Organic Food: What You Need to Know

In the United States, there are strict rules regarding when a rancher or farmer may label their food as being "organic." In order to use that label, an inspector from the government must go to the farm to ensure that they are following the required stringent rules.

So, what qualifies a food as being organic?  Ranchers and farmers who grow organic food must not give their animals antibiotics or growth hormones, use irridation (using X-rays and other rays to kill pests), must use only natural fertilizers and natural pest killers (such as oils or soaps) and must feed their animals organic food only.

Generally, organic food is more expensive than non-organic food for several reasons.  For example, it can cost more for organic ranchers to feed their cattle, plus organic farms tend to be smaller (making it hard to get help from the government) and it takes more labor to raise animals and grow plants without pesticides, chemical fertilizers and the like.

As organic food gets more and more popular, you may be wondering what the benefits are.  For one, organic food is better for the environment, as organic farmers and ranchers often conserve water and soil. Also, pesticides can kill small animals and birds and and affect their reproduction, therefore using less toxic chemicals is beneficial to the environment.

Also, pesticides are used to grow non-organic food and when it arrives at the store there are often small amounts of pesticides still left on the food. Studies have shown that ingesting large quantities of pesticide chemicals is harmful, but the effects of smaller amounts are still unknown.

However, if you can it may give you and your family more peace of mind to purchase the organic versions of the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides (according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit group that analyzes the results of government pesticide testing in the U.S.).  Those 12 fruits and vegetables are strawberries, cherries, kale, celery, bell peppers, peaches, apples, nectarines, carrots, pears, grapes and lettuce.

Not ready to go organic or concerned about the cost?  You can still take a precautionary step by always washing fresh vegetables and fruits with detergent, such as dishwashing soap, to remove some of the pesticides. A scrub brush is also a good idea.  This way, you can feel better knowing you've done your part to help keep your family a little more safe when eating fresh produce.