Organic Produce
Why Organic - I once read that an apple tree gets sprayed 20 times in a yearly growing cycle. An Organic Apple tree relays on nature to produce a good crop, maybe not so many apples will grow, they wont be uniformed, the insects might ruin a few and they might even have the odd mark on them - but they are un-touched by chemicals and soil improvers, bug killers, insect repel, growth enhancers, colour improvers – yes those apples are fresh, natural- and of course by their growing nature they might be more expensive, then again if you get them straight from the farmer they might not be.
Soil has to be free from any chemicals for 2 years before it can be called organic and absolutely no chemicals can be used there after.
Non-Organic farming can use a cocktail of around 400 different Chemicals. Organic soil is crop rotated keeping it full of nutrients. Organic farms are weeded by hand or by grazing or by mulching or by introducing beneficial insects to eat the harmful ones.
Non-organic farming use pesticides for insects, which can lead to ground water contamination and air pollution.
Organic farming is about replicating Nature, looking after the soil, to produce food safe to consume, and to raise Animals in a caring way as well as increasing the taste in the foods that we eat.
There are up to 50% more nutrients in Organic foods and the taste is superior to conventional foods.
The only sure way to avoid G.M foods (Genetically Modified) is to support Organic ones.
Animal drugs have been found in the food chain i.e.- Antibiotics, Growth promoting drugs, Anti-Parasite drugs and Medicines. BSE has never been found in Organic farmed cattle. So a happy cow tastes a lot better and is Organically safe.
Intense farming has proven to have an effect on Nature –a decrease in wildlife, hedgerows, soil erosion, and polluted water supplies. There is also some research in to Organic farm workers being healthier than non-organic farmers.
So in Brief WHY ORGANIC –
- Happy Animals
- Tastier foods
- More Nutrients
- Healthier consumers
- Better countryside
- Safer environment
- Supporting local businesses and farming
- Feel good factor
- Good for the environment and wildlife
Buying Organic – local farmers markets are a brilliant place to buy a wide selection
of Organic or just locally grown produce from wine, to cheese, to black pudding. Local greengrocers, farm
shops, delicatessens some times have a small selection of Organic produce, Health food shops, Vegetarian
retailers, some community projects offer Organic bags, local farms offer an Organic box delivery service
and of course supermarkets have their own section of Organic produce.
Go on give it a go --------------------- Zena