Often, we hear the term organic and make some assumptions of the meaning. Organic in food preparation means that the food is grown avoiding synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and non-genetically modified organisms.
What does it mean when you see “certified organics” in the grocery store? Depending in what country it means the product has met the countries’ organic standards which are pesticide, fertilizer free.
In Canada the organic standards prohibit, hydroponics, synthetic fertilizers and toxic synthetic pesticides, genetically engineered seed and feed and ingredients, artificial colours, flavours and preservatives, growth hormones, no routine use of antibiotics and animal cloning, sewage sludge.
The organic standards a farmer wants to cultivate are the soil’s fertility, produce healthy food and support animal welfare by:
- Rotating crops for balance nutrients,
- Green manures for nitrogen and organic matter to the soil,
- Using manual labour, beneficial insects to control pests
- Livestock has access to pasture and so on.
The certification of organic must have the certification stamp. For the organic symbol with a Canadian maple leaf in the middle, there are lots of similar symbols plus counterfeit but only this symbol means certification. The farmer has to keep records and submit to audits to receive the accreditation. Hats off to the farmer that takes their farm to organic levels.
Why eat organic, Weston Price and his research provided proof that eating non processed foods has the healthiest outcome for both teeth and physical health.