Like many conscientious consumers, you may have asked yourself, Does organic food equal better, healthier food, or are the advantages more hype than fact?
Let’s start by examining what the word organic means as it applies to food products. Farming organically means that one adheres to particular principles relating to human, animal, and environmental issues. Organic farms leave chemicals out of the equation and cultivate their food naturally. Causing less damage to the environment, wildlife, and human beings is a big focus nowadays, and organic farming is just a part of it. Land roughly the size of Italy is used for organic pursuits, and the global organic market is valued at over $27 billion.
What the Organic Label Means
If a food item has been grown on a farm, and if it utilizes processors and importers approved by a known certification process, then it can have an organic label. With a processed food item, at least 95% of it must be made up of organically farmed ingredients. The rest of the ingredients can be non-organic, but they must go through an approval process.
Organic food producers have to follow these guidelines to achieve organic certification: Natural methods must be employed to keep the soil fertile; no chemical fertilizers can be used. This is possible through rotating planted crops, which leaves natural nutrients behind, and also by using manure. Instead of using pesticides, farmers can weed and plant different crops side-by-side so that they keep both crops’ pests under control. They can also use particular insects to take out more harmful ones.
They must not use most additives like colorings and preservatives. Animals must be fed organically, and they also must be given open space and access to free range areas. In addition, minimum slaughter age rules exist. These and other guidelines for the humane treatment of animals must be followed.
