What You Need To Know About Organic Food
Organic food is food that has been produced following strict organic agricultural methods, usually meeting the standards of organic production. Organic farming techniques vary around the world, but organic production typically includes practices that rotate resources, foster environmental balance, and preserve biodiversity. Organic commodity markets are worth billions of dollars annually and new organic food products are expected to meet the needs and demands of consumers in the coming years.
Organic commodity farmers are specialized gardeners who follow a strict set of rules and guidelines. Inorganic farmers do not practice organic food production methods. They use the same techniques, however, their yield and quality are lower. Organic farmers require a more intensive range of inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides in comparison to inorganic farmers.
Pesticides are the most common organic food substances used on a farm. This is because they serve to protect crops from insects and to prevent them from taking over the land. Some of the most commonly used pesticides in the United States include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Organic farms use a mix of pesticides, some of which are imported from other countries. These chemicals are known to be more harmful to humans than they are to crops.
Fertilizers are another key component of organic food production methods. Organic farmers don’t use synthetic fertilizers or synthetic pesticides, so they do not contribute to pollution. Instead, they provide natural fertilizers that are in high-growing plants. Man-made fertilizers can be dangerous to animals and the environment. Organic farmers rely on manure as a source of nutrients.
When you buy organic food, you are buying food that is free of harmful chemicals and fertilizers. However, there is still a great deal of variation among organically grown foods. The same is true of the products that are grown in large scale agricultural operations. As stated above, each crop is made up of a blend of several pesticides. This means that to purchase only organically grown foods would involve an investment that covers not only the crops themselves but also the fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that go with them.
The best way to ensure that your food does not have traces of pesticides or any other harmful substance is to purchase it from certified organic food stores. A wide variety of companies offer these certification programs. For example, Certified Organic California and Certified Organic Arkansas both require that the produce they sell has been inspected by an independent third party. They then verify that the produce is pesticide free. The two companies guarantee that their products are free of any traces of harmful pesticides.
The standards set by Certified Organic farmers to allow them to serve consumers with healthier choices. Because organic standards do not prohibit the use of chemicals, the pesticides used on the produce are often non-chemical based. Therefore, these pesticides are less likely to be absorbed by the body and are therefore less likely to cause side effects. While the consumer is likely to pay a little more for organically grown foods, he or she is likely to spend more money on the health benefits.
Irrigation systems vary greatly among different types of crops. Some use chemicals as a form of protection; others use water conservation systems that are designed to conserve water. In the case of organic foods, the farmer will choose which system works best for the particular crop he or she is growing. If the irrigation system is designed to save water, then the farmer will likely not use any type of chemicals on the produce. Instead, he or she will grow without irrigation systems and use rain or plant re-source to help conserve water. Chemical substances can prevent the crops from growing to their maximum potential.