Gain With Organic

Eating organic is as hip as it is healthy. The benefits are well worth the few extra dollars it might cost you, and if you’re buying in season or at farmers markets you’ll hardly notice a price difference. Eating organic food is the best way to reduce the amount of pesticides, heavy metals and solvents that enter your body. Studies also show that organic food has higher levels of antioxidants, protein, vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus.

Organic farming is also kinder to the earth by not treating crops with chemicals and pesticides; this help prevent cancer and other diseases. Organic farming leads to fewer chemicals in our water system and compared to conventional farming can produce up to three times as much food on the same amount of land.

Organic Harvest Month

Organic Harvest Month started in 1992 to highlight organic agriculture and the growing organic products industry. Every September communities across the country celebrate with events such as:

• Organic Fest in Asheville, NC;
• a tomato tasting in Seattle, WA;
• a seed swap in Charlottesville, VA;
• and the Natural Products Expo in Baltimore, MD.

Seeds of Change is partnering with Organic Harvest Month to help spread the word about organic foods and simple ways to reduce our carbon footprint. In 1989 Seeds of Change made organically grown seeds available to farmers and gardeners and eventually started a line of certified organic foods.

“Choosing organic is a simple way to promote sustainable growing practices and protect biodiversity. You are also ensuring that your food has been grown without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers or has been genetically modified,” says Bob Allison, U.S. Food Director for Seeds of Change. “Seeds of Change is devoted to supporting environmental causes and directly contributes 1% of its net sales to advance sustainable and organic agriculture worldwide. We hope to pass along this passion and commitment to others and inspire change, particularly during National Organic Harvest Month.”

Mission Organic 2010

Going organic can be overwhelming so Mission Organic 2010 started a simple plan encouraging consumers to purchase one organic product for every 10 products they purchase. Their goal is to increase the current market for organic food from three percent to 10 percent by 2010. If we demand fresh, colorful, healthy organic food, the farmers must give us what we want!

By only increasing our organic food sales to 10 percent we can decrease the number of children with autism, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental problems. We can also lower the number of premature babies, which is currently one in eight. Not to mention being able to provide cleaner drinking water, antibiotic and genetically modified growth hormone-free milk, and reduce our oil import by 2.9 million barrels.

Celebrate Organic Harvest Month! Take the challenge! For a quick tip on the best items to buy organic, the following will carry the most pesticides: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines or strawberries. Enjoy an organic meal and help contribute to a more sustainable future.

Sources:

http://www.organic-center.org/
http://www.ota.com/
http://www.whfoods.com/
http://www.seedsofchangefoods.com/
http://www.foodnews.org/