Organic: It’s Not Only Better For You; It’s Better For the Earth Too!
At North Coast Organic, we are excited that more and more consumers are choosing organic foods. It’s time that everyone join the organic revolution, it’s not only healthier for people, it is also better for the earth.
Here’s how:
Safer drinking water
According to Prevention, more than 600 active chemicals are registered for agricultural use in America, equating to about 16 pounds of chemical pesticides per person, every year! Pesticides that are spread on fields in non-organic (conventional) farming are carried by rain runoff into streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, eventually ending up in our drinking water. Many pesticides don’t break down in water and may remain in our water system for years. Organic farming methods don’t use pesticides, instead focus on using organic manures and composts, and bio-pesticides with complete avoidance of inorganic chemicals and pesticides. Organic farming actually releases nutrients into the crops for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly and pollution-free environment, and aims to produce crops with a high nutritional value.
Soil fertility
Organic agriculture helps to maintain soil fertility over time and reduces the need for pesticides. That’s because organic farming uses crop rotation and natural enrichment, such as animal manure, to ensure that soil is not depleted. Organic plants get the right nutrients naturally to grow. Conventional farming, on the other hand, grows a few types of crops on the same land, year over year. Sometimes crops will be rotated in two-year or three-year cycles. Not only does this deplete the soil, requiring chemical fertilizers, it also makes it easier for pests and blights to take hold.
Organic food use less fossil fuels to grow
Conventional agriculture production uses more fossil fuels than organic food production. That’s because fertilizers are derived from fossil fuels, while organic farming uses manure and other natural methods for nutrients. According to one study a cropping system that used more diverse crops and manure applications required 23% to 56% less fossil energy than conventional farming. Using less fossil fuels in agriculture will help mitigate climate change.
Honeybee loss
As we reported in a previous post Honeybees Fight Extinction, the number of honeybees in the United States has been declining since 2006 and continues to get worse. One of the culprits is exposure to pesticide-treated fields. Let’s face it, without honeybees, agriculture as we know it will collapse and we will be left with very little to eat. We need to stop use of pesticides now.
GMO products
We still don’t know the long-term effects of genetically engineered (GE) foods and genetically modified organisms (GMO). According to the GMO Project, in the absence of credible independent long-term feeding studies, the safety of GMO’s is unknown. However, what we do know is that numerous health problems increased after GMO’s were introduced more than two decades ago. The percentage of Americans with three or more chronic illnesses jumped from 7% to 13% in just 9 years; food allergies skyrocketed, and disorders such as autism, reproductive disorders, digestive problems, and others are on the rise. GMO foods do not have to be labeled as such in the United States. Choosing organic is the only way to be sure that GMO foods stay out of your diet and are less prevalent on our planet.
Hormones, antibiotics and drugs in animals and animal products
According to Prevention, antibiotics, drugs, and growth hormones that are used on animals are directly passed into meat and dairy products. Tens of millions of pounds of antibiotics are used in conventional animal feed every year. Many scientists and experts warn that rampant use of antibiotics in animal feed, like penicillin and tetracycline, will breed an epidemic that medicine has no defense against. The major concerns regarding the use of growth hormones in animal feed include: the early onset of puberty, growth of tumors, heightened cancer risks, and genetic problems. Growth hormones in milk (rBGH or rBST) are genetically modified and have been directly linked to cancer, especially in women.
North Coast Organic Apple Products Are Always 100% USDA Certified Organic
Rest assured, North Coast Organic uses only USDA certified organic apples and other fruits and vegetables grown right here in the United States. Our products are always free of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and dyes, and aren’t processed using industrial solvents, irradiation, or genetic engineering. As more and more consumers become aware of the health and environmental benefits of organic products, we look forward to serving their needs.
North Coast Organic apple products are made in Sebastopol, CA from U.S. grown certified organic apples. They contain no added sugars, preservatives, colorings or flavorings.
