By Keeva Stratton 
In honour of Earth Month, Rescu. investigates the buy organic movement, discussing both the pros and cons.
The push to consume organic food and produce has never been greater, but what does it all mean? Is organic really better? And, what are the pros and cons of making these organic choices?
For many of us it may seem strange that we have found the need for organic at all – after all, wasn’t everything organic once upon a time? That was of course before science offered chemical enhancements, and before modern technologies created more convenient and cost-effective farming methods for producing food in mass quantities.
But the question we are now starting to ask is: at what cost does this convenience come, when the price may be our health, the environment, or even the welfare of the animals?
What does organic mean?
In Australia, for a product to be certified organic it must meet certain guidelines, which certify that the product (or ingredients) are grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilisers, or GMOs.
But, beyond this, organic farming extends to an absence of artificial farming methods so as to promote an ideological commitment towards environmentally sustainable and cruelty-free farming methods (such as using renewable energy or free-range). In other words, kinder on the planet and kinder on animals.
How do you know a product is organic?
Most countries have their own certification body, and in Australia the Australian Certified Organic Logo is a guaranteed sign that the product has met strict Australian and International certification standards regarding the farming methods used.
While the logo currently appears on approximately 70% of organic products in Australia, other imported products may carry similar certification from their country of origin. Seek out certified organic products, and if you are unsure as to what various international logos signify, it’s best to refer to their individual websites.
What makes organic products better?
Organic produce is largely based on the credo of using the best of nature to create great natural products. What you are guaranteed to get is a product that has not been subjected to chemicals, is not artificially enhanced, and has generally been farmed in a way that is considerate to the environment and to the animal from which it is sourced.
While there is some mixed opinion as to the degree of nutritional difference, few can argue with the colour and richness of a free-rage organic egg yolk, the flavour of organic fresh milk, and the taste of fruit and vegetables that have been nurtured by nature from day one – consider the crowd of top chefs who flock to organic markets seeking the best produce.
Most of us will also agree that mediating our impact on the environment and reducing or preventing unnecessary cruelty to animals is also a huge plus.
Are there any cons?
For many, the biggest single prohibiting factor can be the cost of buying organic, followed by the relative lack of access to a similar range of products as non-organic varieties. It is true that organic can be more expensive (often natural farming methods require more labour-power), but with the recent resurgence in the popularity of farmers’ markets, and a greater health and consumer consciousness, cost-effective organic options are becoming more readily available.
Once upon a time, when the ‘peace, love and vegetables’ crew first began sprouting the benefits of organic farming and organic produce, they were quickly dismissed. But in today’s society, where consumers are beginning to not only demand knowledge of what their food is, but want greater standards as well as insight into how food is produced, the desire for organic products is on the rise.
The good news is that with demand growing, and with organic practices being celebrated and becoming more widely accepted, we can expect greater supply, a wider range of choices, and improved prices in the near future, making organic more available for all.
For more information about Australian Organic Products, visit:
www.australianorganic.com.au
www.bfa.com.au
www.ofa.org.au
For where to buy Organic Foods, go to: www.organicfooddirectory.com.au/general-issues/community-food-systems/farmers-markets.html
For more details on organic food markets, see our earlier story.
