Many people are now making smarter choices when shopping for food for themselves or their family. Organically grown foods have been increasing in popularity as people are choosing to live a smarter and healthier lifestyle. Organic farmers around the world are doing their part in preserving the quality of our ecosystem and to improve our health by growing food the way nature intended. Organically grown food gives us a naturally healthy and purely delicious food that is free of harmful chemicals and pesticides. Conventionally grown foods tend to carry a heavier load of pesticide and can be very harmful.

Why you should choose to buy organically grown foods? Well, organic foods are free of additives and preservatives and therefore taste more delicious and pure. Buying organic foods helps to reduce the dependence on all the non-renewable resources. The organic food industry promotes healthy farmland and supports those small family owned farms that produce the organic food. Growing organic foods help to keep chemicals out of the water supplies and help protect the farmers and other workers from having contact with harmful chemicals and pesticides. Plus organically grown food is exceedingly safe for children because it is free from harmful pesticides.

When shopping for groceries, think about how buying organically grown food can benefit you, your family and the environment. Think about buying food grown as nature intended, compared to their pesticide and chemical laden counterparts. Would you knowingly buy food saturated with harmful chemicals? That was something you likely would never have been concerned with, but today in the information age, people are more aware of how their food is grown and what they are putting into their bodies. Today, you have a choice.

Some great organically grown foods to buy are apples, grapes (imported), nectarines, pears, peaches, red raspberries, strawberries, bell peppers, celery, potatoes and spinach. There are even many other foods coming to market as organic foods such as eggs, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, milk, juice, bread, soup, meat, nuts, pasta and many baby foods.

Being organic is referring to the way the agricultural products of fiber and food are processed and grown. The ecological system heavily relies on the rich soil to produce plants strong enough to withstand diseases and other pests. Organic farming means that the use of any chemicals and toxins are prohibited and work only in favor of the earth friendly habits that work with nature. In livestock, preventative measures are taken to keep the animals productive and healthy without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones. Genetically modified organisms are also strictly prohibited in the organic production.

Only three categories are allowed by the USDA when labeling organic foods:

100% Organic - Means the food item is made purely and 100% of organic ingredients.

Organic Made - Means the food item is made of at least 95% organic ingredients with the remaining 5% heavily restricted and with no genetically modified organisms.

Made With Organic Ingredients - Means the food item is made of no lesser than 70% of organic ingredients with the remaining 30% heavily restricted and with no genetically modified organisms.

The USDA has set strict regulations when labeling organic foods. An organic food must contain at least 95% of organic ingredients in order for it to be labeled as “organic.” Any foods that have less than 70% of organic ingredients can not make any claims on the front of the package that it is organic in any way, but may list the specific organically grown ingredients on the side panel.

The primary barrier to most consumers of buying organically grown foods is the price. Eating healthier is sometimes more expensive than the chemically treated foods. However, as the organic food industry is steadily rising as the varieties and availabilities are increasing, the prices are becoming more competitive and more appealing.

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