By Melinda Hemmelgarn m . s . | r . d.
body OrganiC Whole You, Whole Earth, Wholesome
The Holter Organic Valley family farm, MD
“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated … whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Teague Organic Valley family farm, NC
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W HOL E Y OU , W HOL E E A R T H , W HOL E S OME ! healthy soil > healthy plants > healthy animals > healthy people > healthy planet
Ever wonder why organic food sales thrive and drive the market? Smart farmers and savvy eaters!
O
rganic farmers work with
food production. Choosing organic food
nature. Organic agriculture uniquely
is also our best way to avoid genetically
focuses on improving and protecting the
modified (GMO) ingredients.
core of our food system: soil health, water
No other product label delivers a stronger
quality and biodiversity.
set of growing and production guidelines.
Organic agriculture protects farmers and
When you purchase foods with the USDA
farm workers from exposure to harmful
Organic label, you’re choosing products
chemicals, as well as eaters who benefit
with the highest, most rigorous standards.
from cleaner, more nutritious food.
Plus, you’re voting with your food dollars for farmers who go the extra mile to protect
Cut through the clutter of confusing
our environment for future generations.
food labels. Only the “USDA Organic”
We all live downstream and value safe
label gives us legal assurance—through
water, air and food.
third-party inspection and certification— that no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, sewage sludge, ir-
“ Everything that happens in our environment happens to us, even if we don’t know it yet.”
radiation, synthetic pesticides or petro-
– Celine Cousteau, American Public Health
leum-based fertilizers were used in our
Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia
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The Ranck Organic Valley family farm, PA
O R G A NIC A G R IC U LT U R E F E E D S T HE P E OP L E , P R O T E C T S O U R H E A LT H & E N V IR ONME N T & F IG H T S C L IM A T E C H A NG E
Organic agriculture can feed the world. In fact, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization recommends organic farming to help fight hunger and tackle climate change.
R
esearch shows increased yields
better able to hold onto water during a
and steadily improved soil quality
drought. Organic soils, especially organic
when organic farming systems are adopted.
pasture, also show improved ability to
Plus, organic farming practices, including “sequester” or store carbon, which helps composting and cover crops, result in
reduce global climate change.
soils that are less likely to erode, and are 3
“The destiny of nations depends on how they nourish themselves.” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin , 1755-1826
The Johnston OV family farm, OR
The Bontrager OV family farm, WI
In addition to enhanced soil quality, organic
pounds of pesticides are applied to crops
farming also boosts biodiversity. How? By
each year in the U.S. alone. Along with
not using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
synthetic fertilizers, these fossil-fuel-
and by adopting wildlife-friendly farming
based chemicals deplete our soil, pollute
techniques. Increased biodiversity is a
our environment and bodies, and further
win-win for farmers and wildlife—with
contribute to global climate change.
an average of 30% more biodiversity on
Good news: Consumer demand for organic
organic farms compared to conventional 1
food can drive agricultural policies and
—organic farmers benefit from higher
practices, resulting in better health for
yields and wildlife enjoys ideal habitat.
people and planet. Organic Works!
According to the Organic Center and USDA figures, more than one billion 4
T A K I NG C A R E OF Y OU F R OM T HE I N SIDE O U T: Y OU R O R G A NIC P E A C E OF M I ND
You already know the bountiful benefits of exercise, meditation, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Now, take the next step to peace of mind: embrace organic food and farming for a higher level of holistic healing.
A
re v ie w of t he re se a rch
Most
shows that average levels of 11
farming helps protect our most vul-
important,
organic
food
and
nutrients are 25% higher in organic
nerable
foods compared to conventional and
from exposures to harmful chemicals.
that organic fruits and vegetables are
Researchers at the University of Wash-
about 30% higher in health-protecting
ington discovered simply switching chil-
antioxidants, thanks in part to nutrient-
dren from a conventional to an organic
rich organic soils . Because of mandatory
diet resulted in a dramatic drop in high-risk
time spent on pasture, organic animals
organophosphate insecticides, or break-
provide milk and meat with higher levels
down products in the children's urine—to
of beneficial essential fats, such as heart-
non-detectable levels within just a few days6.
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healthy conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and
grown or produced without chemical
the nutritional quality of breast milk—up to
fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic pesticides
36% higher levels of CLA4. In addition, the av-
and growth-hormones7—that’s organic!
erage American's Omega-6 to Omega-3 intake
optimal health. To reap the benefits
children—
specifically recommends choosing food
dairy, meat and eggs and some fish enhances
in fact, it should be closer to 3:1 for
ones—our
The President’s Cancer Panel Report
Omega-3. In fact, eating a diet of organic
ratio is a range of 10:1 to 15:1 when,
loved
“We need to protect our children at critical times of their development.”
of a healthier balance of Omega fatty acids, eat
– Linda Birnbaum, Director of the National
a diet of organic dairy, meat and eggs and some
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
fish and stay away from high Omega-6 foods, especially corn and vegetable oils5. 5
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. ” – Hippocrates
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S IM P L E S T E P S T O G O ( A ND G R O W ) O R G A NIC ! It’s a Movement ... like a dance, take it one step at a time.
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READ LABELS Look for the trustworthy USDA Organic label, but beware of imposters. “Natural” may sound good, but it has no legal definition. For example, the “natural” label on meat and poultry simply applies to post-slaughter processing. Only certified organic meat, poultry, dairy and eggs assures you the animals received no hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified feed produced with synthetic pesticides.
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GET COOKING
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GROW YOUR OWN
Invite your children and friends into your kitchen and share the fun.
When we grow, prepare and preserve some of our own food, we get to enjoy and share the fruits of our labor and rest assured knowing the real story behind our food.
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V O T E A N D I N V E S T ! Think of your food dollars as votes for, and investments in, your bright, healthy future. Go organic!
“What we are calling for is ... a real Delicious Revolution.” – Alice Waters
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“The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time.” – Terry Tempest Williams, Naturalist
The Shepard Organic Valley family farm, WI
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Y OU R R IG H T T O K NO W Learn more, stay informed and tell your friends about the benefits of organic food and farming.
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Beyond Pesticides: www.beyondpesticides.org
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Beyond the Plate: www.organicvalley.coop/community/beyond-the-plate
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Consumer Reports, “Greener Choices”: www.greenerchoices.org
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Environmental Health Perspectives Journal: www.ehponline.org
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Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org
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Green America: www.greenamericatoday.org
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Healthy Child, Healthy World: www.healthychild.org
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Pesticide Action Network, “What’s On My Food?”: www.panna.org
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The Organic Center: www.organic-center.org
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The Rodale Institute: www.rodaleinstitute.org
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Union of Concerned Scientists: www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture
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Organic Valley: www.organicvalley.coop/why-organic/overview
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Organic Prairie: www.organicprairie.coop/whyorganic/our-7-step-safety-net
REFERENCES Blakemore, R.J. “Ecology of earthworms under the ‘Haughly experiment’ of organic and conventional management regimes.” Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. 2000: 18 (141-59). http://bio-eco.eis.ynu.ac.jp/eng/database/ earthworm/Haughley%5CHaughley.pdf
[1]
[2]
enbrook, C., et. al. “State of Science Review: New evidence supports the nutritional superiority of organic plantB based foods.” March 2008. The Organic Center. www.organic-center.org/science.tocreports.html
[3]
enbrook, C. “State of Science Review: Elevating antioxidant levels in food through organic farming and food B processing.” January 2005. The Organic Center. www.organic-center.org/science.tocreports.html
[4]
ist, L., et. al. “Influence of organic diet on the amount of conjugated linoleic acids in breast milk of lactating R women in the Netherlands.” British Journal of Nutrition. April 2007.
[5]
usso, Gian L. “Dietary n S 6 and n S 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: From biochemistry to clinical implications in R cardiovascular prevention.” Biochemical Pharmacology. 2009. 77 (937-46). Elsevier.
[6]
u, Chensheng, et. al. “Organic diets significantly lower children’s dietary exposure to organophosphorus pesticides.” L Environmental Health Perspectives. 2006. 114:2. www.ehponline.org/ambra-doi-resolver/10.1289/ehp.8418
[7]
euben, Suzanne H. “Reducing environmental cancer risk: What we can do now.” 2008-2009 President’s Cancer Panel R Annual Report. April 2010. (112). http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf
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A B OU T T HE A U T HOR :
Melinda Hemmelgarn, m.s., r.d. is a registered dietitian, investigative nutritionist, and award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in clinical, academic and public health nutrition. Known nationally as the “Food Sleuth,” she connects the dots between food, health and agriculture, and helps consumers “think beyond their plates.” She is a tireless advocate and strong voice for organic food and farming, social and environmental justice and food system literacy.
R e a d h e r c ol u m n s A T : www.organicvalley.coop/community/ beyond-the-plate
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