Organic food is a matter of personal choice

There has been much debate lately over whether or not organic foods are really worth the extra cost. Some say yes, some say no. And is a product that's "organic" really better for us than foods without that label?

Consumers seem to think so. Certainly there is a trend that more and more people are buying organic. The Organic Trade Association reports a twenty percent (20 percent) increase since 1990. People who buy organic say that they think the food is safer for their families. Many shoppers of organic foods are city-dwellers, where specialty "whole food" supermarkets abound.

Even here in North Idaho, our local super markets stock organic foods in special sections, not to mention the variety found at our local health food stores. And for those of you who think only of produce when the word "organic" is mentioned, think again. There are organic meats, dairy, pre-packaged foods, cleaning products and even toilet paper.

So, what exactly does organic mean? A couple of years ago, organic product regulations varied state by state, so you never really knew what you were purchasing. In 2002, the industry was nationally regulated and strict standards were set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These standards state that in order for foods to be designated as organic, crops must be produced without synthetic fertilizers, human sewage sludge, bioengineering, ionizing radiation, or conventional chemical pesticides and herbicides. Organic meats and animal products must be fed with organic feed and raised free of artificial hormones and antibiotics. The animals must also have access to pastureland and/or the outdoors.

These new regulations are certainly helpful in determining whether or not a food can be qualified as organic, but what does that mean to consumers health-wise? The truth is most experts don't know yet. Certified organic foods have not been on the market long enough for experts to understand their long-term health benefits, if any. In fact, the USDA and CDC (Center for Disease Control) are looking to this generation's future health for more understanding. In essence, we are the guinea pigs.

Most experts contend that though organic foods may not keep you healthier, help you live longer, or keep disease at bay, they most likely can't hurt you, either. Some say that organic food is more nutritious, but this has not yet been proven. Some say that organic food tastes better. I personally have found this to be true in some cases, but not all.

Earlier this year, Consumer Reports did a study to find out which foods and products might be worth buying organic and which are not. Apples, baby food, bell peppers, celery, cherries, dairy, eggs, grapes, meat, nectarines, peaches pears, poultry, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries all made it onto the "worth it" list for various reasons. Most other foods fell into the "if you can afford it" category, but those that were not worth buying organic were seafood and cosmetics.

What all this boils down to is that the choice of whether or not to buy organic is a personal one. If you can afford it, it might be worth the extra money. If you can't, that's OK, too. Years down the line, they might find that organic food is the secret to better health, but with food trends as unpredictable as they are, you never know.

One thing is certain, nothing tastes better than foods you have grown in your own garden, or meat that you've harvested yourself. Another source of organic food that we're lucky to have is our local farmer's market. There you can get the possible benefits of home-grown food without all the work, while supporting our local economy.