Almost every healthy food article I read talks about the importance of getting more fruits and vegetables into your daily nutrition lifestyle. And, the idea of eating organic fruits and vegetables is a frequent recommendation.
But, what does “organic” mean in the context of fruits and vegetables? And, does that mean the fruits and vegetables are better or safer?
To get the best fruits and vegetables for you and your family, in this article I cover the basics you should know about buying organic fruits and vegetables.
Differences Between GMO, Conventional and Organic Food Products
While there has been much bandied about in the media about the latest flavor of Coca-Cola or sugar-laden cereal for kids, the differences between GMO, conventional and organic food products are far more important than all those advertisements.
To start, genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) are, in the context of food, crops that have had genetic engineering used on them to alter the fundamental structure of the plant to gain an advantage. Many GMOs are modified to be insect-resistant, heartier against disease, and larger than their original hybrid or heirloom varieties.
Conventional crops use all the standard processes in a modern, industrial farm. They use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, along with manures. And, they have practices that lead to water overuse, contaminants to the surrounding region, establish monocultures, and destroy forests and native vegetation. The conventional fruits and vegetables you’re eating get the benefits of mass production but also the negative side effects of possible pollutants from these practices, plus the impact on global climate change.
Switching over to organic fruits and vegetables, to certify a fruit or vegetable as “organic” here in the United States (which I’ll get to below), understand that the food is made using sustainable practices and is required to be GMO-free to be “certified organic.” So, don’t buy GMO-free alone because the benefits are built into organic foods.
Let’s look at the standards of organic farming and certified organic fruits and vegetables to further understand what makes them special in contrast to GMO and conventional crops.
Standards for Organic Fruits and Vegetables
The National Organic Program by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides the regulations and requirements for labeling products as organic.
But, “organic” doesn’t mean no pesticides or fertilizers were used. Similarly named but unique, the National Organics Program headed by the Environmental Protection Agency has guidelines for the standards for which pesticides or fertilizers can be used in organic foods.
From a nutritional value perspective, organic foods don’t provide any substantively different micronutrient advantages. The important things that organic foods do is substantially benefit public health by not using irradiation to kill contaminants (which breeds more antibiotic resistant bacteria in the long-term) while using fewer chemical additives and synthetic pesticides. None of this is zero, but organic means hopefully less-detrimental impact on your health over conventional food crops.
Standards aside, organic produce provides the most compelling reason in that organic farms already and continually work to lessen their environmental impact. With worsening climate impacts on the planet, there’s a risk to the entire food production process. By supporting organic produce, it creates an across-the-board improvement to organic food production through market forces.
How to Bring More Organic Fruits and Vegetables Into Your Life
If you are concerned about you and your family’s health, and the planet, and want to bring more organic fruits and vegetables into your life, there are four easy ways to do so.
Check the Organic Produce section of your local grocer. You can find an organic fruits and vegetables section in almost every major grocery store today. If you shop at a small grocer make sure to check their organics labels to make sure they are authentic; you can compare them against the actual labels here. Misuse of the seal on foods and other products, including alcohol, honey, pet foods, aquaculture, mushrooms, textiles and cosmetics, comes with a hefty nearly $18,000 fine per violation. So, it’s unlikely, but major grocery store chains get more scrutiny than smaller ones.
Subscribe to a local CSA. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs abound in the Alexandria and Metropolitan DC area. Many of these CSA’s are produced on locally-grown, organic farms, so you get to support your local farm economies, your health, and the environment!
Shop at farmers markets in the area. Similar to the above, if a CSA is not quite your cup of tea, you can find local farmers markets happening weekly in the DC area. The same farmers who have CSAs also sell at the farmers markets and frequently carry ample organic fruits and vegetables.
Processed food products using organic ingredients. While we all wish to eat more whole foods in our ideal nutritional lifestyles, processed foods still make up a good majority of our food intake. So, check the labels of processed foods you’re buying and make sure they too carry a USDA certified organic food label. Every little bit counts!
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What are you favorite organic fruits or vegetables at home? Why do you buy organic produce? Let me know in the comments!