Is Organic Food Worth It? Essay

Organic farming began in the late 1940’s in the United States, and in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in popularity. The sales of organic food have been increasing by about 20 percent a year over the past decade. The general belief is that organic items tend to be better for the consumer and the environment when compared to non-organic items. Organic foods are produced without the use of most synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, pesticides, antibiotics, added growth hormones, ionizing radiation, or genetic modification. Fields must be free of prohibited materials for three years before the soil can be used to grow organic crops. In the United States, organic foods and organic farming have been regulated by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) since 2002. Although many people cannot tell the difference, there are multiple pros and cons between organic and nonorganic. People who buy organic are seeking assurance that food production is gentle to the earth, and looking for safer, purer, more natural foods. But are organic foods really worth the added expense? If cutting pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics off the menu appeals to you, organic foods may be just the ticket. In a recent poll, two-thirds of Americans surveyed stated they would like to be able to fit organic foods into their budgets. Part of our American culture is based on food and the way people treat themselves biologically by deciding what is acceptable to eat. Unfortunately a great portion of our society does not carefully think about the biological effects of certain foods. We live in an era of fad diets and health conscious purchases. For years people have consumed food without knowledge of how the production of what gets put on the dinner table entails. I have noticed especially over the last few years that our society has become more aware of organic farming and the nutritional effects from eating conventional foods. Controversy has sparked the question, what is organic, and is organic food biologically healthier for humans? Organic simply means food grown without the use of drugs, hormones, or synthetic chemicals. Crops are harvested without pesticides and farming techniques slightly differ from a conventional means of agriculture. What if I can’t afford organic foods? Don’t despair. There are things you can do to minimize your exposure to chemicals even when eating conventional foods. First, remove all visible fat from meats because chemical residues tend to accumulate there. Second, remove and throw away the peels from fruits and vegetables. Toss the outer leaves of leafy greens. Third, grow your own vegetable garden or a little herb garden on the window sill. If you live in the city, find out if there are gardening co-ops around your area. Fourth and most important, thoroughly wash all fresh produce to remove as much pesticide residue and bacteria as possible.