Incentive To Local Organic Food example essay topic

It is Not Too Late In today's world, we all run from our jobs to our families and try to eat what we can in between. Usually the food we choose is not healthy for us, but it is convenient. Modern farming practices have made it so that processed fast food is less expensive than real food from the earth. The reason is because modern farming is no longer about just planting a seed and harvesting the rewards.

It now involves chemicals and synthetic fertilizers, which in itself has turned into a multi-billion dollar a year enterprise. So it stands to reason that getting back to nature is more about taking control of our lives and the lives of our families by not buying into the corporate mindset of faster is better. A logical choice is eating only organically produced food, which means no chemicals were added during the growing process. The benefits however, do not stop there. Organic farming holds an equally as important place concerning the welfare of local farmers, the environment, and the future of humankind. Also, organic food holds a higher nutrient content, making it a better alternative to conventionally farmed foods, and for the long-term health of the world's population.

Local organic farmers feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that they are contributing to a healthier future for generations to come, and that they are ensuring our environment stays in good condition (Druce). Food that is grown locally keeps money in the community, which in turn helps to stabilize local economy. Bobby Jones, a local organic farmer in Huron, Ohio, buys all of his feed and supplies from the local supply company, then the owner of that store buys meat and other organic items from Jones. They are helping to support the local economy by Brewer 2 utilizing the resources within the community. Another incentive to local organic food is that there is no damage to the environment from pesticides, since organic farming rejects all forms of chemical toxins. Conventional farming practices load their products with pesticides, many of which are harmful to the humans and wildlife that consume them.

According to Jones, his entire family and much of the community now reject conventional foods because of the effects that the chemicals could have. He is doing his part to ensure the longevity of the human race. Organic farming is more than just a passing fad; it has been expanding at a rate of up to twenty percent a year for twenty years now, so it is unlikely that it would suddenly stop (Belsie). In the past four years alone some farmers have seen an increase of up to 225 percent in gains for their crops of organic beans.

Lettuce, flax, and corn are close behind with over 100 percent in gains (Druce). This is most likely due to the fact that organic foods are becoming more popular as consumers take responsibility for what they put into their bodies. For many individuals, eating healthy is no longer just about losing weight; it's about being healthy from the inside out. When the environmental benefits are weighed as well, including the positive impact on local biodiversity, the choice seems clear (Hole). The problems with non organic foods are not going to go away by themselves. The future looks bleak right now for the environment, and subsequently for humankind, if modern farming practices continue.

Craig Minow a, an Environmental Scientist for the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), says that the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers can lead to the contamination of an entire city's water supply, or the toxins can saturate the soil, resulting in negative effects on the surrounding environment and wildlife (Druce). Today, more than four hundred pesticides are available for use on America's farms, with 2.5 billion pounds used annually on crop lands (McWatters). One flaw in the system is that when pesticides are licensed, they are tested singly, which means that it is unknown how two or more pesticides react Brewer 3 and effect crops when used in combination. That is of major concern to consumers, considering that up to twenty-five different pesticides can be used on a single crop (McWatters). Organic farmers reject pesticides and opt instead for natural methods for removing pests, such as insect predators, traps, barriers, or even mating disruption (McWatters). The farmers use methods that protect the soil, air, and water supplies while encouraging biodiversity (Twelve).

This practice also promotes soil fertility, since nothing is being dumped into the ground. By making the decision to go natural, farmers do not have to spend unnecessary money. This is an important factor in conserving what soil remains for the future of farming, and one that many farmers can grasp. A survey conducted by the Ohio State University cites conservation of natural resources as the number one reason most farmers choose to go organic.

According to the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), "Soil stewardship is essential for the survival of our species. Conventional farming practices are rapidly depleting topsoil fertility" (Twelve). That fact is evident when we consider that a one-acre planting of one ton of tomatoes will remove eight-hundred pounds of mineral nutrients from the soil (Heltman), the majority of which will not be replaced by standard fertilization with Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium (Heltman). The failing health of the general population may be due to the presence of chemical residue in the foods we consume. While the immediate effects can be quite clear, including nausea and vomiting, the long-term effects will not be known for years to come (McWatters). There is some speculation that current diseases may be due to exposure to pesticides.

Some of the possibilities include immune deficiency disorders, central nervous system problems, as well as reproductive and hormonal problems (McWatters). These illnesses are very common in today's society where they never were before. It is possible that chemicals are the cause of some of these common illnesses, because most of the population eats food or drinks water that may Brewer 4 have been contaminated. Many cancers and other life threatening diseases are even thought to be traceable to pesticides in the foods we eat.

While none of these scenarios have been proven yet, they have not been rejected either, so it remains a possibility that some diseases like cancer, with a seemingly random occurrence, can be traced back to pesticides (McWatters). Foods grown organically are proven to be higher in nutrients than ordinary foods, making them a much healthier alternative to conventionally farmed food. Crops grown today are manipulated in several different ways to make them grow prematurely. Some crops are fed synthetic fertilizers and are forced to grow at an unnaturally high rate of speed, thus not allowing adequate time for the uptake of nutrients from the soil (Druce). Some organic farms are even criticized because their chickens take one week longer to come to market weight than the "normal" chickens (Belsie). New technology even allows scientists to genetically engineer everyday foods that we may find at the grocery store, like oranges (Druce).

Seedless or Naval oranges, as they are called, are a genetic mutation of a normal orange, which many consumers find disturbing to imagine eating such a thing. Organic foods are never genetically engineered, and promoters of a local and organic lifestyle maintain that freshly picked produce is better nutritionally because it's at its most fresh. In a more recent case, scientists report that in a study among three groups of rats, the ones who were fed organically grown food instead of conventionally farmed food were slimmer, slept better, and had a stronger immune system (Wilkinson). One of the scientists, Dr. Kirsten Brandt of Newcastle University's School of Agriculture, remarked that "the difference was so big that it is very unlikely to be random" (Wilkinson). Despite such strong results, some highly regarded magazines and professionals argue that the nutrition content is the same in organic as in conventional foods. But when Robert Heltman asked one Professor of Agriculture from a reputable university about his doubts, the professor replied "of course, most of our funding Brewer 5 comes from chemical companies (Heltman).

Even the most trusted sources cannot be taken seriously when it comes to organic nutrition, because their sponsors may be listening. Several outspoken critics deny the wide range of organic benefits by using phony examples from highly reputable sources, such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Tony Trew avas, of Edinburgh University, is a known opponent of organic farming, citing that it wastes land, money, fuel, and human lives because it fails to deliver as much food (Abel). Perhaps an even bigger critic is Dennis T. Avery, a self-described missionary for modern farming practices, who claims that organic foods are eight times more likely to cause a deadly E. coli infection. He publicly cited the CDC for this information, but the CDC claims they gave Avery no information regarding such a claim. Eventually the CDC had to issue an official press release refuting Avery's claims, stating that no such study had ever been conducted to compare organic and conventional farming methods to E. coli rates.

Avery was asked to stop citing them, but he refused (Charman). Many people blindly support Avery on account of his outspoken articles that have appeared in the New York Times and the Journal of Commerce, where he cites what sounds like concrete evidence to support his claims, but it turns out to only be a matter of his opinion. He uses the notoriety of the source to preach anti-organic propaganda. He offers no real proof of his claims, but merely serves to deter normally bright individuals from the truth that organic food is more nutritious. It seems that in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that it is hard to know who to trust when it comes to any highly debatable topic like organic farming, but the answer may be more obvious than anyone had originally thought. If we think about what our ancestors ate, I am sure we won't find the highly processed foods and pesticide laden produce that is so common today.

What we will find is all natural food, grown without scientific intervention, and without any fuss. Brewer 6 Perhaps that is why serious illness is so much more common in today's world, because we just try and make everything too complicated. So just sit back and relax and reach for an organic apple and remember what it was like when everything was simple. Word Count: 1753

Bibliography

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