Introduction
Recently, people begins to buy organic food products due to the reasons as follows. Consumers’ awareness of purchasing and consuming organic foods has increased and there is consolation that the market experienced an enormous growth and hit $62.4 billion in 2019, Organic Trade Association. This article will also highlight the history of the organic foods, the advantages of taking organic foods, the effect on the health and the environment as well as some of the examples of the organic foods in the market today.
Organic Foods History
Organic food production was first kicked off by agriculture professionals in the 1940s and 1950s. Organic farming was introduced in 1940 by J.I. Rodale, an American journalist and magazine publisher was who credited with coining the term ‘organic farming’. Rodale insisted on natural ways and means of maintaining the soil fertility, pest infestation, and plant growth.
The management of organic farming increased with various countries adopting the techniques in accordance to their currents standards. A shift to using organic farming began in the 1960s with some farmers in the United States practicing in a small scale farming. During the 1970’s and 1980’s demand for organic food was promoted by concern over environmental issues and has sensibly risen ever since.
The National Organic Program (NOP) was authorized in United State in 2002 which makes it clear guideline for the organic farming and handling methods. Currently, the market for organic foods is rapidly expanding, most particularly because consumers in the modern world are in search of healthier and more environmentally friendly foods.
Advantages of Taking Organic Products
Organic foods do not contain any chemical fertilizer, pesticide, and genetically modified organism (GMO). Advantages of these natural farming techniques include; improved soil quality, enhanced water quality, and minimized greenhouse gases emissions.
Organic foods are also thought to be healthier than genetically modified foods, meaning they have less of the toxins that are bad for our health. A 2014 British Journal of Nutrition publication observed higher antioxidant levels and lower heavy metal content in organic vegetables than non organic crops. A study carried out in 2010 revealed that those organic milk and meat contain higher amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids that are essential.
Social Implications; Effect on Health and the Environment
Organic food is not only good for human consumption but also for the environment too in its natural production. With safeguards against pollution and contaminations of the ground water sources, less synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are used on organic basis. Organic farming also means the support of various plant and animal forms in the fields and neighbourhood environments and spaces.
Also, ecological agriculture practices also contribute to decrease of greenhouse gas emissions. N2O emissions can be reduced by conventional farming practices according to a study in Journal of Environmental Quality evaluated in 2010.
Popular Organic Food Products
The growing demand for better food quality including the organic food products available in the market имени. Some popular organic food products include:
1. Organic fruits and vegetables: Several methods are employed in the production of organic fruits and vegetables among them is the use of no synthetic pesticides fertilizers like most of the consumers demand. And some of the most familiar organic fruits and vegetables are apples, berries, and greens.
2. Organic dairy products: The organic pastures grazed organic fed cows are where the people get their organic milk, cheese, yoghurt and other dairy products. They contain more of omega-3 fatty acid and less of saturated fats than the non-organic dairy products.
3. Organic meat and poultry: Organic meat and poultry refer to the products that are produced from animal that have not been fed on antibiotics or growth hormones. These animals are also provided with pastures for grazing hence the enhanced meats and poultry products with balanced healthy fats; less saturated fats.
4. Organic snacks and baked goods: The market for organic snacks and baked foods including organic cookies, organic crackers, chips etc., is expanding. They are organic based products and are not formulated with any synthetic preservatives or additives.
Conclusion
The past couple of years have seen remarkable growth in that organic food industry because of people’s inclination towards healthy food. Organic foods come with the following advantages; improved fertility of the land, better quality water and decreased emission of green house gases. While most people think that organic foods contain lesser chemical content and are healthier than conventional foods, they are actually richer in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
Organic food products are helping the consumers become health conscious and should support for sustainable farming systems. Therefore, we can help make this planet a healthier planet to live on in the future generations and create a good one for them in the future.
