It’s a word we used to only see on local fruit stands, but now you will see it in almost every aisle of grocery stores across America…organic. However, NCC news reporter Sujata Khandelwal says even though it’s a growing trend, eating organic isn’t necessarily better for you.
What is organic?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, organic foods are grown or raised in an environment completely free of any chemicals. “There’s no pesticides or herbicide use on any of the land. None of the feed can come from anything other than certified organic land,” says Bill Armitage of Seneca County. Armitage owns the largest herd of organic USDA-certified beef cattle in Central New York.
“It’s a way of life.”
Not far from the Armitage farm in Seneca County, Alison Frost owns an organic vegetable farm. Frost grows everything from herbs and carrots to brussel sprouts. She says it’s a very labor-
intensive process because you are not only growing crops, but also cultivating the soil. “You’re not going to be able to use herbicides. You’re not going to use like quick-fix fertilizers so you’re building up the soil, you’re growing soil as well as the food you’re growing.” It is this extra quality control, which comes at an added price.
Buying into it.
The Organic Trade Association says American consumers spent nearly 17 billion dollars on organic foods in 2006. Organic foods are generally double the price of their conventional counterparts. But, are they really a better buy? “Just because something is not grown in pesticides or is grown with pesticides isn’t going to change the nutritional composition of the food,” says Kiersten White, a registered dietician at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. According to White, there are no documented studies indicating that eating organically grown foods has long-term health benefits. She says it’s all about personal preference.
So, at the end of the day why go organic? For Bill and Alison it’s about placing a quality product on the shelves. For some consumers it’s simply about being healthy, and they say, for that peace of mind, there is no price too high.
What is organic?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, organic foods are grown or raised in an environment completely free of any chemicals. “There’s no pesticides or herbicide use on any of the land. None of the feed can come from anything other than certified organic land,” says Bill Armitage of Seneca County. Armitage owns the largest herd of organic USDA-certified beef cattle in Central New York.
“It’s a way of life.”
Not far from the Armitage farm in Seneca County, Alison Frost owns an organic vegetable farm. Frost grows everything from herbs and carrots to brussel sprouts. She says it’s a very labor-
intensive process because you are not only growing crops, but also cultivating the soil. “You’re not going to be able to use herbicides. You’re not going to use like quick-fix fertilizers so you’re building up the soil, you’re growing soil as well as the food you’re growing.” It is this extra quality control, which comes at an added price.Buying into it.
The Organic Trade Association says American consumers spent nearly 17 billion dollars on organic foods in 2006. Organic foods are generally double the price of their conventional counterparts. But, are they really a better buy? “Just because something is not grown in pesticides or is grown with pesticides isn’t going to change the nutritional composition of the food,” says Kiersten White, a registered dietician at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. According to White, there are no documented studies indicating that eating organically grown foods has long-term health benefits. She says it’s all about personal preference.
So, at the end of the day why go organic? For Bill and Alison it’s about placing a quality product on the shelves. For some consumers it’s simply about being healthy, and they say, for that peace of mind, there is no price too high.
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