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Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you buy organic?

The health risks of conventional agriculture include asthma, allergies and diabetes. Healthy choices must be made when purchasing food.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), offers these tips to help you choose "cleaner" foods:

Buy organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.

USDA organic labels for meat, poultry eggs, milk and cheese as well butter and honey are recommended.

Avoid processed foods marked "natural" or with "no additives."

Always read the ingredient lists. If an ingredient doesn't appear on the list, it could be added to the product during processing.

Choose fresh meats over frozen or canned ones. Many frozen and canned foods contain less nutrients, like high fructose Corn Syrup.

What are the most popular organic products?

Today, organic foods are the fastest-growing industries. We've come far from our roots but there is still room for improvement.

Organic products are the future. They are safer, better for our environment, and more affordable for consumers.

They also tend to have higher prices. This is why we created the Organic Food Index. We wanted to find out which foods are most popular with shoppers today, and whether these trends are changing.

These findings show that organic foods are becoming more popular. Between 2011-2012, nearly half of Americans shopped for organic foods.

The USDA reported that organic production rose by 10% in the last year. 9% now comes from organic foods in the United States.

Organic food is certainly on the rise but consumers are still not able to afford it. The average retail price for organic food is almost twice that of conventional foods, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

Despite this, organic food is growing at a faster rate than any other food segment. You'll notice that organic food consumption has increased steadily since 2009.

According to OTA however, the volume in supermarkets of organic products grew by 14% from 2010 to 2011.

This is because consumers are looking for healthier foods. Organic food sales have been increasing in all age groups.

The younger generation is however leading the charge for organic food. Millennials are twice as likely than baby boomers to buy organic foods. Young adults aged below 35 account for 25%.

Organic meat is better

If you've been paying attention for any time, you probably already know the answer to this question. This is the crux of it: organic food has been growing in popularity while conventional food has fallen out of favor.

Organic foods continue to be popular because they offer a healthier alternative. Organic products are not only safer for our health but also reduce pollution and waste.

However, there are also two sides to this coin. Organic produce takes more time to grow and requires greater resources. This means organic food will cost more than its non-organic counterpart.

Organic meats can be more expensive that those from conventionally raised animals. But, you can reduce the cost of organic meats without compromising quality.

Local purchases can help you save money. Locally grown fruits and veggies help to lower prices because farmers get incentives to grow good crops.

Deals are another way to cut costs. Organics often come with discounts.

Consuming less meat is another way to save cash. Due to the cost of raising livestock, meat production can be expensive.

There are many reasons organic foods are better for our bodies and the environment, but we need to be mindful of the cost.

Do organic foods have health benefits?

While organic foods may not be suitable for everyone's health, they are healthy for some people. There are certain health benefits to those who consume organic foods regularly.

Organic food is grown without the use of pesticides herbicides fungicides hormones antibiotics or genetic engineering. Organic produce is produced without the use of harmful chemicals which could affect human health.

There are also fewer additives used during processing. You're more likely to eat organic products than you are non-organic.

Studies have shown organic foods have more nutrients and antioxidants that conventionally grown fruits, vegetables.

Even though organic farming methods can be more costly than conventional farming methods they are often more productive. Organic farming increases soil fertility and biodiversity.

This helps preserve water resources and prevents erosion. Organic farms don't use toxic chemicals and require less fuel and energy.

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

But if you look at the total price of a basket of both types of fruit, you'll see that buying organic is cheaper.

Do you want to go organic?

It all depends on your personality. It doesn't matter if organic food isn't for you.

You can purchase organic food if it is delicious. And since most commercial growers use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), organic foods are safer for consumers.

Organic agriculture is a way to preserve the environment, conserve natural resources, and encourage biodiversity.

How do I find out if my produce's organic?

These are the labels you should look for to ensure you are purchasing organic produce

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

Certified Naturally-Grown - Produce which has passed strict organic practices requirements, but not yet received USDA certification.

Pastured/Freerange - Products made from animals who graze freely and are outdoors.

These labels indicate that the product meets certain criteria.

• No synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
• No genetically modified organisms
• No antibiotics are ever given to the animal
• Animals never receive hormones
• No growth-promoting drugs
• No feed additives
• No artificial ingredients
• No irradiation
• No sewage effluent
• No GMOs
• Never was an antibiotic given
• No hormones ever given
• No growth-promoting drugs
• No feed additives
• No artificial ingredients
• No sewage solids (if it's not GMO).
• No irradiation

I hope this article was helpful!

Statistics

• Popular clothing brands, like Patagonia, are labelled as organic by using 100 percent organic cotton for many of their styles. (en.wikipedia.org)
• 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)
• Cosmetic brands such as Laurel and Rose Mira are 100 percent organic and have a wide array of skincare products. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Brands participating in this challenge are committed to using 100 percent sustainable cotton by 2025.[5] (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

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• The link between occupational pesticide exposure and cancer risk: A review: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B. Vol 15, No 4.


• Genetically modified foods - safety, risks and public concern - A review - Journal of Food Science and Technology

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• Home


• Organic Enforcement

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• eCFR :: Home

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• Summary


• Clean Fifteen(tm). Conventional Produce with the Least Pesticides

How To

5 Reasons to buy organic products

Organic foods are organically grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. They contain no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or irradiated ingredients. Their production processes do not include sewage or industrial solvents. During its growing cycle, the food's natural environment will be protected from contamination. It is free of artificial preservatives and additives. No hormones or antibiotics are used. In addition, they are produced under conditions that allow them to retain their nutritional value and freshness for longer periods.

1. Health benefits. Organic produce contains less chemicals that nonorganic. This means that it is less likely to cause allergies. It also means you're consuming fewer toxins and carcinogens.
2. Eco-friendliness. Produce grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizer requires very little water. Organic farms are often located far from areas with high levels of pollution because it takes so much energy for conventional agriculture to grow. This helps to reduce the amount of air pollution.
3. Sustainability. Organic farming relies on soil fertility, rather than chemical fertilisers. This results in healthier soils and higher levels organic matter. Farmers should rotate crops and let the land go bare periodically to improve soil health. Farm animals develop strong immune systems when they eat only grasses/grains raised without adding hormones or antibiotics.
4. Taste. Conventional fruits and vegetables often taste bland because they're picked at peak ripeness, then shipped long distances to grocery stores. Organic produce tastes richer and sweeter because it was harvested while still unripe.
5. Nutrition. GMOs and BPA are common in processed foods. Avoid these harmful chemicals by eating whole foods, such as meat, eggs and fish, seeds, legumes, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and beans.

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