What Experts Are Saying About Organic Fruits & Vegetables

Jul 08 , 2022

Rahul Shrivastava

What Experts Are Saying About Organic Fruits & Vegetables

Organic produce and grains contain more protective antioxidants, less pesticide residue and lower levels of the toxic metal cadmium than food raised in traditional ways. 

Today, if you are the health-conscious kind, chances are you’ll reach for it first. So, will perhaps, your neighbor, your boss, and that kid on the block.

So, what exactly is Organic?

The word "organic" means the way farmers grow and process farming (agricultural) products. These products include organic fruits & vegetables, grains, dairy products such as milk and cheese, and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to meet the following goals:

  • Improve soil and water quality.

  • Cut pollution.

  • Provide safe, healthy places for farm animals (livestock) to live.

  • Enable natural farm animals' behavior.

  • Promote a self-sustaining cycle of resources on a farm.

It all begins at the farm.

Organic Crop Farming Materials or Practices May include:

  • Plant waste left on fields (green manure), farm animals' manure or compost to improve soil quality.

  • Plant rotation to keep soil quality and to stop cycles of pests or disease.

  • Cover crops that prevent wearing away of soil (erosion) when sections of land aren't in use and to plow into soil for improving soil quality.

  • Mulch to control weeds.

  • Insects or insect traps to control pests.

  • Certain natural pesticides and a few synthetic pesticides approved for organic farming, used rarely and only as a last choice and coordinated with a USDA organic certifying agent.

Organic Farming Practices for Farm Animals (livestock) include:

  • Healthy living conditions and access to the outdoors.

  • Pasture feeding for at least 30% of farm animals' nutritional needs during grazing season.

  • Organic food for animals.

  • Shots to protect against disease (vaccinations).

Why Exactly are Organic Food and Products Considered Better?

Organic produce is supposedly more fresh, and according to HelpGuide, it carries more nutrients and antioxidants than non-organic produce. And organic produce also carries less cadmium, a toxic chemical naturally found in soil and pesticides. For a while, many believed an organic diet would prevent cancer, but according to the American Cancer Institution, this has been proven untrue. Organic animal products and byproducts have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and less harmful bacteria. It's also more humane to the animals, inevitably giving them a better, healthier life.

For many, organic food is unaffordable, as the label comes with a hefty price tag. That said, doctors believe that eating more fruits and vegetables — organic or not — makes for a healthier diet. To avoid the added cost and commercial pesticides, we recommend buying your fruits, veggies, and other organic foodstuffs from a farmer's market or local farmer.

The Future of Organic Looks Bright:

And not just globally, but in India, too. The Indian government’s National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) is going all out to promote the culture and adoption of organic food across the country.  NPOP’s standards are recognized in Europe and USA as well.

Add to that India’s vast geographical spread, rich soil & biodiversity, and historical traditions of organic farming – and you realize why we are well on our way to becoming an organic superpower.