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Food for thoughtThink global, eat local?Food that needs a passportWhat’s with this organic stuff, anyway?Good eatin’ is a mouse click away Don’t just stand there—eat something!
What's with this organic stuff, anyway?
Organic foods are becoming more popular with Canadians. According to Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, retail sales of Canadian organics is expected to increase 20 per cent a year to $3.1 billion in 2005. That’s a whole lot of organic food!
Why all the fuss? Organic food is grown on farms in a sustainable manner without damaging the soil and biodiversity. Since the produce isn’t sprayed with chemical pesticides, you won't have extra chemicals in your diet. This approach to agriculture is very different from the industrial approach which uses vast quantities of inorganic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and other chemicals that can damage the environment.
Organic meat production is also very different from industrial methods. Organically produced beef, chicken, and pork, for example, are reared without the use of hormones or antibiotics that are routinely used in intensive livestock farming.
Many Canadians are worried about genetically modified (GM) food. These crops are formulated to grow faster, resist pests, or withstand herbicides. But there has been inadequate testing of GM foods and their effects on human health and nature. To make matters even more complicated, Canada’s current food labeling laws make it difficult to tell if products are genetically modified or not. The easiest way to avoid GM foods is to go organic.
Top Ten to Buy Organic
According to the Consumers Union, these foods below are highest in pesticides, and therefore best to buy organic.
Resource: Consumers Union, "A Report Card for the EPA," February 2001, available at www.consumersunion.org.
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada have a website full of information about Canada’s organic agriculture: http://atn-riae.agr.ca/news/organics-e.htm
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