The meaning of the word organic is related to or derived from living matter; produced or involving production without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents, according to the Oxford Dictionary. This definition is necessary to understand why organic foods are better for us as well as how they’re grown and processed.
Why So Much Food Is No Longer Nutritious
First, though, we must understand why organic foods are more nutritious than store-bought foods. In the past 100 years, farmers have been sold chemical fertilizers and pesticides in order to yield a crop not decimated by pests. These leach into the ground, canceling out all the nutrients in the soil.
Also in the past 100 years, crop rotation and the revitalization of the soil have fallen by the wayside. Farmers were (and still are) told to produce as much as they possibly can in the shortest amount of time. This is essential to profits for major food companies. The soil hasn’t time to recover, so all the nutrition in the foods is gone. They won’t be coming back, either, unless farmers rotate their fields and fold into the soil nutrition-giving fertilizers.
Why Organic Foods Are Better
Organic farmers follow strict guidelines regarding prepping the soil, non-chemical pest control, non-GMO seeds and other farming necessities, rotating fields, erosion control, in addition to insect traps just to name a few. These best practices ensure soil packed with nutrients and no chemical composition. Organic meal plans are easier to consider when we know these things.
Organic livestock is nurtured using non-GMO corn in the silage for cattle, chicken feed, and other animal foods. Ordinary livestock is fed on growth hormones, which ensures animals with more meat on their bones in addition to milk and other dairy products. This brings in more money for both farmers and food processing companies. Organically fed livestock may not have more meat, but they’re certainly healthier for human consumption.
How Are Organic Foods Processed?
Organic foods are processed as little as possible to protect the integrity of the food that began on the farm. Strict guidelines are followed to ensure the organic food isn’t contaminated by non-organic materials in processing. Artificial is the keyword here: no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and no GMOs are allowed when processing organic foods.
This means that although the milk you just bought was homogenized, no non-organic practices were used in its processing. The cranberry juice you just drank had no preservatives to maintain shelf life. Add to this the fact that the organic apple you just bought has little to no pesticide residue. Now you have a better idea of what goes into organic meal plans.
Why Organic Foods Are Expensive
Although the demand for organic foods is growing exponentially, farmers must work harder with more expensive tools like fertilizers and pest control. Since conventional farming uses greater quantities of farming materials, its lower costs are passed on to the consumer.
Add to this the fact that harvested organic foods are generally smaller in amount, so the transportation of these must be strictly divided from traditionally grown foods. This costs more for the farmer. Not only that but marketing such a small amount of food costs more, as well.
Some local farmers will contract with large chain grocery stores to market their organic foods. Other farmers set up roadside stands from which to sell their organic foods. Plenty of farms allow consumers to pick what they need from the fields and then pay a flat price for their harvest. These practices cut the price to the consumer at least a little. Now, get out there and make some organic meal plans!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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