The Importance of Organic Food

What is organic food?

The word “organic” refers to a standard of agricultural practices used to create and process your food, and this term covers a few different things.

Generally, organic food refers to food that has been grown more naturally than “conventional” food, without the use of certain pesticides, synthetic chemicals, growth hormones, etc.

According to the USDA, USDA certified organic foods adhere to federal guidelines that regulate the following:

• The soil quality used to raise food
• Animal raising practices
• Pest and weed control
• The use of additives

The USDA has specific rules around what substances and practices aren’t allowed for food to be certified organic.

For instance, bioengineering and ionizing radiation are not allowed, animals are not given antibiotics or growth hormones, and practices feature the cycling of resources. Only pesticides made from natural ingredients can be used.

The difference between organic and non-GMO

GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are not allowed in organic farming. This means your farmers haven’t used genetically modified seeds when planting crops, and that certain practices are in place to prevent GMO contamination.

Generally, organic food refers to food that has been grown more naturally than “conventional” food, without the use of certain pesticides, synthetic chemicals, growth hormones, etc

The takeaway? While all organic food is definitionally non-GMO, not all non-GMO is necessarily organic. Food that’s not genetically modified could still fail to pass other standards of the organic certification.

Is organic food healthier?

All food that’s grown in the US has to comply with certain safety standards. But compared to food that’s grown using conventional methods, is organic food safer and more nutritious to consume? Let’s look at what the science says.

Is organic food safer?

Because organic farming restricts the use of certain pesticides, organic food exposes people to less of this conventional pesticide residue.

Contact with pesticides may be linked to certain health risks, especially for those who are pregnant, since pesticides have been linked to problems with fetal development and other pregnancy complications. People who eat a more organic diet have also been found to have the fewest cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer.

Both organic and conventional foods can still be contaminated with bacteria, like E. Coli, so not all organic food is magically free of health risks.

While all organic food is definitionally non-GMO, not all non-GMO is necessarily organic

More long-term research is needed into the links between organic foods and food safety, but by choosing organic options, you may be reducing your exposure to certain chemical hazards from conventional pesticide use.

Is organic food more nutritious?

Multiple large meta-analyses have shown that organic foods may contain more of certain nutrients than conventional foods.

For instance, a review of over 300 studies showed that organic crops had a substantially higher composition of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. This may be because crops that are introduced to more stress during the growing process form these beneficial compounds in order to cope.

Another analysis pooling data from over 200 studies found that organic meat and dairy contains about 50% more omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to brain health and function and a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Is organic food better for the environment?

Organic farming can have several beneficial impacts on the environment compared to conventional methods that are based on maximum output. Let’s get into some of why that is.

Soil health

On a basic level, organic farming centers the health of the soil, emphasizing methods that are good for the ground, such as crop rotation and composting, unlike conventional methods that can lead to more soil depletion. That means organic farming is generally better for soil fertility and health.

Because organic farming restricts the use of certain pesticides, organic food exposes people to less of this conventional pesticide residue

Carbon sequestration

Soil has carbon storing capabilities, and because organic farming prioritizes soil health, it also has the ability to sequester more carbon than non-organic systems.

For instance, pesticide use is associated with damage to the soil invertebrates that create soil components essential for carbon sequestration.

It’s estimated that if best-practice organic farming was adopted worldwide, the sector could actually become carbon negative due to soil’s carbon sequestering potential.

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Because organic farming prohibits the use of common fossil fuel-based fertilizers and most synthetic pesticides, it has a significantly lower carbon footprint.

There’s a reason people shop organic. In fact, there are several different reasons people choose to buy foods that are farmed using more natural methods and substances.

For instance, fumigant pesticides emit nitrous oxide (N20), which is considered the most potent greenhouse gas.

Meanwhile, studies show that by eliminating synthetic nitrogen fertilizers alone (as done in organic farming), global greenhouse gas emissions that come directly from agriculture could be reduced by about 20%.

One forty-year study also found that organic farms use 45% less energy than conventional farms based on comparable yields.

Because organic farming prohibits the use of common fossil fuel-based fertilizers and most synthetic pesticides, it has a significantly lower carbon footprint

Further, GMO foods were originally touted as a fix to hunger, but in reality, most GM corn in the U.S. is used to feed livestock in the animal agriculture sector—a notorious offender when it comes to climate change.

Reduced contamination

The elimination of substances prohibited by organic standards also means that there’s less risk of chemical pollution from water and soil contamination from chemical runoff.

Biodiversity

Soil’s not just dirt—ideally, it also contains living organisms that help it thrive. Because organic systems are focused on soil health, that’s good news for the soil microbiome and the larger ecosystem, with more biodiversity of insects and pollinators.

Conventional practices like monocropping and GMO use can also suppress the crop diversity that will be crucial for climate change adaptation and sustainable food security.

Organic farming and your neighbors

Because GMOs and other patented crops tend to benefit big corporations, they help bolster the big ag monopolies that have been harmful to small farmers. By choosing organic, local foods produced by small farmers, you can help support a more equitable food economy overall.

Because organic systems are focused on soil health, that’s good news for the soil microbiome and the larger ecosystem

Choosing organic foods

So now you know the major reasons people choose to eat organic, but how does that enter into your weekly grocery hauls?

How to know if your food is organic

Many foods will be labeled organic or come with a USDA organic certified seal. However, with processed foods that contain multiple ingredients, you can check for a “made with organic” claim—this means that 70% of the ingredients are organic.

Shopping at a mostly organic grocery store can help take the guesswork out, saving you time and energy while shopping

Shopping at a mostly organic grocery store can help take the guesswork out, saving you time and energy while shopping. At re_, we prioritize organic foods so you can shop with ease.

Avoiding the dirty dozen

You may have heard that it’s more important to shop organic on certain foods than others. A handy rule of thumb can be to avoid shopping conventionally-grown when it comes to the following. According to the Environmental Working Group, these 12 fruits and veggies tend to be the most contaminated with pesticides:

• Strawberries
• Spinach
• Kale, collard and mustard greens
• Grapes
• Peaches
• Pears
• Nectarines
• Apples
• Bell pepper and hot peppers
• Cherries
• Blueberries
• Green beans

Shopping at a mostly organic grocery store can help take the guesswork out, saving you time and energy while shopping

Shopping small and local

Organic doesn’t always mean local. To support your local farm economy and ensure that your food is made more sustainably (with energy used to transport and distribute) and in season (for less resource use), head into re_ to shop our produce section full of fresh picks from the farmer’s market.

Getting a good price

Organic foods have a reputation of being more expensive, but if you shop at our tare weight grocery, you know that you’re getting the best possible price on organic goods while eliminating plastic and single-use packaging as well.

Because you’re not paying an upcharge for wasteful packaging or empty space, and since you’re able to buy only as much as you need, you know you’re getting the best price around on organic foods!

Now that you know the importance of organic foods to our health, ecosystems, and local economies, visit our online store or head inside to shop our selection of organic staples and other supplies!