Conventional vs. organic farming
The word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don’t use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weedkillers, organic farmers may conduct more sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.
Organic food contains no hormones or antibiotics and is produced without pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, the farming pratices insure healthy soil. Meanwhile, some people buy organic for reasons that have little to do with health. Broad-scale use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers is environmentally ruinous, polluting waterways and producing a massive “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. Organic farming removes more carbon from the air, protects wildlife and promotes soil fertility, making it more sustainable. And organic meat and dairy don’t contain the antibiotics and hormones of conventional products, which means they don’t promote the development of drug-resistant bacteria or such possible hormone-related side effects as early puberty in girls.
What’s most glaring about the Stanford review is what’s missing from it, which is any examination of processed foods. You can’t get a realistic picture of health effects by looking at fruits, veggies and meats but none of the processed items that make up the bulk of the American diet. Is a kid’s peanut butter and jelly sandwich more healthful if it’s made from organic ingredients? A lack of comprehensive research on the totality of what we eat means we simply don’t know.
Here are some key differences between conventional farming and organic farming:
| Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|
| Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth. | Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants. |
| Spray synthetic insecticides to reduce pests and disease. | Spray pesticides from natural sources; use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease. |
| Use synthetic herbicides to manage weeds. | Use environmentally-generated plant-killing compounds; rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds. |
| Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth. | Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease. |
Organic or not? Check the label
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established an organic certification program that requires all organic foods to meet strict government standards. These standards regulate how such foods are grown, handled and processed.
Any product labeled as organic must be USDA certified. Only producers who sell less than $5,000 a year in organic foods are exempt from this certification; however, they’re still required to follow the USDA’s standards for organic foods.
If a food bears a USDA Organic label, it means it’s produced and processed according to the USDA standards. The seal is voluntary, but many organic producers use it.
Products that are completely organic — such as fruits, vegetables, eggs or other single-ingredient foods — are labeled 100 percent organic and can carry the USDA seal.
Foods that have more than one ingredient, such as breakfast cereal, can use the USDA organic seal plus the following wording, depending on the number of organic ingredients:
Contact Information…
Robert Flournoy
President/CEO
Loaves And Fishes x10
714-718-2930
Contact email- loavesandfishesx10@yahoo.com
Volunteering- gleaningfarmland@gmail.com
We are a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization and all donation are Tax Deductible
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