10 good reasons to eat organic food

Of course you should eat organic, but why? Make an enlightened decision when it comes to choosing your food by learning these 10 good reasons.

For the taste

Organic food tastes good. Organic food is produced at its own rhythm (without synthetic fertilizers) and has thus acquired nutritional elements from the soil at a natural rate, which helps make them very tasty. Locally grown organic products are usually harvested the same day or the day before they are delivered, which means that the produce was harvested at maturity. This ensures maximum freshness and the best taste possible.

Crops grown in rich, fertile and balanced soils taste better, have higher nutritional value, and more fully satisfy your appetite.

Organic certification imposes strict standards

Organic certification ensures that the food you eat follows rigorous production protocols that do not involve chemical additives.

In addition, the certified organic producer must follow a specification manual controlled by the certifying agency that is governed by the framework of a legal act passed by the National Assembly of Quebec.

Organic farming reduces health risks

A variety of chemical products used in traditional agriculture have been approved without adequate assessment of their long-term effects. The case of DDT is one such example. We now know of a number of chemical products used during the last 50 years of agriculture that can cause certain types of cancers and other illnesses. Moreover, some food allergies have been linked to the ingestion of pesticide residues and certain food additives.

Another reason concerns the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO's). A GMO is a plant, animal or microorganism whose genetic sequence has been modified to introduce genes from another species. Plant seeds created in this manner are called “transgenic” and their use is forbidden in organic agriculture. The absence of independent long-term studies on the impact of GMO's is the reason behind this decision. Buying organic is one way to ensure that GMO's are excluded from our diet.

A third and equally important consideration is that studies have shown some organic foods contain more nutrients than conventional products. For example, Virginia Worthington of the John Hopkins University in Maryland has found that organic spinach has 52% more vitamin C than spinach grown using standard methods.

Evidently, eating organic is an excellent way to avoid health risks associated with food.

Organic food protects the health of children

Several scientific studies have demonstrated that children are more sensitive than adults to the effects of pesticides. The food choices made by parents are thus a deciding factor in the health of their children.

Organic farming methods restore and maintain the soil

Soil is the foundation of the food chain. Intensive use of chemical products and the practice of monoculture cause soil erosion and depletion by destroying microorganisms. Organic agricultural practices use crop diversity and natural fertilizing processes, such as the addition of compost, to build and main soil fertility.

Organic farms protect water resources

Organic agricultural practices protect and conserve water. Perhaps the most important way in which this is accomplished is the elimination of synthetic chemical products that pollute our waterways and aquifers.

Organic farms respect faunal diversity

Organic producers actively support the protection of nature's equilibrium. Wind shelters, crop rotations, wetland protection, insect pollination, and crop diversity are organic agricultural practices that help preserve and protect biodiversity.

Furthermore, the disappearance of cultivars is one of the more pressing preoccupations of organic producers and biologists. Many organic farms harvest and collect plant seeds that are not wanted by multinational companies. By preserving some of the more rare plant varieties and by avoiding monoculture, organic farmers are helping to establish a more balanced ecosystem.

Organic farming protects agricultural workers

Traditional farm workers and labourers regularly work with toxic chemical products and can fall victim to an ever-increasing number of identified “industrial illnesses”. Organic farms minimize this risk by eliminating the use of pesticides and other dangerous products.

Organic agriculture helps safeguard rural communities

Industrial agriculture dramatically reduces the number of farming operations. Given that the majority of organic farms are independent and small in size, organic agriculture represents one of the few readily available and viable strategies for the survival of rural communities.

Thanks to Yvan Plante for this helpful information!