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Is organic worth it?
You may have noticed that organic food is much more readily available these days. Is organic worth paying the additional price? What does the label mean?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture answers that question in their online article, “Organic 101: What the USDA Organic Label Means.”
• Produce can be called organic if it’s certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
• As for organic meat, regulations require that animals are raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones.
• When it comes to processed, multi-ingredient foods, the USDA organic standards specify additional considerations. Regulations prohibit organically processed foods from containing artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors and require that their ingredients are organic.
As with all organic foods, none of it is grown or handled using genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
I personally appreciate the organic label and the high quality of food that it represents. I want to make the healthiest choices for myself and my family. To help me determine which fresh foods are more important to purchase as organic, I refer to the EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit organization that ranks the pesticides found in non-organic fruits and vegetables. The Dirty Dozen lists the highest twelve offenders while the Clean Fifteen lists the least contaminated produce.
2023 EWG’s Dirty Dozen
1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale, collard & mustard greens
4. Peaches
5. Pears
6. Nectarines
7. Apples
8. Grapes
9. Bell & hot pepper
10. Cherries
11. Blueberries
12. Green beans
If the food I’m wanting is on the Dirty Dozen list, then I am purchasing organic.
When I first learned about the hazards of pesticides on our food, I changed my gardening practices to organic. I often buy food from my neighbors, who are not certified organic, but I know that they use organic practices.
As you are shopping at the Farmer’s Markets this summer, talk to the farmers and let them know that you appreciate their extra efforts to provide clean, high-quality food for your family.
Is organic worth it? Absolutely.
Jeanna Anglin is a health coach residing in Putnam County who supports individuals and small groups in making lifestyle changes to improve their health.
Jeannaanglin.com