Benefits of Organic Foods

The Certification Process

Not just anyone can say that their food is organic. There are guidelines that have been set into place by the USDA to determine if food is truly organic. For a farm to be legally organic, it must be approved by a third party certifier. This certifier will make sure that the farm has followed certain requirements, such as:

• They should have a long term management plan for their farm's soil.
• They should have established buffers between their organic farm and other traditional farms.
• They must meet specific labeling requirements.
• They cannot use any chemical herbicides or fumigants. Additionally, they cannot use any synthetic fertilizers or unapproved pesticides.
• They must keep detailed records.
• If the farm was originally a conventional farm, they must observe a three year transition period during which their produce cannot be labeled as organic. After the three year period, they may legally be certified as organic.

If a farm has met these requirements, they can officially sell organic produce. Note that a package that states a product is "all natural" does not mean that it is organic.

Labeling Organic Meat

In order for livestock that is used for meat, milk or eggs to be certified as organic, it has to be raised under organic handling standards. This includes being sure that organic and non-organic products are not mixed together. Organically raised animals are to be fed 100 percent organic feed and must have access to the outdoors unless confinement is necessary for the health or safety of the animal.

No hormones or antibiotics are to be used on an animal that will be marketed as organic. Sick animals can be treated for illness, but the animal products cannot be labeled as organic if the animal has been treated with non-organic medicine.

Benefits of Organic Foods

There are many benefits of organic foods. One of the biggest to many people is taste. Organic foods have long been the preferred choice of professional chef for just that reason. Foods that are organic make their creations shine!

Another of the benefits of organic foods is that they are healthier. Organic foods are produced with fewer chemicals, which means you will have fewer chemicals going into your body. Not to mention, organic vegetables have more vitamins and minerals which is great for your body too. A healthier body means fewer medical expenses. Organic meats and produce can only benefit you and your family.

Environmental responsibility is another reason to support organic food producers. Organic farmers spend a great deal of time enriching the soil with natural methods. Healthy soil means healthy plants. Healthy plants produce healthy foods, and healthy foods make a healthy you. Water quality is also preserved though organic practices because there is no chemical runoff to pollute rivers and streams. If all that isn't enough, consider the energy savings. Conventional farming practices use more petroleum than any other industry. Pollution from the production of fertilizers is also reduced when more farmers opt to use organic methods.

Another very important reason to support organic farms is that you are supporting the nation's farmers. Did you know that 650,000 family farms in the United States have been lost in the last ten years? For many farmers, this has meant losing a way of life that has been in their family for generations. For those that have remained, many have turned to organic farming as a last effort to save their family farms.

As you can see, buying organic foods can have far reaching effects on yourself and the country as a whole. Choose organic the next time you go shopping and see for yourself the benefits of organic foods