Why Organic? A definition of “organic”

Organic food is that which is raised, grown, stored, and/or processed without the use of synthetically produced chemicals or fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, or any other pesticides, growth hormones or growth regulators. Only growers who produce food according to a set of standards, undergo evaluation by other certified growers, and pass a yearly inspection by a trained independent inspector can label their products Certified Organic.

Why is “Certified Organic” Important?

By choosing to purchase from independent organic growers, the soil is grateful, the grower is happy and the children are safe. Everybody wins.

Get a better flavour

There is a good reason why many chefs use organic food in their recipes – IT TASTES BETTER! Organic growing starts with the nourishment of the soil, which leads to the nourishment of the plant and, ultimately, our palates.

Protect your children

The average child is exposed to four times as many cancer-causing pesticides in their daily lives compared to an adult. Organic food contains no carcinogenic pesticides.

Prevent Soil Erosion

The Soil Conservation Society estimates that more than three billion tons of topsoil are eroded from United States farmlands each year, and the soil is eroding seven times faster than it is being built up naturally. In organic farming, the soil is the foundation of the food chain as opposed to conventional farming where the soil is merely used as a porous medium periodically saturated with unnatural chemical fertilizers and controlled with even deadlier pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.

Protect Water Quality

Water makes up two-thirds of the planet’s mass. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates pesticides contaminate the groundwater in 38 states, polluting the primary aquifer.

Save Energy

Conventional farming methods have changed drastically in this century from small family farms to large-scale factory-style farms, dependent upon fossil fuels.  Typical modern farming uses more petroleum than any other single industry.

Keep chemicals off your plate

The FDA approved many pesticides before research linked them to chemicals that cause cancer and other diseases.   Now the EPA considers 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides, and 30% of all insecticides to be carcinogenic.  The bottom line is that pesticides are poisons made to kill living creatures, and can also be harmful to humans.

Protect farm workers health

A National Cancer Institute study showed that farmers exposed to chemical herbicides had a six times greater risk of contracting cancer than farmers who are not.  The health of farmworkers in developing countries is a serious issue, as pesticide use is poorly regulated.  An estimated 1 MILLION people are poisoned annually by pesticides, and in developing countries, 25 MILLION farm workers suffer acute pesticide poisoning every year.

Help small farmers

Most organic farms are independently owned and operated family farms.  It is estimated that the United States has lost more than 650,000 family farms in the past decade.

Support a true economy

Superficially, organic foods might seem more expensive than conventional foods. Conventional food prices do not reflect hidden costs borne by the taxpayer in the form of subsidies. Other hidden costs include pesticide regulation and testing, hazardous waste disposal, and environmental damage.

Promote biodiversity

“Mono-cropping” is the practice of planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year, conventional farming uses this method exclusively.  The lack of natural diversity of plant life has left the soil lacking in natural nutrients and minerals.  To replace these lost nutrients which are necessary to farm, chemical fertilizers are often used. Single crops are also much more susceptible to pests, making farmers even more reliant on pesticides.

Organic growing encourages food production that nurtures our soil through the absence of pesticides and the presence of rich compost.  The inherent commitment of organic farming to crop rotation, living soil, companion planting, rural enterprise, pure water and sustainable agriculture is, in itself, a critical step toward protecting our environment and our individual health.  By buying organic, you provide a marketplace for growers who have made the future of our planet a top priority.