What does the USDA classify as “organic?”

Do you wonder if it's worth paying more for organic foods when you grocery shop? Asking this question elicits various responses, from your jaded Uncle Stan’s insistence that it’s a gimmick to your eco-conscious friend shooting eye lasers if you dare select an apple not bearing the organic label. Knowing what the USDA defines as organic and the benefits of these farming methods helps you make the right choice.

What Does the USDA Define as Organic?

According to the USDA, farmers produce organic food using sustainable agricultural production practices. That means farmers must produce the crops without:

Most conventional pesticides
Fertilizers containing synthetic ingredients
Sewage sludge
Bioengineering (GMOs)
Ionizing radiation

Additionally, farmers must use crop rotation techniques to imitate natural ecosystems, which preserves soil quality. Meats that qualify as organic must come from animals raised without antibiotics and growth hormones. That all sounds pretty clean and good, but does it make a difference? Consider the following five impressive benefits of choosing organic foods.

5 Benefits of Choosing Organic

It turns out that choosing organic has some pretty significant benefits for your health and that of the planet.

1. Avoid Harmful Chemicals

Although the FDA claims certain chemicals like glyphosate are safe, many disagree. A jury recently awarded Bayer after a jury linked it to cancer. Books like “The Monsanto Papers” by investigative journalist Carey Gilliam describe how profit motive affects public health. For example, many countries have looked to ban glyphosate, but the U.S. State Department has joined forces with the manufacturer to enact trade sanctions on Mexico if it goes forward with its proposed ban.

Recent scientific studies support stricter restrictions on pesticide use if protecting human health is the goal. One recent investigation into six common pesticides and six cancers found that each pesticide raised the risk of developing three to four of the six cancers examined. Unfortunately, as of now, there’s no way to know what pesticides farmers use in growing their crops — unless you choose organic.

2. Improve Soil Quality

Soil quality matters — where do you think that plants get their nutrients? Some scientists believe that the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers has begun to reduce the nutritional quality of many foods. However, organic farming practices actively work to maintain soil health. Crop rotation ensures the rich earth replenishes itself through natural processes, keeping food chock-full of vitamins and minerals year after year.

3. Preserve Nearby Vegetation and Habitats

Artificial farming chemicals don’t only affect crops. They impact entire ecosystems, killing off species that humanity needs. For example, pesticides can decimate bees and other pollinators, but farmers rely on these creatures to facilitate growing the next generation of crops.

4. Keep Drinking Water Safer

The problem with pesticides and fertilizers is that they don’t stay on the farm. Rain rinses them into area waterways, where they can contaminate supply. That makes it dangerous for drinking, swimming, and fishing. For example, in 2018, Hurricane Florence flooded nearby homes with water containing hog and poultry farm waste.

5. Support Small and Local Farms

America’s family farmers were once its lifeblood, but recently, large agricultural operations have forced many such smaller ones out of business. Those who choose organic farming face additional hurdles, from adhering to necessary certification guidelines to fending off lawsuits from giant corporations, all of which strain their limited budgets. Your choice to buy organic supports these farmers — and helps ensure they can keep bringing safe crops to your store.

Going Organic Without Breaking the Bank

Given the impressive benefits of going organic, why don’t more people choose it? The answer boils down to finances. Organic crops currently cost more to produce, which means you pay a higher sticker price at the store — but is this always the case? Not if you’re savvy.

That said, there are some impressive organic convenience foods that you may determine to justify the higher price tag. For example, with organic peanut butter cups. Also, not many things satisfy you when you’re sick, like a bowl of soup, but who has the energy to make a bowl from scratch when ill? Organic bring convenient relief to your pantry shelves.

However, you can also often find organic goodness on the cheap by visiting your local farmer’s market. The vendors there generally work on the farms, and you can ask them about the processes they use. Costs stay lower because they don’t have to ship in produce from across the globe — it comes from a nearby farm. Shopping this way also decreases emissions.

Planting a garden or getting involved in a community garden project is another great way to go organic for less. Working with your neighbors is a great way to learn the growing ropes while increasing food security in your local area. Remember the pandemic shutdowns when certain products were hard to get? A community garden on every block would ensure that people continued to have fresh, organic food, even amid disaster.