In some cases the price of conventionally grown food does not represent the true cost which is really hidden.  Added to the shop cost of conventional produce must be the costs associated with the increase in health care, environmental clean-up, excessive carbon emissions and the permanent loss of our precious top soil.  The complete management system of organic farming requires more skill and knowledge than simply spraying a field with poisons.

In buying organic food you pay for quality, flavour and nutrition, not chemical residues. You invest in a habitable planet for future generations.

 You may be interested in the article below.

Is the difference between organic and non-organic irrelevant?

Recently in a mainstream newspaper a professor of human nutrition lent herself to an article which quite emphatically stated that 'organic (food) is no better.'

Following up with the professor and with the intention of knowing which research had led her to this conclusion, BFA Nutritionist Shane Heaton was posed with a second statement from the professor:

“Even if there were a difference, the difference is irrelevant. Fruit and vegetables provide an excess of vitamins and minerals and we should be encouraging everyone to eat more of them - we don't need to get them from more alternate sources that are hard to find and more expensive to purchase.”

This question is one worthy of further consideration. Shane Heaton writes "As a fellow nutritionist of course I agree we need everyone to eat more fruit & veg, but it appears we advocate very different strategies on how to achieve that..." he writes.

"Everyone interested in nutrition and public health agrees that encouraging greater consumption of fruit and vegetables is the simplest and most effective way to improving peoples’ health. Some believe that encouraging greater consumption of organic food works against this ideal, and therefore organics should not be promoted. It’s assumed that if people buy organic instead of non-organic food, they’ll buy a lesser quantity because of the higher price. I strongly believe this is a false assumption.

"The average household can easily afford the premium for organic food if they buy less junk food (fizzy drinks, crisps, cakes, biscuits, icecream, chocolate, sweets, etc.). Or fewer cigarettes. Or less alcohol. How do I know this? Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that that average household spends more on junk food than on fruit and veg each week. More on take-away, and more on alcohol than fruit and veg. The cigarette market is 6 times the size of the organic food market.

"So let me make an assumption. With a household food and drink budget, most people will tend to buy the ‘essentials’ first – fruit, vegetables, cereals, some ready meals, bread, milk, meat, etc. and then use what’s left to buy ‘luxuries’ – junk food, alcohol, cigarettes, take-aways and the like.

"The key factor here is whether or not consumers consider organic food to be essential or a luxury. As people learn more about differences in nutrient content, pesticide residues, animal welfare, food safety, environmental impact, etc., many do come to believe that organic food and farming are essential for the health of ourselves and that of the environment. If people switch from conventional to organic on the ‘essentials’, it’s entirely likely they will then spend less on junk-food, alcohol, cigarettes and take-aways, and indeed, research has confirmed that organic consumers have different consumption patterns from non-organic consumers along these lines.

"So if my assumption is correct, switching to organic food would not only mean consumers receive more nutrients and fewer toxins in their now largely organic diet, they’d also potentially consume less alcohol, fewer cigarettes and less fat and sugar-laden junk food. The benefits to their health, that of their families, and public health in general, could be enormous.

"They’d also avoid the considerable uncertainties regarding the health implications of multiple pesticide residues, GMOs, anti-biotic resistance, nitrates and artificial food additives. Those who argue there is no compelling scientific evidence of definite harm from these issues must also concede that there is so much we do not know, that there is equally no evidence that they are safe. Consumers pursuing wellness know better than to wait for scientific consensus on such issues, and often make a personal choice instead to follow the precautionary principle.

"Another important point in this question of how best to improve peoples’ fruit and veg intake is the issue of taste. A common experience of organic consumers is that organic produce tastes better. Kids especially notice the difference, and I’ve heard numerous reports from parents who’s kids start actually enjoying fruits and vegetables when they make the switch to organic. Where they previously struggled to get their children to eat much fruit or any vegetables at all, all of a sudden they start asking for more! And they feel great about giving them to their kids, knowing they’re not doused in who knows how many pesticides.
 
So which is the better strategy to encourage greater fruit and veg consumption? I’m convinced the organic argument “It’s good for you, tastes great, doesn’t pollute the planet, didn’t risk the farmers health when growing it, and won’t slowly poison your family.” is likely to be a far more effective strategy than “Go on, it’s good for you. Don’t worry about the pesticides - it’s cheap!”.

"The environmental and biodiversity benefits of organic farming are well documented and generally accepted. Buying organic food supports organic farming and thus benefits the environment. Do those who advocate increasing consumption of non-organic fruit and vegetables really think it’s wise to pursue wellness with no regard to our environment? Can you be truly well while supporting practices that pollute the environment and reduce biodiversity?

"So the bottom line is that if people go organic they receive more nutrients, fewer toxins, and probably decrease their consumption of health-robbers like cigarettes and junk-food. Whether or not to go organic is a question of priorities. If pursuing optimum health and wellbeing is a priority for you and your family, then it’s a very good idea. If your priorities currently lie elsewhere, that’s fine. It’s your journey. But your choices leave a toxic legacy for future generations, and as a father of two, I’d really rather you didn’t.

"Cheap [food] is expensive and organic food isn’t a luxury  – it’s how food is meant to be."

Thanks to:
Your Organic Advantage
Editor: Holly Vyner
BIOLOGICAL FARMERS OF AUSTRALIA CO OP LTD - THE VOICE OF ORGANICS
http://www.bfa.com.au/
Ph: 07 3350 5716 (International +61 7 3350 5716)
 
AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC PTY LTD - THE STANDARD IN ORGANICS
http://www.australianorganic.com.au/
Ph: 07 3350 5706 (International +61 7 3350 5706)