When you are eating organic food from the supermarket, do you ever attempt to define organic? Or ever wonder why it’s so expensive compared to non-organic foods? Well, basically, according to dictionary.com, organic is defined as “of food or farming methods produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents” (Dictionary.com). To simplify, a type of food product that is grown with all natural materials and is processed in a clean environment. Comparatively, organic food is similar to growing muscles without the use of steroids or enhancements. In fact, the practice of organic farming was going on long ago. But, after people began using chemical fertilizers, the idea of organic farming was introduced in the 1900s, and the name being devised by Walter James, the 4th Baron of Northbourne. With that in mind, there are also many ways people may see this topic. One, from a regular, average-pay adult, where they see it as better, healthier, and/or more expensive. Where on the other hand, low-pay workers may not see it as any better, or not care or know of the benefits. Yet, when it comes to the price of organic foods, it’s very controversial. Do you really get more benefits? Is this process sustainable? What is up with the price? Well, an author on grist.org named Verena Seufert indicates that “there is not a single answer to whether organic performs better or worse than conventional agriculture” (Gilbert). To explain, she is informing us of how there are many parts of the story when it comes to organic foods and how there is not really a true answer, and if there was, it would be extremely complicated. Clearly, organic food is a very intricate topic, with many aspects to it.
The organic production of food has gone a long way throughout history. First, it all began when two people in 1910 named Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch created a “nitrogen ammonia synthesis process” (Fritz). Then, as everyone began to use this synthesis process in agriculture, the organic movement began in response. Eventually, a man named Rudolf Steiner presented what is now called the first organic agriculture course, and it was shown to a little over one hundred farmers. After, it led to the popularity of biodynamic agriculture, a juvenile organic farming style, which was one of the first organic farming systems. Next, the term ‘organic farming’ was coined by Lord Northbourne in 1940. Soon, “in 1945, Lady Eve Balfour wrote a book called ‘The Living Soil’, which led to a key organic advocacy group called the soil association” (Balfour). Immediately, after a time of mainly research on sustainable chemical farming, J.L. Rodale promoted organic farming through the Rodale Press. Not long after, Rachel Carson wrote of the dangers of DDT, a chemical which was used in agriculture, and it led to the banning of the usage of DDT in many countries. In turn, that also boosted the push for organic food. Later on, in 1972, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) was made to standardize the practices of organic farming (the meeting was held in Versailles, France). Before long, in the 1980s, IFOAM was moving slowly, and many farmers and consumer groups stressed for organic standards to be made. As soon as the 1990s, countries began setting standardized organic label requirements. At last, we are here, where all that has been done has paid off and results in what we have now. In brief, organic foods have evolved because of many reasons, with its story still continuing.
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Now, the topic of organic food and organic farming may seem simple but there are still a lot of statistics and factors to it. Currently, organic food is a type of food product that has gone through a standardized process. The organic label is put on the sold package to let consumers know that the food is ‘clean’, or healthier. In fact, many scientists in the branch of nutrition or agriculture have researched and conducted tests on this topic. Their tests show that from eating this type of food, you get “20-40% more antioxidants” (Gilbert) and less to no chemicals compared to conventionally grown foods. However, there are still some downsides, such as a high cost, or less harvest per land area, compared to non-organic foods. Naturally, many may view this topic in different ways. Some people such as average pay Americans see the higher prices as worth it, for the less pesticides, while some lower-income workers may see it as too expensive and may not know the difference between. But really, think about it. Organic food costs more, but why isn’t it cheaper? Is this system sustainable? Is it important to eat organic food? Well, it costs this much at this price because of the system that it goes through, and the necessity of more laborers. Also, to answer the third one, it is extremely important to pay the extra price because of the included benefits of no chemicals going into your system. Well eventually, I predict organic farming will become an everyday expectation, eliminating chemicals in agriculture. Whereas, we will form a more sustainable way, making the farming and food environmentally friendly. Plus, even though it’s expensive, you should still buy it. For example, a man living in North Dakota named Blaine Shmaltz switched over to organic farming after he opened a tank full of herbicides, checking the fullness. He then lost control over his legs, and fell to the ground. He was later “diagnosed with ‘occupational asthma” (Roseboro). In essence, surely organic foods may seem complicated after this, and cost a hefty price, in the long run, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Over the last few years, we have been spending more just to acquire organic foods, where they might not be any better, with a few minor upsides. When researching the importance of this topic, it is clear that the benefits of organic foods compared to the price is extremely unclear in a sense. Currently, according to Deena Shanker, Americans spend over 35.9 billion dollars on organic food, with the government spending 167.5 million dollars on the farm bill, and the Harris Poll reporting how 56% of Americans think it’s healthy but doesn’t know why. Even though these facts may seem like paying the price is wrong, the absence of chemicals makes up for it, and many people don’t realize that paying for organic food is worth it, along with the farmers, who could lower the price a bit for the well-being of every citizen in America. If we don’t provide organic food to people of all incomes, and if people do not understand the importance of the small benefits of organic food, then people with lower incomes become exposed to pesticides and are more prone to sickness. For example, many get low-pay, and buying organic foods produces a higher bill. If this is so, then obviously, low-income workers won’t pay for it, and a large percentage of the American population will have chemicals in their system.
Ultimately, we as consumers shouldn’t fear what is on our plate, just because we cannot or do not purchase organic foods. Undeniably, it’s pretty clear that everyone deserves the knowledge of organic foods, and that people should come to a realization that paying more for this is worth it.
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