Why Organic, Sustainable Farming Matters | Portrait of a Farmer

By Cherry Crawford April 9, 2023 11 mins read 507518 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 ...

Why Organic, Sustainable Farming Matters | Portrait of a Farmer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is organic food?

Organic produce does not contain synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and sewage sludge. It is also grown without irradiation or genetic engineering. There are no growth hormones used and animal testing is not performed. These crops are allowed to grow naturally, so farmers do not use chemicals to prevent weeds or pests.

Organic farming practices help maintain soil quality and reduce erosion. Organics have more nutrients than traditional food, which makes them better for our health. Organic products are typically higher in fiber and lower in fat and calories than conventionally produced ones.

What should I be looking out for when shopping organic products

USDA-certified organic labels are desirable. 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. Ruminants are cattle that chew their cud. Ruminant cattle have four stomach areas: rumen (reticulum), omasum (omasum), and abomasum. To be labeled '100% organic, all animal parts must be organically nourished.

Make sure you only buy chicken from chicken farms that are fed organically and have never been given antibiotics. Chickens can eat both animal and plant food. Omnivorous chickens have a digestive tract composed of a crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.

Buy dairy products that are 100% organically produced. Just like ruminants have four stomachs, dairy cows have four. The fourth stomach compartment is the udder.

If you are buying other types of livestock, make sure to check the label to determine the percentage of their diet. Pork may be labeled "95% Organic" which means that 95 percent of its feed was organic.

How can I tell if my produce has been certified organic?

These labels will help you ensure that organic produce is purchased.

USDA Organic Certified: Produces certified by USDA as 100% organic.

Certified Naturally Grown: Produce that has been grown in accordance with organic practices, but has yet to receive certification from USDA.

Pastured/Free range - These are animals that live outside and graze freely on grasses and herbs.

These labels indicate that the product meets certain criteria.

No pesticides or synthetic fertilizers
There are no genetically modified organisms
Animals are never given antibiotics
The animal is never given any hormones
No growth-promoting medications
No feed additives
No artificial ingredients
No irradiation
No sewage sludge
GMOs are not allowed
No antibiotics ever given
No hormones ever given
No growth-promoting drug
No feed-additives
No artificial ingredients
No sewage sludge (if it's a non-GMO)
No irradiation

I hope you found this article helpful.

Is organic food better for us?

The Environmental Working Group's most recent report on pesticide residues found in food shows that organic fruits and veggies had almost half the pesticide content of non-organic. The Environmental Working Group found that organic apples contained eight-times less pesticides than other non-organic fruits, and organic strawberries had fourfold more than their conventional counterparts.

Another study suggests that organic food can reduce exposure to toxic metals such as lead and mercury. For instance, one study showed that children who consumed organic meat had 33% less blood lead levels than children who did not. Another study concluded that pregnant mothers should avoid eating conventional fish because of the high levels mercury.

Organic food appears to be more safe than non-organic. However, to reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases, experts recommend choosing fresh fruit and vegetables whenever possible.

Statistics

When packaged products indicate they are “made with organic [specific ingredient or food group],” they contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. (usda.gov)
Once certified by the USDA, it can fall into one of four categories: "100 percent organic", "organic," "made with organic ingredients," or "made with less than 70 percent organic ingredients. (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)
Brands participating in this challenge are committed to using 100 percent sustainable cotton by 2025.[5] (en.wikipedia.org)

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What happens to your body if you switch to organic products

Organic products are grown without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, or genetic manipulation. They come only from natural sources of water and free-range animals. Organic means that they are free from chemicals and additives. This product was created by nature, and therefore does not contain harmful substances.

The term "natural" refers how food is grown. It is usually used to describe foods that haven't been processed into their final form (e.g., fruits). Natural foods are more fresh than other foods because they have not been subject to heat, radiation or chemical preservatives. Some people think natural does not necessarily mean healthy. Experts agree that organic and conventional foods are very similar. Both types of food have been tested for safety and quality. Organic produce contains fewer pesticide and other pollutants than conventionally-grown produce.

Most grocery stores now sell organic products. For organic meats, poultry, eggs and seafood, you should check with your local supermarket. Some companies sell only organic products; others have separate sections for them. USDA Certified Organic is a non-GMO Project Verified company.

These products should not be consumed if you are pregnant. Unborn babies and infants can be affected by pesticides.