Compare/Contrast Organic Food Essay

You’re in a bit of a dilemma standing in front of the produce section of your local grocery store. In one hand, you’re holding conventionally grown (non-organic) Granny Smith apple. In your other hand, you have one that’s been organically grown. Both apples look the same and provide vitamins and fiber. The non-organic apple is a proven family favorite. But the organic apple has a label that says â€Å"USDA Organic. † Does that mean it’s more expensive? Grown differently? Better for you? Most organic food cost more than conventional food products. Higher prices are due to more expensive farming practices and more strict government regulations. Because organic farmers don’t use herbicides or pesticides, many tools that control weeds and pests use more labor and man power. Conventionally grown food may be more cost effective, especially when you’re on a budget, but remember ‘you always get what you pay for’. How is organic farming different from conventional farming? Organic Farming applies natural fertilizers such as manure to feed soil and plants. Crops are rotated, and farmers hand weed or mulch, to manage weeds. They give their animals a balanced organic diet and clean housing to minimize disease. Conventional farming uses chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth and herbicides to manage weeds. The farmers give their animals antibiotics and medicines to prevent disease. Some people buy organic food to limit their exposure to these chemicals. Organic produce claims to be healthier than non organic produce. Both are nutritional but organic contains higher levels of vitamins C and A, antioxidants, and essential minerals. They are free of synthetic additives that contribute to heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, migraines and Alzheimer’s. Conventional farming uses chemicals that leave residues from more than five hundred chemical pesticides. So the next time you’re standing at the grocery store wondering if you should buy organic or conventionally grown food, think about if the money is worth living healthy or not. The irony is that up until about fifty years ago, organic was all we had. Once farmers started to use pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics we lost what eating was all about: health and nutrition.