Edible Organic Options
If you are not familiar with organic food, you may be wondering what the big deal is. Why is it a better choice for the environment? How is organic green?
Many hazardous chemicals such as DDT and hexachloro have been banned from use in the United States, yet the chemicals are still manufactured and are used in Mexico and throughout South America — prime sources for out-of-season produce in local grocery stores.
Every day, crops all over the world are sprayed with toxic chemicals. In the United States alone, more than 800 million pounds of pesticides and more than 54 million tons of synthetic chemical fertilizers are used on farmlands every year. These chemical-filled products pollute the ground and water, and traces remain on the food we eat.
The EPA published a report called Unfinished Business: A Comparative Assessment of Environmental Problems that stated the number-three risk for cancer is pesticide residues in food. Beware of foods that are particularly susceptible to contamination, especially when you eat the skin of the fruit or vegetable.
Organic fruits, vegetables, grains, and fibers are grown without the use of toxic chemicals. For a farm to be considered organic, healthy soil and crops must be maintained through natural methods; chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, rodenticides, and herbicides cannot be used. Varying stages and levels of organic certification are still being formed to regulate what can be considered organic. In 1991, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act as part of a national farm bill. However, many states also have their own independent certification standards.
To learn more about organic foods, visit www.theorganicreport.com, www.foodnews.org, www.organicconsumers.org, www.organickitchen.com, and www.ewg.org. To learn about the safety of the foods you purchase, visit www.centerforfoodsafety.org.
For a product to be certified organic, it has to follow guidelines of the National Organic Standards Act. In October 2002 the USDA became the official agency to supply this official accreditation through the National Organic Program. To be certified organic, any food or fiber had to be grown without toxic pesticides and fertilizers, synthetic hormones, sewage sludge, antibiotics, irradiation, or GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
Look for the “USDA Organic” label to find a certified product. Pay attention to what the label says: “100% Organic” means that all the ingredients are organic; “Organic” means that 95 percent of the ingredients are organic; and “Made with Organic Ingredients” means the product is made with only 70 percent organic ingredients. Meat can be organic as long as it follows the guidelines; living animals cannot be given antibiotics or hormones and must be fed with organic grains.
When you shop for meat and poultry products, look for labeling that says free farmed, free range, free roaming, or pasture raised. These choices ensure that the animals were raised in a comfortable environment and were allowed some freedom, rather than being shut up in small cages their entire lives.
It is possible to have a completely organic menu. Everything from your hors d'oeuvres to your cake and even your drinks can be organic. Beer, vodka, tequila, and wine are all being made in organic varieties. Some organic winemakers are Bonterra (www.bonterra.com) and the Organic Wine Company (www.theorganicwinecompany.com). Other organic alcohol varieties to consider include 4 Copas Tequila, Square One Vodka, Reyka Vodka, and Anheuser-Busch's new organic lineup that consists of Purus Vodka and the organic beers Stonemill Pale Ale and Wild Hops Lager. Other companies have announced plans to create new lines of green and organic alcohol beverages or to turn existing products green.
If you are looking for nonalcoholic organic drinks, you can choose from an array of organic juices and sparkling ciders. There are even some organic sodas. Blue Sky (www.drinkbluesky.com) offers several all-natural sodas, including organic sodas.
The organic foods industry in the United States is estimated to be a $9 billion per year industry, growing at a rate of 20 percent per year. Globally, the industry is practiced in about 100 countries; North America and Europe lead the continents in demand, but Australia and South America have more land dedicated to organic farming.
By choosing organic you'll help save the environment and quite possibly your own good health. To locate organic farms, restaurants, and stores that sell organic products, visit www.eatwellguide.org, www.localharvest.org, and www.sustainabletable.org.
If you can't find any local stores or organic farms in your area to purchase organic produce or other organic foods, you can always order online. Lydia's Organics (www.lydiasorganics.com) has a good selection of organic and raw foods, while Gold Mine Natural Foods (www.goldminenaturalfoods.com) has a pretty big selection of organic, raw, vegan, and other specialty foods. Eden Foods (www.edenfoods.com) and Walnut Acres (www.walnutacres.com) can direct you to the stores and online retailers that sell their products.
