It’s the New Year, friends. So, why not make a resolution to eat more organic foods? It’s easy and can truly help protect the environment for generations to come. If you look at our boxes on the store shelf you’ll see the certified organic seal. Many people may just see it as a logo, but to us it means we care about providing you and your family with delicious organic food! Here are 11 reasons you should go organic for 2011. Happy New Year!
1. Organic food tastes delicious
Since organic crops are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, the food that is produced has more natural flavor and nutrients.
2. Organic foods have strict standards
Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or genetically-engineered ingredients. The USDA has also developed specific labeling rules to help consumers know exactly what’s in the food they buy.
3. Keep chemicals out of the soil
Because organic farmers don’t use any synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, the soil that our crops are grown in stays untouched. Just like Mother Nature intended.
4. Organic farming practices preserve water
No chemicals in the soil and air means no chemical run-off into streams and rivers nearby. Thus, the quality of the water around an organic farm is preserved.
5. Healthy soil is produced
In order to meet the USDA standard for organic farming regulations, farmers are required to demonstrate how they’ve improved soil quality. We do this by partnering with farmers that rotate their crops, compost and plant cover crops over the winter.
6. Vote with your dollar
When you buy organic food at the grocery store it is a vote to preserve more organic farmland. It’s easy to see how buying organic food preserves our land for future generations to come.
7. Organic farmers are leaders in research
We rely on our partnerships with organizations like the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), who are constantly leading the way with research to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. In turn, minimizing the impact farming has on the environment.
8. Organic farmers preserve biodiversity
It’s important for farmers not to lose the variety of species on the farm. By planting seasonal cover crops, organic farmers preserve biodiversity.
9. Help local farmers
Many organic farms are genuinely family owned. When you buy organic foods, you’re supporting your community and the people that work within it.
10. Help generations to come
If we eat more organic food, more farm land will be converted to organic, creating less impact on the environment for future generations.
11. Organic farms use less energy
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Association, Organic agriculture performs better than conventional agriculture on a per acre scale, both with respect to direct energy consumption (fuel and oil) and indirect consumption (synthetic fertilizers and pesticides).
Sources: Organic Center, Organic Trade Association, Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations
Photos: All Organic by Tim Psych and Veggies at the Market by Kari Burks
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