Knowing the specifics about organic foods will help a person determine whether they would prefer to eat organically or non-organically. The term ‘organic’ is a label that indicates that the food has been produced through the appropriate approval methods (“Organic Standards”). There are certain requirements that must be met by the USDA-accredited certifying agent. This certifying agent approves these requirements before the food can be labeled as an organic food. Organic operations must protect natural resources, save biodiversity, and use only the approved substances.
The standards for organic foods are located in the Organic Food Production Act, USDA organic regulations, and the National Organic Program Handbook. The National Organic Program
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The first reason being that since they are not using any chemicals, the farmers are doing more labor work. By using chemicals on crops, farmers end up reducing the cost of production because they are able to get the job done faster. Without the chemicals, farmers have to hire more people to weed eat, clean the polluted water, and get rid of the pesticide contamination. The second reason is that the demand overwhelms the supply. Organic farms tend to produce less than non-organic farms. Non-organic farms have the supplies they need to keep costs down since manufacturers are able to decrease costs when producing a large quantity of products. The third reason is that fertilizers are more expensive for organic crops. Non-organic farmers use sewage sludge and chemicals, because they do not cost as much and they are cheap to transport. Organic farmers keep their crops natural and use animal manure, which is more expensive to transport. The forth reason is crop rotation. Organic farmers use crop rotations to keep their soil healthy and prevent weeds, while non-organic farmers use chemicals to kill their weeds. The fifth reason is the post-harvest handling cost. In order to avoid cross-contamination, organic foods have to be separated from non-organic foods after being harvested. Non-organic foods can be shipped in larger quantity sizes, …show more content…
In conclusion, if someone wants to eat organically they will be somewhat healthier if they eat these foods in the right portion size, but they will also be spending more money. In order to be labeled as organic, the product has to go through a numerous number of steps and must be approved by many organizations. In my opinion, I would rather eat non-organic food and save some
Organic food is produce untreated with pesticides, fertilizers or bioengineering. The truth is that all produce that consumers purchase from their local supermarkets has been treated or chemically altered in some way, shape or form. Edwin Marty, founder of Jones Valley Urban Farm Alabama, states that even local farms, including his own, are prompted by local and state agencies to use conventional agricultural solutions which require soil fertilizers, etc, making the produce not organic like most consumers may think. (http://www.pbs.org/food/features/lexicon-of-sustainability-local-vs-organic/) Organic food can be purchased at local farms however a consumer must be willing to have a face certification with the owner of their local farm. This means establishing a connection with the farmer, learning their growing and agricultural practices to form a trust over the organic quality of their
A gene used for pest control, Bt, has infected these foods. You would never know this gene existed because it’s not included in the label. Organic foods are specifically labeled as organic whenever you may find them at a grocery store or elsewhere. These foods are known as being essentially grown in healthy soil, in other words, a soil that isn’t infected with poisonous, synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Although organic foods are more expensive, it is only the result from the frequent crop rotations completed by the farmers during long, hot hours under the sun. Conventional farming methods destroy topsoil whereas organic farming can improve the overall health of the topsoil. Farmers who partake in organic farming view it as feeding the soil and not the plants. Due to this thinking method, a healthy soil provides healthy plants, healthy people and a healthy environment. Organic farming has the ability to feed an entire population and put an end to starvation. The dangerous pesticides that are added with conventional farming are outdated and risky to mankind. Relying on synthetic fertilizers and chemicals are paralyzing our
Organic products and non-organic products have been a subject of interest to me for a great amount of time because I have often questioned whether there really was a difference between the two types of products. I always wondered what the nutritional, economic, laborious, and pollution differences were, if any, in the creation of the two types of products. Through research, I have found several sources of information that allow me to determine more than a physical difference between the two. To start, labeling something as organic is specific and determined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The regulations set are extremely specific and it is relatively difficult to meet the standards.
Organic refers to the way agricultural products, food and fiber, are grown and processed. “It is an ecological system that at its core relies on a healthy rich soil to produce strong plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of more “earth-friendly” practices that work in harmony with nature. In the case of livestock, antibiotics are prohibited, opting instead for preventative measures for keeping animals healthy and productive. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).” (Ameriorganic) To find organic products one must only look for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seal. The seal certifies the product must be 95%
Organic food has become so popular these days, since people, especially in the United States, are making a commitment to have a good start towards a healthier life. People often wonder whether the organic food is really healthier and more nutritious. Why does it cost so much? Well, first of all, the term “organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed, which later on will affect the quality of the food. In order for a product to be labeled as “organic”, it must meet several specific conditions and requirements.
What are organic foods? Organic foods are grown without any preservatives, pesticides, chemicals, drugs, and hormones. Organic foods are grown or raised with a method that differs from industrial food. Recently, the organic market has been booming because of the many benefits studies have shown for organic foods, in which it has a better nutritional value than non-organic and is better for the earth. The harmful toxics that derive with non-organic foods have been shown in studies to affect individual’s health and the environment. Therefore, consuming organic foods and using organic agriculture methods should be the direction to go in order to improve one’s health and sustain the environment.
For years organic farmers and conventional farmers have feuded over which is superior. Organic farmers argue that their product is more eco-friendly because they do not use the synthetic chemicals and fertilizers conventional farmer’s use. Conventional farmers argue that their product is healthier and yields more. People tend to have stereotypes regarding the two types of farmers. Organic farmers are usually thought of as liberal, hippy, tree-huggers while conventional farmers are usually thought of as right-wing, industrialists. Obviously, some do adhere to this stereotype, but a majority of these farmers are normal, hardworking people. Although these farmers, both believe in their methods, one is no better than the other. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but there is no true superior method of crop farming.
With the world’s population continuing to increase, the demand for food is higher than ever. This increase in food demand also calls for more efficient ways of growing and providing the food. Two methods that are very controversial are the organic and conventional method. While many people support the organic method because of its known benefits, others feel that it is an over inflated industry that cheats consumers out of their money. But recently many studies have disproved those critics. These studies prove that Organic food is a better choice than conventional because it is better for the environment, avoids the use of chemicals, and is generally more beneficial.
The term “organic” is almost everywhere in modern society, whether it’s used to promote a product or it’s debated on whether it really benefits the human diet. Organic food is heavily debated on as it appears more and more in local grocery stores and farmers markets begin to populate, it raises questions such as “Is organic food better than food grown with pesticides and biologically engineered genes?” and “Are there benefits to eating organically over foods grown in any other way?” In terms of what data and results show in research may help lead to answers to most of the heavily debated issues throughout discussions on organic food.
II. Transition to Main Point 1: I’m sure you all have heard of organic food but may not know exactly what it is or what makes it organic.
First, according to researchers at McGill, University of Minnesota, “overall, organic yields are 25% lower than conventional.” The study notes that crop yields from organic farming are generally lower than from conventional agriculture. That is particularly true for cereals, which are staples of the human diet – yet the yield gap is much less significant for certain crops, and under certain growing conditions, according to the researchers. Yields of legumes and soybeans and fruits are closer to those of conventional crops according to the study. When best management practices are used for organic crops, overall yields are just 13% lower than conventional levels. Improvements in organic management techniques, or adoption of organic agriculture under environmental conditions where it performs best, may help close the yield gap, they indicate. Professor Foley states “By combining organic and conventional practices in a way that maximizes food production and social good while minimizing adverse environmental impact, we can create a truly sustainable food system.” So, while I agree that the increased cost of organic farming is probably justified I would have to argue it’s more for the points of benefit below than due to its ability to produce higher
A study of 362 datasets found that organic agriculture produces 80% of conventional yield with 21% standard deviation (Tomek et al. 2012). Second, organic farming requires less energy input which equates to less money spend from the farmers in addition to lowering carbon emissions. A study by the Department of Environment shows that organic agriculture uses 25 percent less than energy than their chemical counterparts, and certain crops like organic leeks and broccoli use 58 and 49 percent less, respectively (Bialis et al. 2013). Third, organic farming does not use pesticides. According to the World Health Center, 20,000 people die annually from the exposure of pesticides (Costa et al. 2014). Fourth, the methods that organic farmers use are better for the environment in the long run. And lastly, organic farming creates more jobs. A study done in United Kingdom shows 93,000 jobs could be created if Britain were to make a full scale shift to organic farming (Herro 2006). Although conventional agriculture is the primary producer for food currently, a large scale shift to organic agriculture is better suited to feed the world because organic agriculture can produce at adequate yield, requires less energy input, do not use
Conclusion: Now a day’s organic food is getting popular and people are getting aware about the health promoting benefits of having organic food and it is easily available in the grocery store labeled as organic. The main reason most of the people don’t opt for organic food is it is higher in price, we have a false sense that conventional food comes at lower price, the price does not include the government spending on cleaning of pollution caused by producing such conventional produces, and government subsidies on agriculture, these are all tax payers money and ultimately goes from our pocket, thus why thing on short term benefits of conventional food, when organic food has long term benefit on our health , environment and future.
Foods that are produced organically are better for the environment, healthier for your body because they do not contain toxic chemicals, and are more cost efficient than commonly known.
First of all, the main reason that people choose organic food is that people think organic foods have less chemical residue, such as pesticide, and fertilizer. In the article “Organic foods contain higher levels of certain nutrients, lower levels of pesticides, and may provide health benefits for the consumer”, Crinnion indicated that organic foods just had 33 percent of the amount of pesticide and fertilizer residues that found in conventional foods, and conventional foods contain two or more types of chemical residues than organic foods (Crinnion, 2010). In addition, Crinnion used a study of Seattle preschoolers as an example to demonstrate organic foods have less pesticide residues. The study of Seattle concluded that children who ate more conventional foods had six times higher level of pesticide resi...