Cook County Jail farming initiative planting seeds of change for inmates

By Rose Swartz July 3, 2023 13 mins read 680 Views

Elevating the everyday is our mission. At Belovedsaffron.com, we think the world deserves more than conventional cuisines — and more than take-out from chains. Our goal is to celebrate cultural flavours through spices, herbs and organic food from sustainable farming.

Saffron is our love affair; a culinary crescendo that evokes a warmth of its own. But cooking is so much more than a single ingredient — it’s also about respect. It’s about respecting people from different cultures who dedicate their lives to creating something extraordinary with every dish they serve; family meals or five-star restaurants alike.

And that’s why we’re inviting everyone to join us – to share their recipes, explore new flavors and be part of something special. We know everyone has something delicious to offer!

For now, love yourself and enjoy this one ...

Cook County Jail farming initiative planting seeds of change for inmates

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the benefits of organic agriculture?

Organic farming allows farmers to produce food using only natural methods. Farmers don't need to worry that harmful pesticides could harm their crops or animals.

Organic farming also offers more natural fertilizers. These fertilizers help to grow healthy plants and help to reduce the amount of chemical waste produced.

Organic farming is also environmentally friendly. To recycle nutrients back into soil, farmers often resort to composting. This reduces pollution and preserves valuable resources.

Organic farming also helps the environment by increasing crop yields. This is because there is much less water used during the growing season.

Organic production methods also mean that farmers receive higher prices for their produce. Consumers who are more aware about the dangers associated with pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and other chemicals will choose healthier foods.

This has increased the demand for organic foods. Organic farming is growing in popularity.

What should I look out for when buying organic products?

USDA-certified organic labels are recommended. This certification means that the product is certified organic by USDA. You will find the USDA Organic seal on all boxes, cartons and cans.

When shopping for meat ensure it comes only from cows that are fed 100% organic feed. Cattle are ruminants which means that they chew the cud. Ruminant cattle have four stomach compartments: rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. All parts of an animal must be organically fed if the cow is going to be labelled '100% organic.'

Buy chicken from only organic chickens that have been fed 100% organic food and are not given antibiotics. Omnivore chickens can eat both plants as well as animals. A digestive tract that is omnivorous includes a crop, proventriculus and gizzard. It also contains small intestines, large intestines, and anus.

It is important to ensure that dairy products are from cows that were fed 100% organic feed. Like ruminants and dairy cows, they have four stomach compartments. Milk comes from the fourth stomach compartment--the udder.

You should always check the label before purchasing any other livestock. This will let you know what percentage of the diet was given to the animals. A label for pork might say "95% organic", which means that 95% of the feed used by the pork came from organic sources.

What is organic food?

Organic food is grown without pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Inorganic foods contain these chemicals, which may cause health problems.

Organic food is grown naturally without harmful substances such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. These chemicals can be harmful to both animals and people.

Inorganic food can include meat, fish eggs, buttermilk cheese, buttermilk, yogurt, honey grains, vegetables, fruits spices, and herbs.

Organic refers specifically to the method an agricultural product has been grown. Organic farming employs natural methods and soil amendments for growing crops. Conventional agriculture uses pesticides or fertilizers.

U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines must be followed when organic food is labeled. According to the National Organic Program Standards, all certified organic food must be free from prohibited materials such as antibiotics, growth hormones, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and industrial solvents. Additionally, organic food must be raised without toxic chemicals, petroleum-based fertilizers, sewage sludges, or ionizing radiation.

What are organic products for the skin?

Organic skincare products do not contain synthetic chemicals like parabens,phthalates, mineral oils, petroleum jelly or petrolatum.

Organic skincare products do not contain artificial colours, fragrances or preservatives.

They can also be used to maintain healthy skin, protect against premature aging, promote healing from injuries, and improve overall well-being.

Some standard terms you may see when shopping for organic products:

Paraben Free is a grouping of chemicals that are used to maintain certain cosmetic products safe, but can be toxic when consumed in large quantities.
Fragrance-Free – The product does not contain essential oils or perfumes.
Cruelty Free - No animals were injured during the manufacturing process.
Natural Ingredients are ingredients that have been naturally extracted from plants or animals.
Vegan/Vegetarian: The ingredients can be either vegetarian or vegan.
Gluten-Free means that the formulation was free of gluten.
Non-Toxic - The product doesn't contain toxins, carcinogens, or other dangerous compounds that could harm your health.
Biodegradable: The product will be discarded as harmless components.
Pesticide-Free: No pesticides used during growing or harvesting.
GMO-Free: This means that no product ingredient contains genetically engineered organisms.
Certified Organic means that all of the ingredients in the formula were grown using methods that protect the soil, water, air, wildlife, and farmers.

Statistics

As for organic meat, regulations require that animals be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviours (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones. (usda.gov)
When packaged products indicate they are “made with organic [specific ingredient or food group],” they contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. (usda.gov)
Cosmetic brands such as Laurel and Rose Mira are 100 percent organic and have a wide array of skincare products. (en.wikipedia.org)
Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids were up to 50 percent higher in organic meats and milk than in conventionally raised products.[3] (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

Organic foods: Are they healthier and more nutritious than conventional food?

Organic foods can be grown without the use synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. They are grown naturally without artificial inputs such pesticides and herbicides. Organic farming methods include crop rotation, cover, composting animal manure and recycling wastewater.

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) was established in 2002 to regulate the production, handling, processing, labelling, sale, and distribution of organic products sold in the United States. Organic agricultural products must be produced in accordance with federal standards as set out by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The NOP regulations also require that organic products are free of prohibited substances such as pesticide residues and genetically modified organisms.

The United States offers two certification programs for producers that want their products to be certified organic: one for farmers, ranchers and the other for manufacturers. Both programs require audits of operations each year to ensure that they are meeting strict standards. Many certifying agents offer this service, including CCOF Certified Organic Farmers & Ranchers (QA International), American Grassfed Association, and Quality Assurance International. The three organizations all provide verification by third parties that farms have followed strict guidelines for environmental stewardship as well as labour practices and the care of livestock.

The USDA's Economic Research Service estimates that organic agriculture was responsible for $4.7 billion of 2013 sales. That year, retail spending on certified organic products totalled nearly $1.5 billion, representing a 23 percent increase since 2009. Groceries sales increased by 12 per cent during this time. Spending on direct purchases of organic produce increased by 29 percent, while spending on meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, and seafood grew by only 1 percent.

While organic food costs more, consumers say its quality justifies the added expense. Consumer Reports' 2015 survey found that 88% of respondents would spend more on organic food if it had higher nutritional values. Another study published in Health Affairs found that people who eat organic foods are less likely to suffer health problems like cancer, diabetes, obesity, asthma, heart disease, and depression.

Although organic foods are not proven to prevent or treat certain diseases, some research suggests that they could improve overall health and reduce exposure to pesticides. In 2010, a review that included 31 studies concluded that organically-raised beef had lower levels of parasites and toxic chemicals than conventionally reared beef. A separate analysis of 11 studies published in 2012 reached similar conclusions.

The Environmental Working Group's 2014 report examined data from the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. It found that foodborne illnesses caused by E.coli, salmonella and listeria monocytogenes and verotoxin producing E.coli O157:H7 declined when organic and non-organic chickens, meat, lamb, dairy, and cheese were compared. The group also observed that E.coliO157 is a less prevalent cause of illness in humans among children than adults. This was because the USDA has imposed stricter organic standards on animals raised for human consumption.