Organic can describe foods grown without the artificial pesticides or fertilizers. In other uses, organic refers to living things, or material that comes from living things.
The word "organic" may appear on meat packets, milk or egg cartons, cheese and other single-ingredient foods. Reject synthetic agrochemicals, radiation and genetically engineered foods or products that are certified organic. In fact, of course, the word is a redundancy: all foods contain organic chemicals (complex chemicals containing carbon). Any ingredients used in the production or processing of organic food must prove to be safe. Awareness of the value of organic foods is increasing. But whether organic chicken or pesticide-free lettuce represents "healthy" alternatives has long been the subject of debate.
Organic farming is in the US. Gardening is one of the fastest growing fields in the world. In fact, sales of organic products have increased by more than 20 percent each year over the past decade. Based on the number of farms, area and production value, the organic food industry is growing at a rate of 20-30% per annum. As commodity schemes are eliminated, more and more farmers are finding organic production to be a systematic and economically viable alternative. Growth in the number of organic farmers has increased steadily, similar to US growth.
Under current organic production methods, farmers are not allowed to use conventional synthetic fungicides in their disease management program. Non-organic milk comes from farms that are allowed to use genetically modified cow feed, along with conventional antibiotic treatments and synthetic pesticides. The effects of these hormones and chemicals on biological products have long been debated. Growth hormones in cows, pesticides in production and antibiotics in chickens are one of the reasons many Americans are turning to organic foods.
Organically raised animals should not be given growth hormones or antibiotics for any reason. Manufacturers are required to provide 100 percent organic feed to livestock, but farmers can also provide permitted vitamins and minerals.
The US Department of Agriculture has finally created a national body for labeling organic food. The new federal rule guarantees organic products grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Pesticides derived from natural sources (such as biological pesticides) can be used to produce organically grown food. Limitations on whether pesticides can be used present some unique and highly demanding challenges for the organic manufacturer. At least 70 percent of organic foods list organic ingredients on the front of the package. More than 40 private companies and government agencies (certifications) currently certify organic food, but their standards for growing and labeling organic food may vary. Despite these labeling rules, consumers should be prepared for some confusion when purchasing organic foods. One, organic products are not uniformly labeled because many farmers who use organic methods do not pursue certification. In addition, the language on logos, labels and logos approved by organic certifiers may vary.
Consumers are struggling with the fact that the availability of organic products will be less when they need more. More and more people are coming to appreciate the extra dimensions of value and quality available in the organic market.
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