strawberries
Benefits of organic for food products
benefits of organic food

So you’ve decided to incorporate organic food into your diet. Great! Here are some reasons why that’s a smart decision.

Nutrition: Some studies indicate that organic food may contain more nutrients, such as vitamin C and iron, than conventionally raised food. One reason for this may be that organically grown food is raised in fertile soil that’s not been depleted by chemicals.

Taste: Some researchers believe that because organic food is grown in such fertile soil, it tastes better than conventionally grown food.

Treatment of disease: Since growth hormones and antibiotics are prohibited in organic production, all organic meat and poultry is antibiotic-free. This means that you may have less of a chance in the future of becoming resistant to antibiotics – antibiotics that could help cure you of a serious disease or illness one day.

Health: Organic production’s prohibition of synthetic pesticides and other chemicals means that your food contains significantly less pesticide residue than conventionally grown food. (Organic crops may not be 100 percent pesticide free, as synthetic pesticide residue can blow onto organic farmland from neighboring fields.) Since some studies have linked pesticide exposure to cancer and other serious illnesses, buying organic could lead to better health for you and your family.

Environment: Organic production respects our air, water, soil and wildlife with its ban on synthetic chemicals. So, by buying organic food, you’re helping to create a clean, healthy environment. And organic agriculture’s emphasis on biodiversity means that farmers will continue to produce exotic foods that conventional farming often overlooks.

Support of local farms: Some organic products, particularly fruits and vegetables, are grown locally on small farms. Therefore, by buying organic food, you’re supporting your community, not to mention organic agriculture as a whole.

discovering organic food

Americans consume millions of pounds of food each year. But how much do you really know about what happened to that food before it reached your supermarket? How was it grown, and who handled it before you did? Keep reading to learn more about organic meats, produce, baked goods and beverages. We’ll explore the ins and outs of eating – and drinking – organic.

food circles
  • Grains
  • Meat
  • Produce
organic food cost comparison
PRODUCT NORMAL ORGANIC
apples $1.49/lb. $1.69/lb.
broccoli $1.99 $2.49
cantaloupe $2.00 $2.99
chocolate cake mix $1.99 $3.19
flour $2.39 $5.29
frozen blueberry waffles $2.19 $2.79
Italian salad dressing $1.79 $2.39
lettuce $0.99 $1.99
pineapple-coconut juice $3.89 $5.49
sour cream $1.69 $3.79
tomatoes on the vine $2.29/lb. $2.69/lb.

* This chart reflects an informal survey of in-store and online non-sale prices at national and Detroit-area retailers in summer 2007. Prices at your local stores may be different, as costs vary greatly by season, location, availability and retailer.

organic food cost comparison
becoming organic

Organic foods are strictly regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Organic farms, as well as any companies who handle the food after it’s harvested but before it reaches your supermarket, must undergo on-site inspections and be certified by a third-party agency to ensure they meet all of the USDA’s organic standards. (Companies who sell less than $5,000 a year in organic agriculture products don’t have to be certified but must still meet all requirements if they want to label their products as organic.) These rules are very strict and govern everything from weed control for crops to antibiotic use in livestock.

Organic foods are grown and processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation. For example, to be certified organic, agricultural crops must have been grown in soil that was free from fertilizers from sewage sludge, synthetic chemicals and other prohibited materials for at least three years before harvest. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products can be labeled as such only if the animals were given access to the outdoors, 100 percent organic feed and no antibiotics or growth hormones.

Genetically modified food is also prohibited under organic production.

So what about processed foods, like ice cream and spaghetti sauce, that contain more than one ingredient? The USDA has strict standards for these items, as well. Specifically, products labeled “100 percent organic” can contain only organic ingredients. Products labeled “organic” must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. Both types of products are allowed (but not required) to display the USDA Organic seal, so if you see that seal, you know your food is at least 95 percent organic. If you buy a processed food product that contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients, it won’t have the USDA Organic seal, but the package might read “made with organic ingredients.”

Anyone who mislabels or sells a non-organic product that’s purported to be organic can be fined up to $11,000.