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What is 'organic' ?
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What is "Organic"? This question had no clear answer for many decades. However, in 1990 our government passed the Organic Foods Production Act, which established a National Organic Program. This legislation set a clear definition of what Organic really means. Unfortunately, the true meaning of Organic has been distorted so badly that today’s consumer still has no clear idea of what “Organic” is.
So, what is Organic? According to U.S. law (other countries have different laws and definitions, but all produce sold as “organic” in the U.S. must conform to federal law), “to be sold or labeled as an organically produced agricultural product [...] an agricultural product shall [...] have been produced and handled without the use of synthetic chemicals, except as otherwise provided in this title” In other words, Organic farming can use nonsynthetic chemicals, and (contrary to what the dictionary says) it can also use “chemically formulated” (i.e. synthetic) applications, if they are approved.
Many people believe the lie that Organics are somehow environmentally friendly…even when the Organic laws require farms to destroy the environment! While the law states that practices in Organic farming should “foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity,” “conserve” simply means “the producer must initiate practices to support biodiversity and avoid, to the extent practicable, any activities that would diminish it.” If their farm was not very diverse to begin with, the producer (farmer) must simply try to maintain that level, and need not improve that level. The law also requires farmers kill unwanted organisms – this decreases the biodiversity! According to the law, “the producer must use management practices to prevent crop pests, weeds, and diseases” by using lures, traps, weeding, “application of nonsynthetic biological, botanical, or mineral inputs,” any “biological or botanical substance or synthetic substance that is allowed on the National List,” … and the list continues!
Many of the pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other chemicals allowed and required in Organic production can (and do) have serious implications on the environment both on and off the farm, affecting biodiversity, and water, soil and air quality.
While the law does not allow Organic producers to raise Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) crops or livestock, or to irradiate the produce, it does allow for the application of GMOs and irradiated species as a form of pesticide, polluting not only their field, but otherwise clean fields and natural areas for miles around! There are two primary pesticides of this sort used in Organic crop production. The first is called the Sterile Insect Technique, whereby live “pest” insects are irradiated or otherwise genetically modified to cause a genetic mutation so that they cannot reproduce, or so that they produce nonviable or non-pest offspring. This can lead to ecological collapse. The second GMO pesticide is actually a GMV (Genetically Modified Virus). Live viruses are treated in a laboratory to be potent pesticides; they are sometimes even modified to create toxins such as scorpion poison or to carry human cancer genes! While proponents of these pesticides say that they will only infect targeted pests, it is very easy and common for viruses to mutate naturally; no one knows if these pesticides could, in the future, become humancides or otherwise cause more damage than intended.
Many studies have been done to determine if Organically produced food is better for you. The results are inconclusive, but it is most likely that the nutrition is the same, or at most, insignificantly different. Organics can be treated with many chemicals and fertilizers both during their growth and after harvest. While many of these are probably safe (at least by the time of consumption), not all of these chemicals have been fully studied. Some are quite controversial! Carrageenan, for example, has been accused of causing cancer (the government has refuted this), but is allowed in post harvest treatment. Chlorine is known to react with plant matter to cause carcinogenic compounds, but is still the most commonly used post harvest washing treatment for fruits and vegetables. Other governments have banned the use of chlorine as a washing agent because of this risk, but the
Just because it’s Organic does not mean it’s fresh! Organic farmers, like most farmers, sell their crops at a place or time that requires the produce be stored after harvest. Organic farmers, like all farmers, aim to preserve their produce as long as possible so that there is more opportunity for them to sell it, and sell it at a good price. Whether they sell it at a farmers market or through the supermarket, it must be maintained in safe and beneficial conditions for the entire post harvest period. Unless you see it picked or can trust your farmer entirely, there is no sure way to know what your food has been treated with, how it has been stored, and how old it is. The difference in buying Organic lies in what chemicals the produce may be treated with. The Organic act stipulates that only those chemicals included in the National List may be used on post-harvest produce. This list includes both what can be used on “fresh” (not processed) produce, and in processed foods. If you want fresher produce, buy direct from the farmer (whether they are certified organic or not), not through a distributor or a grocery store: though some farmers will sell old produce, the chances are better that it is fresher that way.
While it is commendable and smart to protect resources, eat natural, and otherwise care for the environment, trying to do so by buying “organic” just does not accomplish those goals. If you want to be better informed on what “organic” really means, you can read the full
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