Make the Earth-Friendly Choice! Buy Organic

As the seasons turn and we enjoy the bounty of fall, September is a great time for the Organic Trade Association’s celebration of “National Organic Harvest Month.” Organic agriculture not only produces food that is tasty and good for our bodies, it is also good for the planet: organic methods work with the natural environment, they foster sustainability and they promote ecological harmony. Organic crops are grown without the use of herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, genetic engineering, sewage sludge, or irradiation. Organic dairy products come from animals that are not given antibiotics or hormones to promote growth and milk production. In contrast to the many risks of commercial agricultural chemicals, organic farming provides these environmental and health benefits: Organic agriculture protects land, water, and ecosystems through:

• promoting biodiversity
• fostering long-term soil fertility
• encouraging insects that are beneficial to crops and the environment
• supporting microbes that promote soil health
• not harming wildlife
• keeping hazardous chemicals out of groundwater

Organic farming practices are good for people and communities because they:

• protect farm workers, communities, and consumers from the hazards of exposure to dangerous agricultural chemicals
• eliminate toxic sprays that drift airborne into residential areas
• protect water supplies from contamination

What you can do

In addition to keeping harmful chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones off our plates and out of our bodies, buying organic also supports those farmers that are practicing natural, sustainable agriculture. Consider the toxic toll of conventional crops and dairy products… then, help support the long-term health of the planet and its inhabitants by choosing organic whenever possible. Want to go one step further for the Earth? To have a truly eco-friendly diet, and to prevent the extreme suffering of animals, go vegetarian.