Once used to be seen only at health shops, organic foods are now very common in most supermarkets. Let’s look at some facts before we decide if they’re really better than the conventionally produced foods.
The word “organic” basically differentiates the way farmers grow and process food products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don’t use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For instance, the conventional methods use chemical fertilizers while organic farming involves natural fertilizers.
The question, now, is that are these organic foods more nutritious? Well, there isn’t any clear answer to this yet. A recent study concluded that both kinds of food products had the same range of nutrients. The research is still going on about this.
The pros to organic food are that they are free of pesticides and chemicals, have no additives and are environment friendly. The major con is that they are expensive, which is due to the labour-intensive farming practices. Another downside is that since they do not have any preservatives added, they spoil faster.
Growing demand for sustainable alternatives has been able to bring down the prices of organic products in Europe. The same could be implemented in India. Infact, there are some steps being taken already, like organic food festivals to promote this in India. A German company, Karma Konsum, is organizing a Green festival in Pune between March 6 and 9 to create awareness about organic foods.
We also have some tips that you can keep in mind when buying organic foods. Firstly, do not get fooled buy attractive labels. Sometimes you end up buying junk food made up of organic food. Secondly, buy from farmer markets. You will be able to save money and get fresh products too. Thirdly, buy seasonal foods. This will also help your pocket and your health.
Let us know if you already had experiences with organic food and would like to share those!
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