Is Organic Produce Really Worth More Money?

Organic food is worth more, not only from a financial point of view; but, also from an environmental one. Sadly, in today’s society, every living person carries pesticides in their bodies. Whether they are newborn or seniors; vegetarians, vegans, or meat eaters; city dwellers or farmers; no matter what the lifestyle or the region lived in, pesticides in the body is unavoidable. However, how much pesticide is present in any body is controllable to a large degree by the owner of said body.

Many health conscious consumers are turning more and more to organic produce in an attempt to keep to a minimum the amount of pesticide and toxins contained in their body tissue. The human body can eliminate some; but, not all of the poisons that find away into our systems each and every day. Logically, the less we take in, the less we have to eliminate and the less is retained to create that most insidious of traps – the cumulative effect.

More and more people are turning to a healthier lifestyle; one that is gentler to the earth and all her creatures. Organic food leaves a smaller footprint environmentally than food that has been grown with modern technology. True traditional wisdom incorporates crop rotation, occasionally allowing field to lay fallow, organic fertilization, proper soil aeration and other natural methods of soil replenishment.

At one time, we grew produce bursting with natural goodness, vitamins, and minerals sufficient for our physical needs and the needs of our animal companions. In turn, we respected Mother Earth giving her time off to rest and restoring her life-giving energy and nourishment with natural compost and manure.

Unfortunately for Mother Earth and all her children, this has been replaced with the high-tech efficiency of chemical fertilization and insect control used in conjunction with artificially-enhanced growing cycles which contribute to higher crop yields. Higher crop yields mean greater profits for all connected to the agricultural assembly line that moves the produce from the soil to the table.

Greater profits may be desirable; but, at what price? All the chemicals, poisons and toxins that are used in the fight against soil and pest depletion gradually make their way into the groundwater. Eventually the groundwater is utilized for drinking by both animals and people. Water is one of the two items most necessary for health and life. The other item is food. Neither animal nor human can consistently drink tainted water and maintain optimal health and life expectancy. We are thereby robbed not only of quantity of life; but, quality as well.

To our peril, we ignore the fact that we are stripping the soil of all its nutrients and life-giving capabilities eventually depleting that area as a source of agricultural viability. By this time, we have changed the food chain in the immediate area by artificially controlling the insect population. This insect population supports (or tries to support) the various bird species, fish population, frogs and other wildlife.

At one time in our history, great thinkers used to ponder such philosophical quandaries such as “how many fairies can dance on the head of a pin?” The new quandary could easily become: “How much would a bunch of carrots cost IF we were still able to grow them?"