N is for Nuclear and O is for Organic

N is for Nuclear Energy is not as informative as I anticipated. After much research, I discovered that for the most part nuclear energy is a clean energy source and when handled properly has a limited impact on the environment. In the United States roughly 20% of our power comes from nuclear sources. Also, there are 104 operating nuclear plants in the United States that produce 97,400 megawatts of electricity. A debate remains over the effect nuclear waste has on neighboring communities and the potential danger in storing radioactive waste. For now though, nuclear power is a cleaner energy source and is therefore greenish in my book!

O is for Organic. This blog attempts to answer any question you have about organic food production and foods sold with an organic label.

The most important thing to check on an organic produce package is for the “Organic Seal”. This seal can appear in color (like shown below) or in black and white. If the seal doesn’t appear on the product, don’t purchase it (or trust that it is organic) and you can even report the fraudulent product. This type of infraction results in an $11,000 fine, yikes!

The Criteria: What it takes for food items to be classified as "organic".

1. Free of artificial food additives
2. Grown without synthetic pesticides and free from human or industrial waste contamination
3. Organic farms must submit records to the National Organic Program (NOP) for production auditing. This federally regulated group was founded in 2002 and requires all food businesses using the word “organic”, to abide by specific strict standards.
4. Have the organic seal on the packaging, which is checked by government regulators and third-party inspectors.
5. Organic livestock are fed natural feed and are not injected with growth hormones.

*If a product has the organic seal and says "100% organic", the product must only contain organically produced ingredients and organically processing aids.
**If a product is labeled just "organic", the product must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients. The other 5% has to be approved ingredients.

Benefits and Environmental Impact:

Since organic food production does not use synthetic pesticides, harmful chemicals are not released into the soil, water, and most importantly into our foods. Organic farms are better able to sustain diverse ecosystems than conventional farming with the absence of harmful pesticides. Also, organic farms use less energy and produce less waste than conventional farms.

A Washington State University study proved that organically grown apples taste sweeter and the texture and firmness of the apple were ranked higher than conventionally grown apples.

Possible disadvantages of organic foods:
1. Shelf life is likely shorter: Since organic foods are not sprayed with pesticides and preservatives, spoilage will likely occur more quickly. This is an inconvenience and a potential money waster but also a realization that maybe our food now lasts longer than it really should.
2. Higher Costs: Many of you have probably noticed that the price of organic food is higher. A variety of factors contribute to this including smaller organic farms, organic farming typically yields less produce than conventional farming, increased transportation cost when food production is decentralized, etc. Presently, organic food account for 2+% of food sold in the USA, a steady 20% increase each year. As this number continues to increase, the cost of organic food will fall. Also, check wholesale locations for cheaper prices. Sam’s club, for instance, sells a variety of organic fruits and vegetables at a lower price than retail grocery stores. (Ex: 5lb bag of organic baby carrots = roughly $4 dollars)
3. Travel Length: Although organic foods are free from pesticides and preservatives which are harmful to our bodies, in many cases organic food still travels a great distance to reach us. As you may remember from E is for Eat Locally, produce found in grocery stores travel up to 1,500 miles to reach the consumer. Since organic foods are not sprayed with preservatives and have a shorter shelf life, distributors attempt to minimize the length of travel between the farm and the stores. So organic means naturally grown, not locally grown. If you want the best quality of food, eat locally grown organic foods!! (in a perfect world, i know!)

Hope this blog helped clarify some of your organic questions. If you have more questions, check out the websites below.

As always, remember to bring those reusable bags wherever you shop!!

National Organic Program Website
Washington State University Study