User:Goda Cmukaite/Organic food

This image displays an apple that was not organically grown as organic fruit almost never look this perfect.

Organic food is mostly referred to as organic farming or organic agriculture. Organic farming uses better quality of soil and water, avoids using pesticides and prevents pollution, as well as it ensures healthy and safe environment for its livestock. In the past most people did not put in much thought in organic food, as it was not widely sold and advertised. In the recent years organic food items have been showing up on the shelves in most grocery stores and the talk about organic items in general has increased. Now a days you have two choices on the shelve, one is your regular grown apple for example and the other one is organically grown apple. There are several benefits to organic farming. Organically grown food is mostly fresh and is non-GMO (not genetically modified). Most GMOs are created so that food crops become resistant to herbicides and produce an insecticide. This fact creates a lot of debate weather GMOs are healthy or even safe for the environment. As a matter of fact organic food usually contains fewer pesticides. Most organic farms still use some sort of pesticide, but the difference is that instead of using synthetic pesticide they use naturally derived one. Pesticides have been known to cause some health issues such as birth defects, constant headaches, and weaker immune system. The most important part of organic farming is its livestock. Its livestock must have healthy living conditions accompanied by access to free range, be provided food that is organically sourced, and be vaccinated. Organic meats usually contain more nutrients, for example there was a study in Europe that showed that certain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids were fifty percent higher in organic meat and milk than it was in conventionally raised meats. Animals that are raised in organic environment are never given any type of growth hormone, or antibiotics, or ever fed animal by products. The risk of feeding livestock animal byproducts is an increased chance of developing mad cow disease (BSE), and pesticides can increase antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. Organic farming also has significant affect on the environment because it reduces pollution and uses less energy. Using fewer or no pesticides helps animals such as birds or even people to have a healthy and clean-living environment. Organic agriculture also helps reduce climate change. The way it works is that organic farming ensures soil quality, and when the soil is in top shape it is able to absorb and hold a lot more moisture as well as adequately drain and maintain aeration which helps the environment. The way someone can tell that a product is organic is by a label that clearly states USDA certified. USDA stands for United States Department of Agriculture. National organic program developed a guidance on how organic food should be labeled and what verbiage can be used on the label to describe ingredients and pesticides if any were used. Products that are made with some organic ingredients do not get labeled as USDA organic because that means they are only about seventy percent organic.