Eating Organic

Is organic really better for you and your family?

Christina D'Amato, NCC News

Syracuse, NY- Farmers across Central New York are part of a small but fast-growing farm movement called "organic." America has a big appetite for healthier versions of some of their favorite foods. According to the Organic Trade Association, consumers spend nearly $14 billion on organic food each year. But organic food still has a long way to go to rival non-organic food each year for market share and it still has to win over some consumers.

WHAT'S ORGANIC?
Foods must follow these guildelines by the Organic Foods Protection Act:

• banning the use of pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones


• growing produce on land that has been free of chemicals for at least three years


• prohibiting genetically modified crops


• planting with organic seeds

CNY FARMS

There are currently 528 certified organic farms, dairies or processors in New York state as of August 2007, according to NOFA-NY Certified Organic.

Allison Frost, owner of Frosty Morning Farms in Cortland County, is a small scale non-mechanized farm. Frost grows all her organic produce by hand and uses no herbicides or fertilizers. Growing organically creates more work for Frost and her family. She employs no one on the farm, only her two horses who help plow the soil.

Bill Armitage, owner of Mack Creek Farms in Seneca County, also uses old-fashioned farming techniques in his organic beef. Armitage took on the responsibly of keeping his cattle farm organic, which is an intensive process of feeding his livestock only certified organic food from birth. The 400 acre farm has been in the family for over 200 years.

THE GROCERY STORE

Supermarkets are a popular place to purchase organic foods because consumers already shop there. Organic alternatives are available for almost every conventional food product- fruits, vegetables, cereal, milk, meat and even dog food.

Organic products take more time to produce, process and handle. Therefore, organic foods typically cost more than non-organic foods.

Organic Produce

Organic produce is priced 20 percent to 30 percent higher than conventional produce because of the extra time employees take to follow organic guildelines. All organic fruits and vegetables must be handled seperaetley from non-organic produce to prevent contamination according to produce workers at Wegmans in Syracuse.

Organic Beef

Organic meat has been a tough sell at the grocery store. According to retail butchers, the price of organic beef is $20 to $50 a pound. "The red meat has not taken off like the crops and the dairy has. Milk and your field crops is where organic farmers are making all their money," Bill Armitage said.

SPENDING WORTH THE COST?

Despite generally higher prices, many Central New York shoppers are buying organic. They do not mind paying a smaller mark-up for items such as milk, bananas, salad, chicken and corn flakes, which are nearly doubled in price.

Paula Wells never ate any processed foods because she grew up on a farm. "I think that the reason I'm so healthy and don't look my age is because of what I've eaten."

But for other Wegmans' shoppers, they are used to eating conventional foods because all food must meet the same quality and safety standards. "I'm comfortable with the food supply the way it is. And I think it's safe and healthy the way it is," Dan Campbell said.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is no evidence that organic food is healthier than conventaional food. " Because something's not grown in pesticides or is grown with pesticides doesn't change the nutritional composition of the food," Kiersten White, registered dietitian, said.