To be or not to Be Organic: That is the Question

Everywhere you look in a supermarket there are items marked "organic". There is a lot of confusion at exactly what determines an item is organic food. As consumers become more and more health conscious, organic food has increased in popularity exponentially. The future will see more and more products being marketed as organic food.

What is the definition of organic food?

Organic food is defined as any produce or animal grown without using hormones, man-made pesticides, certain fertilizers as well as any genetic manipulation.

Why is there such an explosion of organic foods in grocery stores?

With medical technology keeping us living longer, there has been a renaissance of finding foods that are good for us. That includes vegetables, tomatoes and animal products that are free from possibly dangerous pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics.

How does the USDA determine what constitutes organic food?

There is actually a very complex method to determine if a farmer or co-op can market their foods as organic. A division of the United States Department of Agriculture analyzes the composition of the land, record keeping, and a documentation of any herbal or chemical pesticides used on the plant, vegetable, fruit or animal. After passing the certification to label the farm as "organic" the farmer can then be free to use the USDA Organic seal on its produce.

Do all farmers have to have USDA seal of approval to label their foods organic?

No. Only farmers seeking certification through the USDA have the right to label their foods organic. If a non-organic grower markets their product as organic, huge fines can be given.

Are organic foods better than ones grown conventionally?

This is a matter of debate. Those individuals seeking a more natural lifestyle free of antibiotic injected animals and pesticide free vegetables or fruits. Some people can taste the difference between the two but most consumers can not. One huge debate in the scientific and growing communities is the effect of pesticides. Commercial pesticides are heavily regulated whereas natural pesticides are not. Natural pesticides can be just as harmful.

What price do consumers pay for organic foods?

Organic foods are higher in price in grocery stores than those that are not. Farmers must make more per pound than their competitors due to losing more crops to outside forces than the conventional farmer will.

How do organic foods affect the land?

Since organic farmers do not use the conventional pesticides to rid their crops of blight, or in the case of animal farmers not using antibiotics or growth hormones, larger plots of land must be used. They must plant more crops to account for the loss from disease or insects.

Do organic foods contain pesticides?

Organic foods do not contain any man-made pesticides. There are some growers who use natural chemicals found in plants and insects to protect their crops.

Where are organic foods found?

Organic foods can be found all over the world. Many people can find organically grown produce at their local farmers market as well as grocery stores. Organic foods are marked with a special USDA sticker certifying that the product is organically grown. Other countries employ a similar governing agency to regulate the growing procedures of animals, vegetables and fruits.

I hear the term "natural foods" often, does this mean it is organic?

Natural foods does not mean organic. It is a common marketing term and often misleads consumers into thinking the product they are buying is organic. More often than not, natural foods are ones that have fewer additives. An organic food can be labeled as "natural" but it will also have the organic sticker attached that certifies the product.

Why is there such a controversy over organic growing?

The controversies that have arisen involve food shortages and the toll organic farming takes on the land. With larger tracts of land being used, and less being produced due to loss, there is a shortage of available food or any surplus to be sent to countries in need of aid. Another debate is the use of pesticides found naturally in nature. Organic farming forbids the use of man-made pesticides. Unfortunately the naturally occurring pesticides are not regulated or tested to determine if they have long term harmful effects.

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