| Nowadays many people are decidedly making | | | | even many other foods coming to market as |
| smarter choices when purchasing food for | | | | organic foods such as eggs, cheese, yogurt, ice |
| themselves or their family. Organically grown | | | | cream, milk, juice, bread, soup, meat, nuts, pasta |
| foods have been increasing in popularity as people | | | | and many baby foods. |
| are choosing to live a smarter and healthier | | | | Being organic is referring to the way the |
| lifestyle. Organic farmers around the world are | | | | agricultural products of fiber and food are |
| doing their part in preserving the quality of our | | | | processed and grown. The ecological system |
| ecosystem and to improve our health by growing | | | | heavily relies on the rich soil to produce plants |
| food the way nature intended. Organically grown | | | | strong enough to withstand diseases and other |
| food gives us a naturally healthy and purely | | | | pests. Organic farming means that the use of any |
| delicious food that is completely free of harmful | | | | chemicals and toxins are prohibited and work only |
| chemicals and pesticides. Conventionally grown | | | | in favor of the earth friendly habits that work |
| foods tend to carry a heavier load of pesticide | | | | with nature. In livestock, preventative measures |
| than the organically grown food and these can be | | | | are taken to keep the animals productive and |
| very harmful. | | | | healthy because the use of antibiotics is forbidden. |
| Here are five reasons why you should choose to | | | | Genetically modified organisms are also strictly |
| buy organically grown foods. | | | | prohibited in the organic production. |
| Organic foods are free of additives and | | | | Only three categories are allowed by the USDA |
| preservatives and therefore taste more delicious | | | | when labeling organic foods: |
| and pure. | | | | 100% Organic - Means the food item is made |
| Buying organic foods helps to reduce the | | | | purely and 100% of organic ingredients. |
| dependence on all the non-renewable resources. | | | | Organic Made - Means the food item is made of |
| The organic food industry promotes healthy | | | | at least 95% organic ingredients with the |
| farmland and supports those small family owned | | | | remaining 5% heavily restricted and with no |
| farms that produce the organic food. | | | | genetically modified organisms. |
| Growing organic foods help to keep chemicals out | | | | Made With Organic Ingredients - Means the food |
| of the water supplies and help protect the | | | | item is made of no lesser than 70% of organic |
| farmers and other workers from having contact | | | | ingredients with the remaining 30% heavily |
| with harmful chemicals and pesticides. | | | | restricted and with no genetically modified |
| Organically grown food is exceedingly safe for | | | | organisms. |
| children because it is free from harmful pesticides. | | | | The USDA has set strict regulations when labeling |
| Next time you're shopping for groceries, think | | | | organic foods. An organic food must contain at |
| about how buying organically grown food can | | | | least 95% of organic ingredients in order for it to |
| benefit you and your family. Think about choosing | | | | be labeled as "organic." Any foods that have less |
| a food that was grown as nature intended, | | | | than 70% of organic ingredients can not make |
| compared to one that had frequently been | | | | any claims on the front of the package that it is |
| covered with poisonous pesticides and other | | | | organic in any way, but may list the specific |
| chemicals. Would you buy food knowing that it | | | | organically grown ingredients on the side panel. |
| had once been saturated with harmful chemicals? | | | | The primary barrier to most consumers of buying |
| At one point in time, that was something you | | | | organically grown foods is the price. Eating |
| never would have thought about, but now today | | | | healthier is sometimes more expensive than the |
| in the information age, people are more aware of | | | | chemically treated foods. However, as the organic |
| what they are putting into their bodies. Now | | | | food industry is steadily rising as the varieties and |
| people are aware of how food is grown and | | | | availabilities are increasing, the prices are becoming |
| produced and now people have a choice. | | | | more competitive and more appealing. We all owe |
| Some great organically grown foods to buy are | | | | it to ourselves and our families to stay healthy by |
| apples, grapes (imported), nectarines, pears, | | | | eating healthy, and it should not have to cost you |
| peaches, red raspberries, strawberries, bell | | | | an arm and a leg to do so. |
| peppers, celery, potatoes and spinach. There are | | | | |