Eating and growing organic food is the topic 'du jour', and the most popular items on the menu are organic vegetables, milk and meats.
Every year, individuals and families buy and eat more organic products. For example, in 1990, organic food sales totaled $1 billion, and in 2011, organic sales totaled $31.5 billion. So, what exactly does organic mean and are there benefits to buying organic?
Organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms or ionizing radiation. Organic proteins, including meat, poultry, eggs and milk, are not given growth hormones or antibiotics.
The USDA Organic seal assures consumers of the organic integrity of the product, and it lists three categories for organic food labeling: "100 percent organic": Made with 100 percent organic products; "Organic" : made with at least 95 percent organic ingredients; and "Made with organic ingredients": made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients. Organic operators are inspected annually to ensure compliance.
Does this mean that organically grown foods are better for you? At present, there are too many variables that exist, such as soil types, seeds, climate, post-harvest handling and crop variety to make a definitive claim that organic foods are better for you. However, recent studies have shown that organic tomatoes, while smaller in size, have higher levels of vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus than conventional tomatoes.
Whether better for you or not, many people swear that organic food tastes better than conventionally grown food. The best way to decide is to taste some for yourself!
Thanks to Misty Alexander
Fit Cities Challenge coordinator
Words of Wisdom
If we will learn to laugh at ourselves , we will always find something to make us happy .
Don't suppress laughter ; it will go down inside you and spread out your hips .
The G. Man
