Saturday 4 June 2011

10 reasons to go for organic food

1:Organic products meet
stringent standards
Organic certification is the
public’s assurance that
products have been grown
and handled according to
strict procedures without
persistent toxic chemical
inputs.

2:Organic food tastes
great!
It’s common sense – well-
balanced soils produce
strong, healthy plants that
become nourishing food for
people and animals.

3:Organic production
reduces health risks
Many EPA-approved
pesticides were registered
long before extensive
research linked these
chemicals to cancer and
other diseases. Organic
agriculture is one way to
prevent any more of these
chemicals from getting into
the air, earth and water that
sustain us.

4:Organic farms respect
our water resources
The elimination of polluting
chemicals and nitrogen
leaching, done in
combination with soil
building, protects and
conserves water resources.

5:Organic farmers build
healthy soil
Soil is the foundation of the
food chain. The primary
focus of organic farming is
to use practices that build
healthy soils.

6:Organic farmers work in
harmony with nature
Organic agricultural respects
the balance demanded of a
healthy ecosystem: wildlife
is encouraged by including
forage crops in rotation and
by retaining fence rows,
wetlands, and other natural
areas.

7:Organic producers are
leaders in innovative
research
Organic farmers have led
the way, largely at their own
expense, with innovative
on-farm research aimed at
reducing pesticide use and
minimizing agriculture’s
impact on the environment.

8:Organic producers strive
to preserve diversity
The loss of a large variety of
species (biodiversity) is one
of the most pressing
environmental concerns.
The good news is that many
organic farmers and
gardeners have been
collecting and preserving
seeds, and growing unusual
varieties for decades.

9:Organic farming helps
keep rural communities
healthy
Organic
agriculture can be a lifeline
for small farms because it
offers an alternative market
where sellers can command
fair prices for crops.

10:Organic abundance –
Foods and non-foods
alike!
Now every food category
has an organic alternative.
And non-food agricultural
products are being grown
organically– even cotton,
which most experts felt
could not be grown this
way.