Organic+Consumerism

=== ===  Organic Consumerism

=Organic consumers have become a fast growing group in the United States. The sales of organic food have gone from 1 billion dollars in 1990 to 21.1 billion dollars in 2008 and sales are continuing to increase (Crinnion, 2010). This wiki page will explore the pros and cons of eating organically. Is it truly better for you and the environment to eat organically? There is research being conducted today to determine whether organic consumerism will benefit everyone. As a non-organic eater, it will be interesting for me to research this topic and see if I should change my eating ways. =

The United States has the National Organic Program which sets limits to which products can have an organic label. Organic food can be defined as food that was grown without or as few as possible pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, or any other chemicals (Barnard, 2010). If a fruit or vegetable is grown according to organic guidelines, then it can have the USDA organic label. However, in the products that have more than one ingredient or frozen foods there are different labels.
 * “100% Organic” means that the product contains only organic ingredients
 * “Organic” means that 95% of the product consist of organic ingredients
 * “Made with Organic Ingredients” means that the product contains at least 70% organic ingredients. (Barnard, 2010)

How does Eating Organic Effect Humans?

Conventional food, non-organic food, can contain pesticides, insecticides, antibiotics, and other chemicals. These chemicals are put into food to help preserve them and to help produce faster. However, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that each year 76 million illnesses, 325, 000 hospitalizations, and 5000 deaths due to food-borne illnesses occur (Theron & Lues, 2007). There are minimal screening processes for foods which means that pathogens and other harmful toxins are in food without people knowing (Theron & Lues, 2007).

Organic food is healthier, tastes better, and safer to eat. Research has found that organic foods have 21% more iron and 29% more magnesium than non-organic foods (Crinnion, 2010). Ascorbic acid was the most common vitamin found in many organic fruits and vegetables (Crinnion, 2010). Organic foods were also found to have higher nutrients like vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium (Crinnion, 2010). Conventional foods were found to be higher in nitrates and other chemicals (Crinnion, 2010). Organic food also has been found to have less insecticide residue and pesticides in general (Crinnion, 2010). In the end, it seems that organic food is healthier and has better nutrients than conventional food. However, the amount of vitamins varies from crop to crop, and it depends on the farmer. Some organic food travels a great distance until it is actually put on the market (Crinnion, 2010).

Organic Farm Animals vs. Conventional Farm Animals

Organic Farm: Animals that grow up on an organic farm live in fields and are feed grass and natural foods. These cows have higher ratios of omega-3 fatty acids, a balance that reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and arthritis (Kluger, 2010). Cows that are raised on organic farms are also less likely to spread E. coli bacteria because they roam fields and are not all smashed together. On an organic farm, where the animals are not forced to fatten up fast, it can take a cow up to two and half years to grow and be reproduced. These animals take longer to be put on the market but are healthier for consumers.

Conventional Farm: Animals that are raised conventionally on factory farms are not treated well. They are jammed together and grow under miserable conditions. In order to fatten up the animals faster, they are fed corn-based feed. This way the company can kill the animal in just 14 months. Hogs and chickens on factory farms have fewer chemicals than cows but are still treated poorly. Growth hormones are prohibited on both animals, but antibiotics are given to the animals on factory farms, which leads to other dangers (Kluger, 2010). These animals are on the market fast but are not as healthy for consumers.

The United States produces 80 billion pounds of beef per year (Kluger, 2010). Only 3% of cattle in the U.S. are organically raised and just 0.02% of hogs and 1.5% of chicken (Kluger, 2010). Only 3% of Americans consider themselves vegetarians, therefore, giving up meat would be difficult (Kluger, 2010). Also, switching to all organic meat is expensive as well, and it can be hard to find. One option is to eat more fish because it is healthier and has omega-3s. Unfortunately the fish market is not doing well either, so America needs to find solutions to their meat eating habits.

Organic Products and Effects on the Environment <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Worldwide, 6 billion pounds of pesticides are applied to food crops every year (Barnard, 2010). These pesticides go into nearby streams and rivers and pollute the waters which can harm the ecosystems of the rivers. The chemicals can also soak into the groundwater affecting people who drink water nearby. Growing organic food also increases soil quality and takes less energy to produce crops because food is grown naturally (Environment Nutrition, 2010). Organic food grown on farms, do not use pesticides so it can be healthier for the environment to support local farmers. Local farms sometimes cut down on packaging as well, so this helps the environment (Seyfang, 2008). Less packaging means that less garbage is produced and less garbage for landfills. However, a problem with some organic foods is that it travels from different countries. This defeats the purpose then because it takes more energy. It is also bad because the mode of transportation that carried the products is polluting the air. So when buying organic buy from local farmers, it benefits the environment and you (Environment Nutrition, 2010).

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 20pt;">Biopesticides… Wait what? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Yes, organic farmers have been known to use pesticides of their own, but they are not as dangerous as commercial pesticides (Kluger, 2010). The Environmental Protection Agency has recorded 195 biopesticides from animals, plants, or minerals and some can be harmful to species (Kluger, 2010). These biopesticides can even stay in soil and water longer but for now these chemicals are not used often. Organic fertilizers are less of problem because they use mostly natural substances like peat, seaweed, saltpeter, and compost (Kluger, 2010). It also takes four tons of manure per acre to grow some foods, and therefore these fertilizers are not as common (Kluger, 2010). So no worries, organic food is still relatively healthy for consumers.

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 20pt;">The Good and the Bad of Organic Food

(Seyfang, 2008)
 * <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 33.8pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-cnfc: 5; text-align: center;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16pt;">Pros ** || <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 33.8pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1; text-align: center;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16pt;">Cons **  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Less chemicals consumed || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Expensive ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Less pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Harder to find than conventional food ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Supports local farmers || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Some famers use organic fertilizers which can be harmful. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Taste and Nutritional value can be better than conventional food || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Nutrition value can depend on where the food was grown\where it came from ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Know where food is produced if from a local farm || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Some organic food travels a farm distance until it is on the market ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Packing waste can be cut ||  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Less pollutants in streams, rivers ||  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Better soil quality ||  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ø Animals are treated better on organic farms ||  ||

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 20pt;">Costs Differences: Organic v. Conventional Food <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This section will allow you to see some of the cost differences of common food items. These prices came from the source (Kluger, 2010).

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14pt;">Eggs <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Organic- $4.39 a dozen for grade-A large brown eggs <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Conventional- $3.79 a dozen for grade-A large brown eggs //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Verdict – Buying organic may be more expensive, but the hens are treated better and may include more vitamins and omega-3 acids. //

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14pt;">Milk <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Organic - $6.39 per gallon <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Conventional - $2.89 per gallon //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Verdict – Cows that produce organic milk are not feed antibiotics or hormones, so buy organic if you can even though the price is a large difference. //

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14pt;">Beef <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Organic - $6.59 per lb. for 85%-lean ground beef <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Conventional - $4.49 per lb. for 85%-lean ground beef //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Verdict – Conventional beef does have a better taste because the cows are fed grain-fed beef which is fattier. Fattier = better taste. Of course, it is less expensive as well. However, grass-fed cattle have higher omega-3 acids and are healthier. Once again, the cows are treated better on an organic farm, so if you can afford it go organic. //

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14pt;">Fruits/Vegetables <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Organic- Bananas, 54¢ each <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Conventional - Bananas, 45¢ each //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Verdict- There is not a whole lot of research that supports organic produce to have a higher nutrition value. So go conventional because the price is lower. However, if you have a local farmer it would benefit the environment to buy from there. //

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 20pt;">Conclusion and Ecological Footprint

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In the end, buying organic food does seem more beneficial than buying conventional food. People decide to purchase organic products for a variety of reasons, concerns about the environment, animal welfare, pesticide levels, or nutrition (Williamson, 2007). Nutrient comparison in organic food and non-organic food is limited and more research needs to be done (Williamson, 2007). However, organic eaters seem to have a smaller ecological footprint if they buy from local farmers than people who buy conventional food. The products require less energy because there are not as many harmful chemicals used to produce the product. Less harmful chemicals result in less pollution in rivers and nearby farms. People that buy organic food from local farmers are also helping the environment because the products do not have to travel as far. Less traveling results in less air pollution. Also, many local famers do not package their products which also help the environment because less waste is produced.

<span style="color: #f06214; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 20pt;">Glossary

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Antibiotic**s: A substance that is usually used to destroy bacteria or restrain other microorganisms. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Ascorbic Acid**: Also known as Vitamin C, a nutrient found in many fruits and vegetables. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Biopesticides**: A type of pesticide that is derived from natural materials such as seaweed or compost. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Conventional Farms**: Farms where animals are raised and feed non-natural food. Animals here are many times treated poorly. Most meat products found in grocery stores are from conventional farms. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Food-Borne Illness**: A sickness caused by a virus or bacteria found in food. (Commonly known as food-poisoning.) It can be caused by the bacteria E. coli. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Growth Hormones**: A protein of amino acids that stimulates growth and cell reproduction in humans and animals. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Herbicides**: A pesticide used to kill unwanted plants. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Insecticides**: A pesticide used to kill unwanted insects. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**National Organic Program**: A program that regulates the standards for farms or productions who want to sell organic products. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Organic Farms**: Farms were animals are raised on an all natural diet. These animals are usually kept on the farm for a few years. These animals are the meats that have an organic label.