Organic foods? What does that really mean?

Organic food?? Why?

First, let me define "Organic" because it means different things in different circumstances.Click on the links below to see who defines it as what!

Organic : USDA definition : Organic Labeling and Marketing Fact Sheet :


U.S. certified organic farming systems are a potential way to lower input costs, decrease reliance on nonrenewable resources, capture high-value markets and premium prices, and boost farm income. Organic farming systems rely on ecologically based practices such as cultural and biological pest management, exclusion of all synthetic chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones in crop and livestock production.

Wikipedia defines it as:


Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. In general, any business directly involved in food production can be certified, including seed suppliers, farmers, food processors, retailers and restaurants. Requirements vary from country to country, and generally involve a set of production standards for growing, storage, processing, packaging and shipping that include:
avoidance of most synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives, etc), genetically modified organisms, irradiation, and the use of sewage sludge;
use of farmland that has been free from chemicals for a number of years (often, three or more);
keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail);
maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products;
undergoing periodic on-site inspections.

* More clear than the USDA explanation!!!

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Now that the basics have been laid own ...The reality of what all that means -

Organic foods are grown as they used to be back at the turn of the last century (1900's) with a few modern-ish, tweaks.

Some foods are grown by mega farms use a lot of what makes them non-organic. Some actually are grown somewhat organically, naturally.

Here is a guide to which fruit / Veggies should be bought organic vs. which can be bought non-organic.

15 Foods to Buy Organic

Meat, Dairy, and Eggs: Organic meat, milk, and eggs are free of antibiotics, added growth hormones, and pesticides. Unlike their conventional counterparts, the animals used for organic products are raised without antibiotics or hormones. Chemicals present in animal feed can end up in conventional meat, dairy, and eggs. However, organically raised animals eat an organic diet that does not contain pesticides or fertilizers. That's why the top three items on our buy-organic list are:

Meat:  including Beef, Pork, Chicken, and Turkey
Milk and Dairy Products
Eggs

Fruits and Vegetables: The fruits and vegetables listed below have high levels of pesticides even after being washed, so these are a priority for buying organic. Most are thin-skinned, making them very susceptible to contamination. In general, produce with thicker skins retain less pesticide residues. According to the Environmental Working Group, the following items contain the highest concentration of pesticides.

Peaches and Nectarines: Peaches require a large amount of pesticides to grow conventionally and have extremely delicate skin, making them the top organic fruit pick – with nectarines not far behind.

Apples: Apples are the second priority when choosing organic produce, as their pesticide loads consistently test high.

Bell Peppers: Bell peppers are the number one vegetable to buy organic. They have thin skins and are heavily sprayed with insecticides.

Celery: Celery lacks a protective outer layer and needs many different chemicals for conventional growth, making it number two on the list of vegetables to buy organic.

Strawberries: Strawberries rank high on the organic priority list. They are treated with very large amounts of pesticides, including fungicides. When purchased out-of-season, they probably come from a country with inadequate pesticide regulations.

Cherries: Cherries continually rank high for pesticide contamination.

Lettuce and Spinach: Lettuce and spinach are often found to have high levels of various pesticides – sometimes very potent types.

Berries : Red , black or golden all raspberry type berries trap any residue sprayed on them.

Imported Grapes: Imported grapes are likely to have higher pesticide levels than domestic. Vineyards may be sprayed with a number of different pesticides throughout the growing season. Because grapes have a permeable skin, even peeling will not eliminate the residues.

Pears: Pears consistently show high levels of pesticides when tested.

Potatoes: Potatoes are at high risk for pesticide contamination and may also be affected by chemicals, such as fungicides, in the surrounding soil.

Other top buy-organic foods:

Coffee: Conventional coffee farming depends heavily on pesticides and herbicides. Furthermore, coffee is typically grown in countries where these chemicals are not strictly regulated.

Baby Foods and Juices: Whether you make your own baby food or buy commercial varieties, organic is best for your little one – especially when you're using the items listed above.

Safer Non-Organic Foods

Not all foods have to be purchased organic. Packaged or highly processed foods such as chips, pasta, bread, cereal, oil, and canned or dried fruits and vegetables don't have a difference in safety and nutrient values between organic and non-organic versions. They are nutritiously empty and not healthy if made with or without organic components.
Other produce that are ok to buy non-organic include:
Fruit: pineapple, mango, kiwi, banana, mango, papaya, blueberries, watermelon
Vegetables: onions, avocado, sweet corn, sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, peas: snap or otherwise, cauliflower, cabbage.

Know your source as not all food is grown the same way! Remember, veggies from outside the USA / Canada are grown with all the pesticides the US/Canada BANNED years ago!  Ecostandards are not the same, neither are the water sources! The same warning goes for water grown food ( Fish, prawns, crustaceans), you have heard that a fair share of the world's population does not have good, clean water to drink?  Well, YOUR food is grown in that non-pottable water! Be Aware !