How to Plan a Plant Swap & Host a Local Plant Event | Tips & Tricks to Grow your Next Event

By Rose Swartz March 23, 2023 14 mins read 182 Views

At Belovedsaffron.com, we are passionate about spices, herbs, recipes and organic eating. It is our mission to bring awareness of flavors from around the world and provide access to a full range of spices, herbs and organic food from sustainable farming. I am particularly excited to share my love of saffron with others and help bring the joy of cooking into people's lives.

But it is not simply about providing delicious recipes for saffron dishes – it is also about promoting sustainable eating that respects those from all different cultural backgrounds who dedicate their lives to serving fantastic meals in both family homes and 5-star restaurants across the globe.

If you have a special recipe or would like to contribute an article to our blog section, please reach out as we would love to hear from you at [email protected]. We believe everyone has something extraordinary to offer their taste buds!

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

How to Plan a Plant Swap & Host a Local Plant Event | Tips & Tricks to Grow your Next Event

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you buy organic?

Conventional agriculture has been linked to several health problems, including asthma, allergies, obesity, diabetes, cancer, birth defects, hormone imbalances, and other diseases. Healthy choices must be made when purchasing food.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers the following tips on how to pick "cleaner" food:

Always purchase organic fruits, vegetables and other products whenever possible.

Look for USDA organic labels on meat, poultry, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and honey.

Avoid processed foods that claim to be "natural" and "no additives."

Be sure to read all ingredient labels. If an ingredient isn’t listed, it might be added during processing.

You should choose fresh meats rather than frozen or canned. Cans and frozen foods are often less nutritious than fresh meats, such as high fructose corn syrup.

Do organic foods offer health benefits?

Even though organic foods might not be for everyone, there are some health benefits. There are certain health benefits to those who consume organic foods regularly.

Organic food is free from artificial fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides as well as hormones, antibiotics and genetic engineering. Organic produce does not contain harmful chemicals that could be harmful to the human body.

There are also fewer additives used during processing. Organic products are more nutritious than those made from non-organic ingredients.

Research shows that organic produce contains more nutrients and antioxidants compared to conventionally grown fruit and vegetables.

While organic farming is more expensive than traditional farming, it often produces better results. When farmers grow crops organically, they encourage soil fertility and biodiversity.

This helps conserve water resources and protects against erosion. Organic farms also require less energy and fuel, as they aren't treated using toxic chemicals.

Many people are concerned that organic food is more expensive than regular foods. However, prices can vary depending upon where you live. Organic apples, on the other hand, tend to be more expensive that conventional apples.

You'll be able to see the difference in price if you add up all of the fruits in a single basket.

So, should you buy organic?

It depends on what kind of person you are. It doesn't matter if organic food isn't for you.

You can still buy organic food if your preference is for good tasting food. Organic food is safer than traditional commercial produce, as they are not subject to chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Organic agriculture conserves the environment and promotes biodiversity.

What should I look out for when buying organic products?

Look for USDA-certified organic labels. This seal signifies that the product meets specific USDA standards. Look out for the USDA Organic seal on boxes, cartons cans and jars.

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

Chicken should be only purchased from chickens raised on organic feed, and not given antibiotics. Omnivore chickens can eat both plants as well as animals. Omnivorous chickens have a digestive system that includes a crop (proventriculus), gizzard and small intestine.

You should ensure you only buy dairy products made from milk that has been produced by cows who have been fed 100% organically grown food. Just like ruminants have four stomachs, dairy cows have four. The fourth stomach, or the udder is where you get milk.

When purchasing other types of livestock, check the label to see what percentage of the diet the animals were fed. Pork may be labeled "95% Organic" which means that 95 percent of its feed was organic.

How do I know if my produce is organic?

These three labels can help you make sure you're buying organic produce.

USDA Organic Certified - Produce certified by the USDA as being 100% organic.

Certified Naturally Grown – Produce that meets strict organic standards but has not received USDA certification.

Pastured/Free Range - Produce from animals who live outdoors and graze freely on grass and herbs.

These labels signify that the product meets a specific set of criteria.

No pesticides or synthetic fertilizers
No genetically modified organisms
The animal is never given antibiotics
The animal is never given any hormones
No growth-promoting drugs
No feed additives
No artificial ingredients
No irradiation
There is no sewage sludge
GMOs not allowed
No antibiotics ever given
No hormones ever given
No growth-promoting drugs
No feed additives
No artificial ingredients
No sewage effluent (if it isn't a GMO).
No irradiation

I hope you found this article helpful.

What is an organic food producer?

Organic food producers create products that are grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers. These foods include fruits as well vegetables, grains and dairy products.

Organic food production happens on farms where crops have been naturally nurtured. This includes soil preparation, crop rotation, and pest management.

Organic products must meet certain criteria established by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) before they can be considered organic.

These guidelines ensure that consumers can access safe, wholesome, nutritious food.

Organic food has many benefits, including lower pesticide residues and higher levels of heavy metal contamination as well as better nutrition and flavor.

Products certified organic by the USDA must bear the label "USDA Certified Organic" seal.

This certification means the product has met the standards of the National Organic Program.

Organic food is not only healthier for us, but also protects our environment.

Organic farming techniques conserve water and land. Organic farming also helps to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, which are responsible for climate change.

Organic agriculture uses fewer chemical inputs and pollutes less.

It improves air quality as harmful gases such nitrates or ammonia are less likely to accumulate in the atmosphere.

There are many types of organic farming, including conventional, regenerative, agroecological, and permaculture.

Conventional farming is the use of synthetic inputs like pesticides or fertilizers.

Regenerative agriculture uses cover crops and green manures to improve soil quality. It encourages biodiversity.

Agroecology focuses on sustainable relationships between people, plants, and animals.

Permaculture encourages self-sufficiency by creating systems that are similar to nature.

Statistics

To provide the highest quality products and services to every customer, with a dedicated workforce that puts the customer first and takes the extra step to achieve 100% customer satisfaction and loyalty. (hollinsorganic.com)
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)
Popular clothing brands, like Patagonia, are labelled as organic by using 100 percent organic cotton for many of their styles. (en.wikipedia.org)
Cosmetic brands such as Laurel and Rose Mira are 100 percent organic and have a wide array of skincare products. (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

Organic foods: Are organic foods healthier?

Organic foods can be grown without the use synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. They are grown in natural conditions and without the use of any artificial inputs like fungicides or herbicides. Organic farming methods include crop rotation, cover, composting animal manure and recycling wastewater.

In 2002, USDA National Organic Programs (NOP) were established to regulate the production and handling of organic products that are 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 annual audits of operations to verify compliance with rigorous standards. These services are offered by several certifying agencies, including CCOF Certified Organic Farmers & Ranchers and Quality Assurance International. All three organizations provide third-party verification of farms' adherence to strict guidelines regarding environmental stewardship, labour practices, and livestock care.

According to USDA's Economic Research Service in 2013, organic agriculture generated $4.7 billion in revenue. Retail spending on certified organic products reached nearly $1.5 Billion in 2013. This is a 23 per cent increase from 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.

Although organic food can be more expensive than regular food, many consumers feel that its quality is well worth the additional cost. Consumer Reports conducted a survey in 2015 and found that 88 percent of respondents would pay more for organic foods if they had higher nutritional value. 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 there is no evidence eating organic foods prevents or treats any diseases, some studies suggest that consuming them might improve overall health by reducing exposure to specific contaminants and 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 eleven studies published in 2012 led to similar conclusions.

The Environmental Working Group released a report in 2014 that analyzed data from USDA's Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. They found that there was a decrease in foodborne illness due to E.coli, salmonella, listeria moncytogenes or campylobacter. After 2006, when USDA required stricter organic standards in animal raising for human consumption, the group noted that E.coli O157 was less common among children and adults.