What is organic?                                                                                                             

Organic refers to the way agricultural products—food and fiber—are grown and processed. Organic food production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. Organic foods are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives, or irradiation to maintain the integrity of the food.

Is there an official definition of “organic”?                                                                 

The following excerpt is from the definition of “organic” that the National Organic Standards Board adopted in April 1995: “Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.”

What does “Certified Organic” mean?                                                                   

“Certified Organic” means the item has been grown according to strict uniform standards that are verified by independent state or private organizations. Certification includes inspections of farm fields and processing facilities, detailed record keeping, and periodic testing of soil and water to ensure that growers and handlers are meeting the standards which have been set.

Can any type of agricultural product become certified organic?                    

Yes, any agricultural product that meets third-party or state certification requirements may be considered organic. Organic foods are becoming available in an impressive variety, including pasta, prepared sauces, frozen juices, frozen meals, milk, ice cream and frozen novelties, cereals, meat, poultry, breads, soups, chocolate, cookies, beer, wine, vodka and more. These foods, in order to be certified organic, have all been grown and processed according to organic standards and must maintain a high level of quality. Organic fiber products, too, have moved beyond T-shirts, and include bed and bath linens, tablecloths, napkins, cosmetic puffs, feminine hygiene products, and men’s, women’s and children’s clothing in a wide variety of styles.

Source: Organic Trade Association

Come to see and hear former President Bill Clinton to speak at Toronto’s Green Living Show April 25 – 27, 2008, Exhibition Place.                                                          

Tickets to hear him discuss “Embracing Our Common Humanity” go on sale on Saturday, March 29 at 10:00 a.m. at http://toronto.greenlivingshow.ca/clinton.php.

The Green Living Show is Toronto’s first consumer show dedicated to all things green. Information… Innovation… Inspiration… everything you need to green up your life is right here, under one roof!

• Over 300 exhibitors with simple, practical “greenovations”
• Hundreds of new products
• Earth-friendly advice and services
• Sample * Sip * Shop * Learn * Discover * Play

Don’t miss GoBIO! Organics at booth 1137!   

Sample GoBIO! Organic Products! 

Special Show Pricing for all GoBIO! Products!                                                                            

Show Hours:

Friday, April 25 - 10 am - 9 pm
Saturday, April 26 -10 am - 9 pm
Sunday, April 27 -10 am - 6 pm  

Where:                                                                                                                                             

Exhibition Place, Toronto - Direct Energy Centre                                        

http://toronto.greenlivingshow.ca/index.php

March 2008: Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), the leading market research and strategic consulting firm specializing in health, wellness and sustainability, reported today that its recent Health & Wellness Trends Database™ survey revealed that consumer integration of organic into their lifestyles is growing. New data reveals that total organic household penetration across six product categories is up from 57% in 2006 to 59%, but some categories are experiencing significant penetration growth while others are flat. More importantly the number of core users, DEVOTEDS™, has grown. The chart below shows the percentage of general population/primary grocery shoppers who fall into each of NMI’s organic consumer segments for 2007 and 2006.

2007 / 2006

DEVOTEDS                                                                                                                                   18% / 16%                                                                                                                    

TEMPERATES                                                                                                                                                                                                      22% /22%                                                                                                                            

DABBLERS                                                                                                                                          41% / 44%                                                                                                                       

RELUCTANTS                                                                                                                                                                                                          19% / 18%

DEVOTEDS, as their name implies, are the most committed to organic and its ideals and are most likely to have changed their lifestyle to integrate organic. The more a category is used, the more it has to be organic. TEMPERATES have modern organic attitudes and fit organic into their lifestyle; the more they use a category, the more an organic version becomes a treat. DABBLERS are non-committal about organic – they can take it or leave it. For them, buying organic is more about hipness than the health benefits. RELUCTANTS are the least trustful of organic and believe that conventional products are just as good (if not better) than organics and that organics are not worth the extra cost.

In the rapid race of development we have inflicted serious damage to our natural resources and consequently to ourselves. Pesticides once used to promote and protect crop yield are now being used indiscriminately-harming both, the environment and human life. Over the years these chemicals accumulate in the environment and poison us slowly. When consumed on a regular basis they form deposits in our tissues and vital organs, particularly liver, kidney and brain.

THREAT

As years progress, they lead to life threatening diseases and even cancer a reason why they are “cumulative poisons”. In fact studies over the last few years have proved that as polluting chemicals have built up in the environment they have even invaded the most natural and safest of all sources of nourishment-mother’s milk. More than 350 man made pollutants have been identified in the breast milk of women in UK. Pesticide residues, poison mother’s milk and have adverse effects on the baby’s immune system.

PESTICIDE USE

The plight is that besides bans on harmful pesticides, they are still used extensively by farmers and agriculturists; consumed by us unnoticed. India is the largest manufacturer of chemical pesticides among South Asian and African nations. A number of research studies have found higher instances of brain cancer, leukemia and birth defects in children with early exposure to pesticides, according to National Resources Defence Council.

HARVARD FIND

A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, discovered a 70% increase in the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease for people exposed to even low levels of pesticides. WHO estimates over a million pesticide-poisoning cases and 20, 000 deaths every year globally. The indiscriminate use of fertilisers and plant protective chemicals to increase yields and save crops from pets and diseases, no doubt, has escalated food production, created food security but has also resulted in a number of health hazards. Further, it has deteriorated the agro-ecosystem badly. This situation has spelled the need to switch over to organic farming to cultivate valuable crops for healthy and safer foods.

GROWING ORGANIC

Organic food is grown without pesticides and chemical inputs. Organic is not a “product” rather it is a “process”. Organic farming significantly reduces external inputs by avoiding the use of chemo-synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Instead it works with nature and natural systems to increase both agricultural yields and disease resistance. It builds healthy soil and prevents chemicals from entering into earth and water. It helps in protecting top soil, water and air.

By Rohit Tomar

A £12m EU-funded investigation into the difference between organic and ordinary farming has shown that organic foods have far more nutritional value, including up to 40% more antioxidants, which scientists believe can cut the risk of heart disease and cancer, could be found in organic fruit and vegetables than in those conventionally farmed.

In the four-year Quality Low Input Food project, the biggest of its kind to date, a farm in north-east England grew conventional produce alongside organic varieties. Cattle were also farmed on the 725-acre plot, where it has been discovered that organic milk contains 60% more antioxidants and desirable fatty acids than ordinary milk.

Professor Carlo Leifert, co-ordinator of the study, said, “We have shown there are more of certain less nutritionally desirable compounds and less of the baddies in organic foods, or improved amounts of the fatty acids you want and less of those you don’t want.”

The study, whose overall findings will be published next year, is the first systematic comparison of farming techniques. Led by Newcastle University, 33 academic centres across Europe are analysing the information.

For the past seven years the organic food lobby has been trying unsuccessfully to persuade the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to acknowledge the benefits of organic food. The FSA says the “balance of current scientific evidence” does not support the view that organic food is safer or healthier.

The Soil Association, the UK’s leading campaigning and certifying organisation on organic farming, said, “It is time the FSA caught up with the available science and adjusted its statements to reflect that science.”

The FSA added, “We will be getting a consultancy to carry out a systematic review of the evidence, which will include this latest study.”

The key findings of the report revealed:

* Organic milk contains higher amounts of vitamin E, according to the EU study. The antioxidant contributes to a healthy circulatory system

* Potatoes, kiwi fruit and carrots were among the organic produce found to be higher in vitamin C than their chemically-farmed counterparts. The vitamin has been credited with boosting the immune system and helping to keep cancer and heart disease at bay

* Higher levels of minerals and antioxidants were found in organically- farmed lettuce, spinach and cabbage

by Nicola Mallett

Published: Monday, October 29, 2007