Understanding the Benefits and Making Smarter Organic Food Choices Organic food has become very popular. But navigating the maze of organic food labels, benefits, and claims can be confusing. Is organic food really healthier? Is it more nutritious? What do all the labels mean? Why is it so expensive? This guide can help you make better choices about which organic foods are healthier for you and better for the environment, and how you can afford to incorporate more organic food into your diet. What is organic food?

Making a commitment to healthy eating is a great start towards a healthier life. Beyond eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good fats, however, there is the question of food safety, nutrition, and sustainability. How foods are grown or raised can impact both your health and the environment. This brings up the questions: What is the difference between organic foods and conventionally grown foods? Is organic always best? What about locally grown foods?

The term organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as "organic."

Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers.

Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed. They may not be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal-by-products.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods are plants or animals whose DNA has been altered. These products have undergone only short-term testing to determine their effects on humans and the environment.

In most countries, organic products do not intentionally contain GMOs.

Although the U.S. does not require GM or GE foods to be labeled, you can still find out whether or not your produce is genetically engineered by looking at its PLU (price lookup) code on the sticky label added to grocery store produce:

4-digit code

5-digits starting with #9

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Are Organic Foods Right for You? Understanding the ...

Source: USDA.gov

Organic food isn't only one of the hottest industries around - it's also an increasingly important part of our appetite. But there's a lot about organic that most folks don't know. Here are 13 important numbers that define the organic food movement.

Farmers can't switch to organic growing overnight. For three years before their first certified organic harvest, farmers can't use any forbidden substances on their land. That includes sewage sludge, most synthetic fertilizers, and most pesticides.

5.4% of all used farmland in the European Union is certified organic. By comparison, the United States' 2.2 million organic hectares amounts to just around 0.7% of total agricultural land. But not all European countries are created equally organic. The map below shows the regional share of organic farms as a percentage of total used farmland in Europe for 2010.

Source: European Commission

In the European Union, the most commonly grown organic crop is olives, comprising 31% of all organic production. Grapes snagged a sizable 17%, with nuts clocking in at 13%.

Alcohol can be organic, too. For your spirits to lay claim to a "Made with organic ____" stamp, the contents must be at least 70% organic.

In the Code of Federal Regulations, there are 81 distinct "parts" to Title 7, Subtitle B, Chapter I, Subchapter M, Part 205 (the "National Organic Program"). At a total print length of 70 pages for just the regulations themselves, parts cover topics as disparate as wild-crop harvesting, emergency disease treatments, and peer review panels.

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13 Organic Food Numbers You Need to Know

Some things are just no brainers, like knowing you can always find a lot of organic food at our stores. As the first nationally certified organic grocer in the US,we offer you the biggest and best choice we possibly can because it's an important part perhaps the most important part of our commitment to you and the planet. Choosing organic supports farmers and producers who believe in good health, quality foods and earth-friendly sustainable agricultural practices. And that's good for everyone, from the farm worker to the planet to your family and future generations too.

Organic agriculture is a production method that emphasizes the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality. Organic food products are produced using:

Agricultural management practices that promote healthy eco-systems and prohibit the use of genetically engineered seeds or crops, sewage sludge, long-lasting pesticides, herbicides or fungicides.

Livestock management practices that promote healthy, humanely treated animals by providing organically-grown feed, fresh air and outdoor access while using no antibiotics or added growth hormones.

Food processing practices that protect the integrity of the organic product and disallow irradiation, genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) or synthetic preservatives.

(Courtesy of our friends at The Organic Trade Association)

Organic products meet stringent standards Organic certification is the public's assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent toxic chemical inputs.

Organic food tastes great! It's common sense well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that become nourishing food for people and animals.

Organic production reduces health risks Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Organic agriculture is one way to prevent any more of these chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us.

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Organic Food | Whole Foods Market

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Organic Food: Residues and Contaminants

The Union government would like to move towards lifting a ban on export of organic agricultural products and their derivatives.

On the sidelines of the 4th National Conference on Organic Farming organised by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India on Tuesday, A K Tripathy, joint secretary, department of commerce and industries, said, (We) are trying that there is never a ban on organic processed food export, even if the primary produce of that commodity is subjected to some restrictions.

While export of primary organic agricultural produce is allowed, there are restrictions on a host of other commodities, such a pulses and edible oils.

The ban has been imposed primarily because of differentiation in quality specifications and the lack of a credible certification system.

Unless world-class certification agencies are established, the credibility of Indias organic food exporters would remain in question outside the country. But once domestic standards are made compulsory, the supply of quality goods for exports will also improve significantly, said Tripathy.

The global organic food market is estimated at $64 billion. Indias share is 0.35 per cent.

Santosh Sarangi, chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), said: One major challenge for India is to maintain the integrity of an organic certification system.

Apeda says it is working to expand the portfolio of organic products available for export. It is working to, among other things, add aquaculture, textiles and livestock to the category.

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Govt wishes to loosen restriction on organic food export