Why Buy Organic?

Many people wonder whether or not they should pay the price for organic food. Is it worth the extra dollar? Most people know that organic produce is grown without pesticides, but it means much more than that. The term organic also means there are no synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. It takes three years to convert a farm to organic. Produce cannot be listed as organic until the three years have passed as the soil is free of substances that are not deemed organic. Animal products, such as meat/poultry, eggs, dairy products are antibiotic and hormone free.

When buying organic, an individual can rest assured that their food supply is free from pesticides, synthetic fertilizer, GMOs, radiation, antibiotics, and hormones. Many people also feel that organic foods taste superior. There is some science that shows that organic foods are free of nitrates and have more antioxidants and vitamin C which are major bonuses.

If organic foods are pricey in the grocery store, head to the farmers market. In some cases you will not see a reduction in price at the beginning of the farmers market but if you head there at the end of the day, many farmers will discount their products. There is one farmer at my farmers market that charges $1 per pound for any types of product left during the final hour. It is also wise to buy what is in season as it tends to be more reasonable that produce that is out of season.

Certain types of produce are more susceptible to pesticides while others are more resistant. The top 10 foods that people should buy organic are peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears grapes and spinach. If someone is on a budget, I would worry less about buying organic onions, avocados, pineapples, mangoes and asparagus as they are more resistant to fertilizers.

Try to buy from local farms to support your community and preserve the earth's resources. By buying local, less energy is used in transporting the food. Organic farms also use 70% less energy than industrial farms. Areas surrounding organic farms are not subjected to the pesticides in ground water, soil or in the air. There is no doubt that buying organic keep the earth itself healthier.

Lauren Schmitt, MS, RD, CPT is the owner of Healthy Eating and Training, Inc. and a blogger for Good Greens, a vegan protein bar.