Going organic
Health, politics, environment draw consumers to alternative foods
Cherise Benton REPORTER
Issue date: 6/25/09 Section: Features
In an effort to be more socially responsible, many grocery shoppers turn to the green and white USDA organic certification seal for a guarantee of locally grown, free range, fair trade, eco-friendly products.
But do organics really help save the earth? Are they healthier and safer than conventionally produced foods? Are they worth the extra cost, especially during this recession?
According to Jacob Harver, owner of the a local restaurant Lemon Grove Cafe, Green consumerism is a major oxymoron. He added that the true purpose of the green movement is to reduce consumption, not to be wasteful by replacing perfectly good things with sustainable and/or organic versions.
Elsa Higby, coordinator of Grow Youngstown's Community Sustained Agriculture program, said some of the biggest reasons people go organic are health, politics and the environment.
According to Higby, "organic doesn't necessarily mean sustainable practices," and the FDA allows for certain poisons that are not biodegradable.
Higby said in terms of environmental preservation, the eco-label hierarchy should be local, sustainable and then organic. It's much more ecologically responsible to purchase locally grown foods, which are produced on a smaller, more sustainable scale.
Chrystyna Zellers, the nutritionist at YSU Campus Recreation and Student Programming, said that organic foods are safer in terms of bacterial contamination.
"You really don't know what steps were taken between the farm and your house," Higby said. She added that produce could come in contact with toxins at any point, and "to be safe you should wash all produce."
Although chemicals like pesticides, preservatives and man-made fertilizers do put an extra strain on the liver, conventionally grown produce does not contain "enough pesticide to hurt you" Zellers said. Zellers added that it isn't ever a good idea to put foreign substances in the body, but "the first priority should be to learn what's healthy."
Pesticide-free junk food doesn't inherently contain more fiber. It comes from raw veggies and fruits, preferably unpeeled. Zellers explained the high price of organics causes them to sit in the grocery store for extended periods of time and lose nutrients.
However, if health problems such as a compromised immune system or food allergies arise, eating organic foods could help.
Zellers said a lot people undergoing chemotherapy choose organics because they give the body a little bit of a break and preservatives can trigger allergic reactions.
For more information on organic foods and how to purchase CSA shares through Grow Youngstown, visit www.growyoungstown.org.
But do organics really help save the earth? Are they healthier and safer than conventionally produced foods? Are they worth the extra cost, especially during this recession?
According to Jacob Harver, owner of the a local restaurant Lemon Grove Cafe, Green consumerism is a major oxymoron. He added that the true purpose of the green movement is to reduce consumption, not to be wasteful by replacing perfectly good things with sustainable and/or organic versions.
Elsa Higby, coordinator of Grow Youngstown's Community Sustained Agriculture program, said some of the biggest reasons people go organic are health, politics and the environment.
According to Higby, "organic doesn't necessarily mean sustainable practices," and the FDA allows for certain poisons that are not biodegradable.
Higby said in terms of environmental preservation, the eco-label hierarchy should be local, sustainable and then organic. It's much more ecologically responsible to purchase locally grown foods, which are produced on a smaller, more sustainable scale.
Chrystyna Zellers, the nutritionist at YSU Campus Recreation and Student Programming, said that organic foods are safer in terms of bacterial contamination.
"You really don't know what steps were taken between the farm and your house," Higby said. She added that produce could come in contact with toxins at any point, and "to be safe you should wash all produce."
Although chemicals like pesticides, preservatives and man-made fertilizers do put an extra strain on the liver, conventionally grown produce does not contain "enough pesticide to hurt you" Zellers said. Zellers added that it isn't ever a good idea to put foreign substances in the body, but "the first priority should be to learn what's healthy."
Pesticide-free junk food doesn't inherently contain more fiber. It comes from raw veggies and fruits, preferably unpeeled. Zellers explained the high price of organics causes them to sit in the grocery store for extended periods of time and lose nutrients.
However, if health problems such as a compromised immune system or food allergies arise, eating organic foods could help.
Zellers said a lot people undergoing chemotherapy choose organics because they give the body a little bit of a break and preservatives can trigger allergic reactions.
For more information on organic foods and how to purchase CSA shares through Grow Youngstown, visit www.growyoungstown.org.
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OrganicTrade
posted 6/26/09 @ 9:53 AM EST
You raise a number of common questions about organic in this post. Here are some important facts to consider as you think about these questions in more detail:
Organic and the environment
Organic agricultural production benefits the environment by using earth-friendly agricultural methods and practices, such as composting and cover cropping, instead of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, which threaten the health of eco-systems. (Continued…)
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