Why Organic
Number one reason – it tastes great!
The organic methods mean that when food is produced without any artificial fertilizers or pesticides, this allows the natural, clean and genuine flavours to come through to give a great tasting product.
But there are other reasons too:
Better for You
Naturally grown organic food has higher amounts of beneficial minerals, essential amino acids and vitamins and avoids pesticides and all controversial additives including aspartame, tartrazine, MSG and hydrogenated fats.
Need a health boost – organic food is considered to contain higher levels of Vitamin C and minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants and Omega 3.
The debate on the use of genetically modified fruit, vegetables and crops in the UK has raged on for years. The exact impact of these crops on our health and well-being is still not known. Under organic standards the use of genetically modified crops is prohibited in any organic food.
Better for the Planet
Those lovely organic farmers grow their produce without chemicals and pesticides, which provides a huge benefit to the environment by encouraging more farm birds on land – a boon for the scarecrow industry!
The other benefit is the reduction of pollution in nearby streams and rivers, as these can be polluted with chemicals and pesticides washed into them by rain from nearby fields. Organic farms also use a system of crop rotation and make sure the soil is composted with natural products and not any artificial fertiliser, which can also be a cause for concern for nearby wildlife and the environment.
The UK Government’s own advisors found that plant, insect and bird life is up to 50% greater on organic farms. Organic farming relies on wildlife to help control natural pests; so wide field edges are left uncultivated for bugs, birds and bees to flourish. They are also not sprayed away by the fertilisers, chemicals and pesticides routinely used on non-organic farms.
Better for Animals
In addition to benefiting wildlife, farm animal welfare is taken extremely seriously under organic standards. Organically reared animals have access to the outdoors, are not confined in cramped, stressful living conditions and are not allowed GM food, growth promoting drugs or routine antibiotics.
Caring continues after the farm gate, as transport and slaughter are made as humane as possible.
The above means that the overall benefit of organic food is – feeding the world while maintaining the ecological balance of the planet