues certification but the process is not easy to pass and a number of strict rules must be followed and certain qualifications must be met. Although it takes a lot of hard work and determination many farmers are finding big payoffs to making the switch.

One way I support organic farmers is by going to local farmers markets and buying as much locally grown organic produce directly from the growers as I can. It's a great way to help build economic strength in your community and gives me a sense of connection to the land and to the people involved in growing the food I consume. Plus in my opinion the items I get at the farmers markets always seem to taste so much better than that in the major grocery stores.


Thanks for reading, more info is on the way. Remember, eat organically!

12 worst fruits and veggies to buy conventionally grown

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Not all of us can afford to go 100% organic every time we shop. What we can do though is to focus on those foods that come with the heaviest burden of pesticides, additives and hormones. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure by 80% by staying away from the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating only the cleanest. If consumers get their USDA-recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and veggies from the 15 most contaminated, they could consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally grown produce ingest less than 2 pesticides daily.

According to EWG analyst Chris Campbell, the new dirty dozen only reflects measurable pesticide residues on the parts of the foods normally consumed (i.e. washed and peeled). Here are the dirty dozen, some safer alternatives follow each.

1. Peaches : Multiple pesticides are regularly used on these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards.

Can't find organically grown? Safer alternatives will include watermelon, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.

2. Apples : Like peaches, apples are typically grown with the use of poisons to kill a variety of pests, from insects to fungi. Scrubbing and peeling will not eliminate chemical residue completely, so it's best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients.

Can't find organically grown? Safer alternatives will include watermelon, bananas and tangerines.

3. Sweet Bell Peppers : Peppers have thin skins that don't offer much protection against pesticides, and they're often heavily sprayed with insecticides.

Can't find organically grown? Safer alternatives will include green peas, broccoli and cabbage.

4. Celery : Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals that are used on conventional crops.

Can't find organically grown? Safer alternatives will include broccoli, radishes and onions.

5. Nectarines : Check this out! There were 26 different types of pesticides found on tested nectarines. Wow..

Can't find organically grown? Safer alternatives will include, watermelon, papaya and mango.

6. Strawberries : If you buy strawberries out of season, they're most likely imported from countries that use less-stringent regulations for pesticide use.

Can't find organically grown? Safer alternatives will include blueberries, kiwi and pineapples.

7. Cherries : It's sad but even locally grown cherries are not safe. In fact, cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries.

Can't find organically grown? Safer alternatives will include blueberries, raspberries and cranberries.

8. Kale : Traditionally kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year.

Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, asparagus and broccoli.

9. Leafy Greens : Leafy greens are frequently contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food.

Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

10. Grapes : Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape's thin skin.

Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include blueberries, kiwi and raspberries.

11. Carrots : Hooray!! In Europe pesticides commonly used on carrots, parsnips and onions will be banned within the next decade. The U.S. has yet to catch up with its European counterparts, so organic is the way to go with carrots.

Can't find organic? At least be sure to scrub and peel them. Safer carrot alternatives include sweet corn, sweet peas and broccoli.

12. Pears : As insects become more resilient to the pesticides used on pears, more and more chemicals are used. The safest bet is to go organic.

Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include grapefruit, honeydew melon and mango.

Although it has slipped off the most current version, America's popular spud appeared on the previous dirty dozen list. However, EWG analyst Chris Campbell points out that potatoes are now "just off the list," so you should still try to buy organic when possible. Potatoes also get the double whammy of fungicides added to the soil for growing.

Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include eggplant, cabbage and earthy mushrooms.

And, in a change that surprises some, tomatoes have moved from the previous dirty dozen list to the EWG's most recent "clean" list of safest conventional produce. According to Chris Campbell, the researchers aren't sure exactly why this is the case. "It could be any number of reasons, It could be increasing awareness, better washing, substitution with better pesticides, changes in weather patterns or something else."

It's still true that the thin skin of tomatoes can allow pesticides to enter the fruit, so it's always a good idea to buy organic when possible, even if the popular food is no longer among the worst actors.

Can't find organic? You may want to consider peas, broccoli and asparagus.

If the cost of buying all organic isn't within your budget, don't freak out. I'll be posting the top 10 fruit and vegetables you really don't need to buy organically, because they are less likely to have pesticide residue. I hope this sheds some light on the Dirty Dozen of fruits and veggies. I always try to find my produce organically but I realize that times are tight and pockets are lighter, so we do the best we can. I welcome all comments and suggestions as always. Remember eat organically.

Defining organics

I would like to give some information on organics for folks who might not be sure what this term means. Organically grown foods are those that have been grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or hormones. Organic foods are made according to certain production standards. The use of conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides is greatly restricted and avoided as a last resort. However, certain non-organic fertilizers are still used. If livestock are involved, they must be reared without the

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routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones, and generally fed a healthy diet. In most countries, organic produce may not be genetically modified.

You may find just about everything from eggs, chicken and beef to various seasonal veggies that are organic, and even main staples such as cereals, pastas and soups that have been made with organic products. Nowadays most grocery stores have organic sections in them that make finding these products easier.

Organic food that is processed usually contains only organic ingredients. If any non-organic ingredients are present, a certain percentage of the food's total plant and animal ingredients must be organic. Any non-organically produced ingredients are subject to various agricultural requirements. Foods that claim to be organic must be free of artificial food additives, and are often processed with fewer artificial methods, materials and conditions, such as chemical ripening, irradiation and genetically modified ingredients.

Some studies have shown higher nutrient levels in organic fruit and vegetables compared with conventionally grown products. Studies have also shown that organic fruit and vegetables contain up to 40% more antioxidants than conventional equivalents.

I have found in my experience with buying organics that some of the items I purchase may be slightly higher in price. This may be due to the fact that organic produce is produced on a smaller scale, and may need to be milled or processed separately. Furthermore, there is an increase in shipping costs from more centralized production in otherwise regional markets.

Overall I find that the quality and taste of the food I buy that is organic is better than its conventional counterparts. I also feel a lot better about putting higher quality food into my body. Not everything I purchase is organic but I try to make it a factor in the decision of if I buy a product or not.

Hopefully this has helped. Check back for upcoming recipe ideas. Thanks!