Advantages Of Buying and Consuming Organically Grown Food

Everyone in the world is becoming increasingly aware of the important role healthy habits play not only in relation to our health, but also in relation to our planet. About thirty years ago, we rarely met someone who is vegan, while veganism is reaching its peak today. At the same time, we’ve also educated ourselves about the negative effects of industrialized food production, such as global contamination of food and water with pesticide residues and lower nutrient and taste content resulting from low-cost intensive production and processing.

As a result, we are becoming aware of the impact that our food has on our bodies, which is why many of us are switching to alternative foods, as organic products bring many benefits, not only for our bodies but also for the world around us, as they can help reduce the carbon footprint.

Avoid Pesticides

One of the biggest differences between organic and non-organic food is that the amount of pesticide residues in organic food is 94-100% lower compared to non-organic. This also means that regular foods can contain a lot of pesticide residue – because not all the foods available are organic, you should wash all foods before eating to avoid pesticide intake and the potential impact of this on your body.

Higher Mineral Content

Produced food that is certified organic has a higher mineral content. Both magnesium and iron are significantly higher in organic foods. Organic crops also contain more antioxidant micronutrients such as phenols and salicylic acid compared to non-organic foods, which means organic food is better for your body as it has a higher nutrient content.

Humane Animal Products

Organically produced animal products are produced in much more humane circumstances and, as a result, contain higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Animals must be able to move freely – ‘grazing’, where cows are kept indoors and fed with cut grass or other feed such as soybeans, which is prohibited by organic standards. They need to have room to express their natural behaviour as this reduces the risk of stress and illness. Grazing is allowed only on natural pastures and can only enjoy organic crops. These can only be treated with natural fertilizers, and synthetic pesticides are strictly limited. This ensures that the animals produce healthier products.

What About Affordability?

In your local store, you’ve probably already noticed that organically grown foods are often much more expensive than non-organic alternatives. Organic apples, for example, are sometimes twice as expensive as regular apples. However, due to a significant jump in price, many people who would otherwise opt for a more environmentally friendly diet do not have this option for financial reasons. But why are these products so expensive?

Reason #1

The first reason for the higher price of organic crops is the certification process that all farmers must undergo in order to be accredited as organic farmers. Organic farming has very high standards and farmers have to go through a lengthy certification process in order to obtain a certificate of organic production. These costs may require a significant return from the outset, and even include annual costs based on the total value of the farm’s organic production. All this consequently increases the price that the consumer has to pay for organic products.

Reason #2

Organic farming involves much more manual labour – it is the long hours of hard work of human hands that are responsible of organically grown food. Weeding is often done by hand, and pests are suppressed by introducing natural predators of these pests into the crop. But because the control is less intense, the crop is much more exposed to pests and diseases due to these circumstances. When a farmer loses part of his crop, he or she has to raise prices to ensure the continuation of his business.

Reason #3

The shelf life of organically grown crops is often much shorter compared to conventional crops. This is because conventional products are treated with waxes and preservatives to maintain their freshness and appearance during transport. Sometimes a food foil is also used, which further extends the shelf life of your fruits and vegetables. Organic food does not receive these treatments and therefore spoils faster.

Reason #4

Synthetic pesticides are used in organic farming only in special cases. Farmers who can demonstrate that the natural pesticides used have not suppressed pests in their crops can use synthetic alternatives. These farmers need to demonstrate that their organic farming practices and other organic practices have repeatedly failed. Only then can they switch to synthetic alternatives to avoid losing the entire crop. This then also means that some organic foods sold as organic may have been exposed to the same chemicals and processes as conventional crops (so always wash fruits and vegetables before eating, even if they are organic). While the consumer still has to pay the price as if it were an organic crop.
So, what is the best alternative? Buy organic produce from a local organic farmer. I myself am lucky enough to live in the countryside and have several organic farms nearby where I can buy crops directly from the farmer. However, if this is not the case for you, your local market certainly has a large selection of organically grown fruits and vegetables.