It’s great to see so much more organic produce available these days, especially in supermarkets. The big supermarkets are now selling their own ‘home brand’ organic ranges, including Aldi’s Just Organics, Woolworth’s Naytura and Coles Organic. But how good is organic VS non-organic, and what does organic mean?

I think most people know that organic means that it’s more healthy because it’s grown naturally and doesn’t contain chemicals, and this is true. In Australia, organics means that food is produced following strict production standards and guidelines. Crops must be grown without any synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or additives. For animals, organic means no anitbiotics, growth hormones or steroids.

Is organic more healthy?

I don’t think you need to be a rocket scientist to work out that, under these rules, organic food is obviously much healthier for us, but to be a little more technical, there are a number of improvements to consider when choosing organic:

• Organic foods are, in most cases, more nutritious for us, with research showing that organic food is higher in antioxidants
• They are certainly chemical and toxin free
• They usually also help people with allergies, which are often caused by certain chemicals
• The toxins and chemicals used in non-organic food pruduction also damage the environment

Is organic more expensive?

• Organic chickens are free-range and eat from chemical-free pasture, with their feed 95% organic
• Organic tomatoes aren’t too expensive and I reckon they taste better
• Organic carrots are more expensive, but in most cases, non-organic carrots are low in chemicals anyway
• Organic eggs are still quite expensive. If consumer demand for organic eggs grows, they will become cheaper. Better still, why not have some chooks in your own backyard? Contact Green Dean today to find out how easy it is.
• Organic cereals are better because they contain less or no artificial additives and preservatives

Quality, fresh, healthy food can definitely be more expensive. This is mainly due to the rising costs of farming and production and processing of such foods.

Organic food is generally a little more expensive, for a few very valid reasons – the main reasons being that the cost of setting up or transitioning to a certified organic farm is high initially, and also that growing organic food usually takes a little longer and more care to achieve – but in the long term, for our own health and the health of the planet, is worth achieving.

Is organic more ethical?

Here are a few things to think about when you’re trying to decide whether to buy organic or not:

• Everytime you see really cheap food, remember that somewhere a farmer is being screwed, and a farmer who is being screwed can’t afford to look after the land.
• Because organic soils have a greater capacity to retain water, carbon and nutrients such as nitrogen, establishing 10,000 medium-sized organic farms would be the equivalent of taking around 1,100,00 cars off the road.
• Organic farming is more labour-intensive and that makes a difference at the cash register. But how much is your environment worth? And how much is your health worth? Can you go without something less important to afford organic?
• Sometimes, you need to follow your instincts – having an eat-local-and-organic-where-possible philosophy as your starting point – but without being fanatical.

Every single organic item you buy makes a difference to your own health and the impact your food has on your environment. Every time you buy organic, you help to strengthen and elevate the organic industry, which means a step closer to less intensive, chemical based farming. Major supermarkets now recognise that consumers want organic products, and most have launched their own ‘home brands’ of organic products in recent years, with organic product range increasing.