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Posts Tagged ‘where to buy organic’

You may have started to think about switching out your usual grocery store fruit with organic fruit. And you'd be in good company. Many people are trying organic fruits and finding that they are not only sweeter, fresher, and more delicious, but they are also healthier. It is because of the enormous amounts of pesticides used in the growing of fruits and vegetables that consumers are now looking for alternatives that are healthier and more natural.

Here are some facts on organic fruits that may interest you.

• Check your local supermarket for organic fruits. You may be surprised that even smaller stores carry some. Visit a farmers’ market for the freshest selections of organic fruits.

• Organic fruits are now being sold through regular grocery stores, discount stores, and warehouse clubs. Sales from these places outranked all the specialty stores and natural food stores that you'd expect to sell the most. Customers are asking for organic fruits in mainstream retailers and they are getting what they want.

• You can get organic fruit baskets delivered to your house depending on where you live.

• Organic fruit sales topped over $9 billion in 2009. Organic food sales overall (including other categories such as nuts, teas, etc.) accounted for over $24 billion during that same year.

• Two sites promoting organic agriculture for consumers are www.localharvest.org and www.eatwellguide.com.

• There is an organization for people who want to find out more about how to start growing and/or buying their own organic fruits. The Organic Trade Association maintains a site called www.organicitsworthit.org.

• The Organic Trade Association, which is a business devoted to the production and selling of organic foods, has over 1700 member businesses including stores and farmers.

• In order to be certified organic, a fruit must be grown without any pesticides, without any chemical additives, and without any genetically altered components.

• Organic fruits are regulated in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. Not every country participates in an organic program. Many European countries do not have an official organic certification process.

• The most popular organic fruits are strawberries, cherries, apples, peaches, pears, melons, clementines, and kiwis.

• Organic fruits are perfect for making baby foods that contain no preservatives. Simply mash or grind the fruit and remove any pits or skin. Store in the refrigerator or freeze in ice cube trays for individual servings.

• In addition to organic fruit, consumers can also shop for organic vegetables, meats, sauces, pasta, and many other foods in the supermarket.

• More and more consumers are limiting their selections to only organically grown produce after many pesticide scares and warnings involving the food industry.

• Washing fruit that has been grown with pesticides will not wash away all traces of the chemicals.

• All fruit and vegetables should be washed with a special fruit and vegetable wash before being consumed.

If you're interested in starting off an organic eating program, there are many resources and more are coming up each day. You can now shop the grocery store aisles and find organic foods in nearly every category. Books and web sites are fantastic sources of information on how to grow your own organic garden as well as where to shop for organic foods and beauty products.

What are the real differences between organic and non-organic foods?  Is it much more expensive to eat organic?  Where can I find organic foods?  These might be questions that come to mind when you are thinking about eating organic.  So here are some answers!

What is the difference between Organic and Non-Organic Foods? Nutrition is the #1 answer!  According to studies, organic food has a higher nutritional value than ordinary produce.  For example, organic foods contained 40% more antioxidants than non-organic foods.   Another difference is organic foods tend to taste better.  Because they are not treated with pesticides and other chemicals, you're able to enjoy the unaltered taste of your fruits and vegetables, as nature intended.

Is it much more expensive to eat organic? If you go to your local supermarket, then you probably will pay more for organic food, as they want to make a bigger profit. Large retail chains usually make a big deal out of the fact that they offer organic foods and they think you will pay more for it. On the other hand, if you go to a local farmers market, a small grocer or a local farm shop, then you will undoubtedly find a fair price for your organic food.  The other way to get organic food at a cheaper price is to grow it yourself. Then you know it is really organic and you don't even have to pay for packaging, transportation, and other companies' profits.

Local farm shops have great ranges of organic food, but you must make sure it is organic. In the US, stores that sell organic will have a USDA stamp of approval on their goods and so should the farmers.