Deciding Between Organic Foods And Non-Organic Foods?

Answer 1

Organic Foods vs. Traditionally Grown Food

Purchasing organic foods can seem like a simple choice, but sometimes there are issues that might make choosing organically grown foods no different from using commercially grown produce. There are different classifications for different types of foods when it comes to organic certifications. Produce are the most heavily regulated and monitored organic foods, while fish and some meats are not really regulated at all and have no true organic standard. When considering organic foods, only foods that have been certified by the USDA are truly organic, while produce that are labeled as being natural or farm grown are not held to any standards.

Organic produce must be grown in certain conditions and without the use of harmful pesticides, overly chemical fertilizers, and without the addition of growth hormones, rooting gels, and other crop enhancing techniques. For large organic farms, or farms that are located near non-organic commercial farms, these standards might be unintentionally violated. Pesticides can be carried on the wind or on dust from one farm to another, and genetically modified seeds can be cross-pollinated with organic crops. The solution in many cases is to only purchase organic produce from local sources where industrial farming overspray is not an issue.

There are a number of benefits that properly grown organic produce have over non-organic fruits and vegetables. The main advantage is that organic food has not been treated for transport with gases like carbon dioxide, and does not have residue from processing and shipping on the surface. Nutritionally, however, organic versions of non-organic produce often have very similar profiles. One exception is with organically grown heirloom varieties of vegetables and fruits that retain nutritional traits that have been bred out in genetically modified crops.

From a health perspective, any vegetables and fruits that are purchased and thoroughly washed before being eaten are better than eating no produce at all. Paying extra for organic foods is best done when the location where the food was grown is known and is close-by, ensuring that the produce is as fresh as possible. Organic foods can be a healthy choice, but non-organic produce can be just as effective for the price that is paid.