Organic Foods And Organic Food

In a recent study done by Organic Farming Research Company, there are approximately 13,000 organic farms throughout the United States out of 2.1 million farms. In recent years more people are converting to buying strictly organic foods, but why? Steven Shapin answers this by writing “what are you buying when you buy organic?” In his article he explains the difference between organic foods and non-organic. People are becoming aware of the dangers and risk of non-organic produce and food and converting to strictly organic foods. Organic and non-organic foods can be compared by price, calories, how the produce is grown and even packaging. Location in the store is also a factor that can come into play.

Over the last few years, awareness of organic food has risen. Due to this, the demand for organic food is a factor which is influencing the farmers to switch to use this technique, and it is being sold in specialty stores and conventional supermarkets. Organic products contain numerous marketing claims that it is healthier, it offers more value, and the farming is more environmentally friendly than traditional foods, so, how does one determine if organic is the way to go? Some argue that there is evidence that supports and demonstrates why organic foods and farming are better overall, while others insist that conventional foods and agriculture can offer the same benefits as going organic. There is no right or wrong answer. Within this

Sales of organic food have risen steadily over the past couple of years, reaching nearly $30 billion in 2011, or 4.2% of all U.S. food and beverage sales, (Adams). Many people believe that organic foods are ultimately the better choice when it comes to health due to the absence of pesticides and hormones. But other people—especially those whose food budgets may be more defined—wonder if organic food is really worth the inflated price tag. Despite the price, Organic foods are worth producing and consuming rather than conventional foods due to the immense benefits they provide.

But as consumers are only willing to pay the extra money for organic food mainly for any health benefits they associate with organic foods, such health benefits should be significant enough to warrant this inflated price. Studies demonstrate that the advantages of organic food are relatively small and even some disadvantages were found. Although correlations were found between a few health benefits and eating organically (reduced risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in subjects who eat organic foods more and mitigation of allergic dermatitis from consuming organic dairy products), these correlations were the only ones found amongst hundreds

Organic farming began just as the effects of the Great Depression waned in the United States, and has seen a dramatic increase in popularity most recently (AG). The sales of organic food increased by about twenty percent a year throughout the nineteen nineties (Marcus). That is over ten times the rate of increase that conventional food experienced during the same period of time (Harris). As recently as twenty eleven, about seventy-eight percent of American families admitted to routinely purchasing organic food (Organic). Organic food sales jumped from three point five million in nineteen ninety-seven, to thirty-one million in twenty eleven (Organic). However, while organic food may seem better than conventional food, numerous studies have shown that it is not distinguishably more healthful, nutritious, palatable, or safe.

Long time ago, the idea of organic food was something ridiculous, nobody cared. But after proved the nutritional benefits and better taste of organic food, many farmers become interest in grown organic food. The article Beyond Organic by Eliot Coleman said that “Now that the food-buying public has become enthusiastic about organically grown foods, the food industry wants to take over.”

When consumers say organic foods are the best for you because markets tell you that there are healthier for you, makes me wonder, do these people really formulate the process that goes into the organic food business. That is what Steven Shapin, author of “What Are You Buying When You Buy Organic?” debated in the book They Say, I Say. The purpose of his article is to inform people that are maybe interested in converting from non-organic foods to a healthier lifestyle, what the process is to acquire organic foods. Also he wanted to expose how much money it takes to keep foods legitimately fresh. He did this because he wants the readers to understand how much these organic companies emphasize to keeping through foods organic, which is not

Due to the fact that consumers had mixed opinions on the healthiness of organic food, we decided that creating a quantitative research survey would serve as a good opportunity to find more information on this topic. Our hypothesis was that organic food is perceived as a healthier option when comparing it non-organic food, indicating that consumers are willing to pay more organic products. Ultimately, our research question and hypothesis relates to healthy eating as it illustrates how some consumers feel eating organic food is heathier, while some consumers feel that eating organic food isn’t any healthier than non-organic

Are you concerned about the health of yourself and that of your family when walking through the grocery store? You should be. You might be surprised to learn about chemicals known to exist in the conventional foods we eat daily. Ever wonder why apples are so shiny? A coating of shellac is applied to apples to give them a shiny coating, prolonging their shelf life, and prevent bruising. You might reconsider the next time you reach for the shiniest red apple and remember to think about the pesticides that were used to make it that way. Being informed of the benefits of organic food versus those of conventional will enable you to make the best decisions for you and your family.

If we go to a supermarket around the corner, we can see several organic food products displayed on the shelves. It is also observed that many consumers prefer buying organic groceries over conventional foods to stay healthy. Also, many a times we hear people consuming organic dietary supplements daily for overall wellbeing. Why do the majority of people favor organic foodstuffs? Are they really nutritious and healthier? We tried finding answers and clarified controversies about the organic foods through this article.

No matter where we go as consumers, we are faced with an endless amount of variety when it comes to product choices. Within the last several years the organic food market has become a popular trend among Americans. In today’s supermarkets, organic foods are everywhere, as they are no longer limited to only upscale retailers. Large corporations are jumping on the bandwagon and bringing the organic industry to the mainstream market, making the products readily available to the average consumer. The movie Food Inc. portrays this when the film shows Wal-Mart transitioning into this industry as it is flourishing with the recent health campaigns. In 2013 the organic food industry grew to $35.1 billion dollars, an 11.5% increase compared to the previous year ("Market Analysis"). Consumers seem to believe that organic foods have more health benefits, such as nutritional value, environmental benefits, and also take account for animal welfare. So what is the truth about organic food and why is it becoming so popular? It seems as though while organic food maybe the better choice, most consumers do not have a clear understanding on what organic food actually is and what it means.

Whether you get it at your local supermarket or deli, everyday consumers face the same problematic question. Should I go organic ? The packaged label is a ploy that marketing companies use to manipulate nutrition facts and dietary claims leading to consumer confusion. A simple farming technique that brings to question the quality of an item that varies among fruits, vegetables and poultry. There has been grand claims that organic foods are perceived as being healthier and more nutritious compared to conventional farming alternatives. The constant doubt about synthetic pesticides, of whether or not they are potentially dangerous, is used as a marker of debate. Despite the constant dispute of whether organic food is better, going organic has been proven to be free of harmful pesticides and GMOs; have less of an environmental impact compared to conventional farming; The nutritional quality is statically higher. Going organic is way of assuring the quality and taste of your food while reducing the risk of food contaminants.

In a September third, 2012 edition of The Stanford Medicine News Center in an article entitled “Little evidence of health benefits from organic foods, study finds” Michelle Brandt argues that certified organic fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and other certified organic food goods, may not be worth the higher prices. Brandt states that certified organic is around 50% more expensive at most retailers. Opposing views of certified organic goods have often claimed that the higher prices are worth the health benefits. Brandt states that there have been multiple studies done on the various types of organic and certified organic goods and that they have been somewhat inconclusive. Despite the fact that they have found a bit higher percentages of vitamins in organic goods, the higher rates are only shown in vitamins that are rare in which to have a dietary deficiency. Brandt also states that the lower rates of pesticides found in organic foods is not worth the cost, due to the fact that the levels found in traditionally grown items were within the limits set by the government as healthy to consume. Lastly Brandt leads the reader to believe that eating healthier foods in general, such as a diet high in fruits and vegetables, is the most important way to be a healthier individual. The higher price of organic goods could lead people away from buying any produce due to believing that they must buy organic goods in order to truly be healthy.

When consumers hear the word “organic” they think the food they are eating is free of pesticides, hormones, and a plethora of chemicals, which is partly true. Farmers of all crops have to use pesticides to keep their crops alive; in the case of organics, farmers use case natural pesticides. However, consumers do not take into consideration that their food could have potential dangers due to lacking certain chemicals which help maintain a safer produce. Not only do Americans forget about the consequences of organic foods, but they do not realize that growing organic puts our production and yields at a lower supply, has potential to put our health at risk, and creates challenges in livestock production.

Organic foods have become more and more popular over the years, and consumers may or may not be knowledgeable when shopping for organic and/or conventional foods. This report will help define the difference between organic and conventional foods and farming, including the health benefits and risks. The demand for organic foods will also be discussed briefly. The purpose of this research is to describe and identify the advantages and issues that are involved with organic and inorganic foods.