Guest Blog: The Scoop on Organics, Straight From the Horse’s Mouth

The Scoop on Organics, Straight From the Horse’s Mouth

My horse Midnight can sniff out a good organic apple.

Feed Midnight a regular apple and he sniffs it suspiciously while deciding whether or not to take a bite. But offer him a shiny organic McIntosh and he gobbles it up without hesitation.

This isn’t something I trained him to do. I’ve always known Midnight has very discerning taste but when it happened, I was shocked. This is a horse that loves his apples.

My horse’s preference for the organic option got me thinking about farming, food and nutrition. 

For me, it comes down to three major questions:

·        *  Is there really a difference between organic and non-organic foods when it comes to taste and nutrition?

·       * What does buying organic actually mean?

·       *  Is nutrition the only reason to buy organic?

I’ll do my best to answer all three.

What exactly is organic agriculture?

Organic agriculture is a “production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people,” according to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. It doesn’t rely on any synthetic chemicals (like pesticides), fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics and GMOs. 

The core principle behind organic agriculture is healthy soil production. Healthy soil equals healthy people. Improving soil quality in a way that works with nature — instead of against it — is the goal of organic farming.

This is important to remember because the nutritional value of our food is a reflection of the soil where it grows. If we want fruits and vegetables with higher nutritional value, then we need to improve the quality of the soil.

In essence, the health of a community is intimately tied to the health of its neighbouring ecosystems. We eat the food grown in the soil, which directly impacts the health of our bodies.  

Is organic food actually healthier for us?

There is a lot of debate about whether or not organic food is actually higher in nutritional value. This debate exists because no two farms are the same. Soil content won’t be the same on two different farms, even if they each grow carrots that look identical.

But science tells us that the nutrient value in plants is related to the soil in which they are grown. This is why it’s hard to make definitive statements about the quality of organic food in general. However, a five-year European study on the safety and quality of organic food concluded that organic food production methods yielded higher levels of nutrients such as vitamins and antioxidants. 

The study also found the food was lower in heavy metals and pesticide residues, when compared to non-organic foods.

Isn’t buying organic too expensive?

When we pick up an organic watermelon and look for the sticker price, we’re only thinking about the cost of the fruit, not the overall cost of producing it. Many of us aren’t even aware of the true cost of food thanks to government subsidies that make it more affordable to consumers.

But the true cost of food is more than what comes out of our wallets. Two of our main crops in North America are corn and soybeans. We don’t just eat these crops; they’re also used to make ethanol and as animal feed. We’re highly dependent on these crops, which means we’re also dependent on the fossil fuels needed to farm, process and distribute them.

In the U.S., 19 per cent of fossil fuel use comes from the food system. Much of that energy goes into the input of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer, which must then be applied to crops with gasoline-powered tractors.

Organic farming, however, uses 30 per less energy in the production of corn and 20 per cent less energy for the production of soybeans.

Supporting organic, locally grown food that isn’t packaged can make a big difference in ensuring we have clean air and water for the future.

Finding time to buy organic

As school starts and schedules fill up, it gets hard to find time to prepare healthy meals, let alone purchase healthy food. For my busy clients, Organic Food Delivery (OFD) is a great option that delivers fresh, organic fruit, vegetables and groceries right to your doorstep.

Aware of its environmental footprint, OFD tries to source and deliver its products with as little impact on the earth as possible. Customers can go online to customize their grocery boxes, shop for the week and arrange free delivery.  

OFD is the healthy, organic choice for you, your family and the planet.

Michelle Heighington is a Toronto-based registered nutritionist.