OCTOBER, 20228reviously found in the stores of health food, organic food has grown common in most groceries that might feel nice on your feet when you get out of bed on a cold morning, but it will make life pretty uncomfortable. Also, since you've removed the tops of all the various hot spots, all the world's volcanoes would erupt. Stores and it has made a bit of a problem in the production aisle. Food examples can be seen in picking a grown apple with usual conventional methods or it can be picked by one that's organic, both apple firms are shiny and red and productive in vitamins and fiber.Materials or Methods Not Allowed in Organic Farming Include:1. Artificial (synthetic) fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil2. Sewage sludge as fertilizer3. Most synthetic pesticides for pest control4. Using radiation (irradiation) to preserve food or to get rid of disease or pestsUsing genetic technology to change the genetic makeup (genetic engineering) of crops, can improve disease or pest resistance, or improve crop harvests Antibiotics or growth hormones for farm animals (livestock) No, `natural' and `organic' are different. Usually, `natural' on a food label means that the product has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. `Natural' on a label doesn't have to do with the methods or materials used to grow the food ingredients.A report in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that organic agriculture is more profitable for farmers compared to conventional farming. Currently, organic farming accounts for 1 percent of agricultural practices around the globe.The scientists looked at 129 studies and found 44 that met their criteria to be part of an analysis of costs, gross returns, benefit/cost ratios, and net present values. Their analysis covered 55 types of crops in 14 countries, spanning five continents. It's the first large-scale examination measuring the economic sustainability of the two types of farming.The new USDA effort would include $100 million toward helping farmers learn new methods for growing organic crops. It would include $75 million for farmers who meet new conservation standards. It would include $25 million to expand crop insurance programs and reduce costs. And it would include $100 million to aid the development and expansion of markets for organics.Farmers with small farms should find this effort appealing because the added value of organic crops makes it possible to make more money from even 10 to 40-hectare farms. That is much smaller than the commercial operations that provide most of the country's produce.Food Safety TipsWhether you go totally organic or choose to mix conventional and organic foods, keep these tips in mind: Choose a variety of foods from a mix of sources. You'll get a better variety of nutrients and lower your chance of exposure to a single pesticide. Buy fruits and vegetables in season when you can. To get the freshest produce, ask your grocer what is in season. Or buy food from your local farmers' market. Read food labels carefully. Just because a product says it's organic or has organic ingredients doesn't mean it's a healthier choice. Some organic products may still be high in sugar, salt, fat, or calories.Wash and scrub fresh fruits and vegetables well under running water. Washing helps remove dirt, germs, and chemical traces from fruit and vegetable surfaces. But you can't remove all pesticide traces by washing. Throwing away the outer leaves of leafy vegetables can lessen contaminants. Peeling fruits and vegetables can remove contaminants but may also cut nutrients.EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVEORGANIC FOODS­ IMPORTANCE OF FOOD INTAKEP
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