What does ORGANIC mean?
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.
Where in Paducah can I go out to a restaurant and order an organic dish?
As of May 2011 we do not know of any. Hopefully with your help we can change that. When you go out to eat ASK if they serve any organic dishes. The more we ask for it the quicker they will start preparing it.
Why is it important to buy Organic?
Every time you buy organic at the grocery store you are literally casting your vote for organic foods. The market will respond to the demands of the consumer. We are already seeing it in our local Kroger store here in Paducah. We also believe it is very important for your health to buy organic. If it is not organic, whether it is certified or not (this is where knowing your farmer comes in handy) you can bet your momma's sweet apple pie it has been sprayed with chemicals. Try this: spray an apple with Raid, then rinse it off under the water in the kitchen sink. Do you still want to eat that apple?
Why is it important for me to buy locally whenever possible?
Buying locally supports your local economy, keeping the money in local circulation. It seems unreasonable that the thousands of acres farmed in our communities farm more than 90% of that food to ship it hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles away. We are actively encouraging farmers to produce food for their local farmer’s market, their local grocery stores, their local bakeries and restaurants, etc.
What is a GMO?
Genetically Modified Organism- Any organism that has received genes from a different species through the techniques of genetic engineering. (Collegiate Text Book Environmental Sciences by Richard T. Wright)
What is sustainable agriculture?
Does organic food taste better?
This of course is a matter of opinion. By power of suggestion they probably do. Just knowing that the apple you are eating has not been sprayed with chemicals, did not have to travel on the back of a truck nearly 1,500 miles, and had the chance to ripen on the tree makes it somehow magically taste better.
Does organic food have more nutrients?
The nutrients in any food depend on the soil that it is grown in. The vegetable or fruit actually gets its nutrients directly from the soil. In a monoculture environment the soil is often devoid of a majority of the natural minerals that you would find in the soil on a sustainable farm. Monoculture farms spray only the nutrients that are most critical in growth. Therefore over a period of time, the soil loses it full nutrient capacity. So it is safe to assume that food grown in nutrient rich soil will produce a more nutrient rich food.
How do organic farmers fight pests and disease?
Prevention and a self-sustaining balanced ecosystem are the organic farmer’s most important tools for minimizing diseases. Without preventive measures, the advantages of organic gardening quickly diminish. Preventative medicine in plants means adopting a holistic approach from the beginning. Some diseases and insects can be minimized by breaking the pest cycle through proper garden siting, crop rotation, intercropping, and soil maintenance. Other pests can be minimized by ensuring good plant nutrition, because healthy plants are always less susceptible to attack. (The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food by Tanya L.K. Denckla)
How do organic farmers fertilize their crops?
Organic farmers know to feed the soil, not the crops. This is done in many ways. Mulching, compost, manure, straw and sowing off-season cover crops are a few ways organic/sustainable farms feed the soil. The soil fertilizes the crops.
