Next time you visit the supermarket you will likely see the word organic on many of your favorite items. To officially be labeled organic the products must not be genetically improved, exposed to any irradiation and devoid of any man-made chemical compounds. Regulations on fertilizers, farming methods and processing all dictate weather or not a product can call itself organic. As more people begin to adopt an organic lifestyle the market is growing at an incredible rate. But, whether organic meat or pesticide-free cabbage represents "healthier" alternatives is definitely an issue for controversy.
With its rising demand and huge potential profit, organic farming is giving America's farming industry a much needed boost. Financial analysts estimate that over the last 10 years, sales of organic goods have risen over twenty percent. With American farmers finding it tougher to make a profit with conventional crops, more are embracing organic farming for relief. The rapid growth inside the sector has led to a massive surge of organic farmers.
To keep within state and federal regulations, an organic growers disease management strategy cannot implement the use of synthetic fungicides. Farms that do not claim the "organic" branding have far fewer restrictions imposed on them. The effects that these additives have on both human beings and livestock is wildly debated. Concern about unknown side effects are one of the driving forces switching people to organically produced goods.
The definition of organically raised means that at under no scenario can that animal be given antibiotics or growth hormones. Suppliers are required to feed livestock agricultural feed goods that are totally organic, but farmers may also provide allowed vitamin and mineral health supplements.
The US Department of Agriculture finally established a national system for branding organic food. If a product is marked organic, the USDA is guaranteeing the consumer that it is free of herbicides, fertilizers and pesticide sprays, Pesticides produced from natural sources (such as biological pesticides) may be used in producing organically grown food items. Boundaries in relation to which pesticides may or may not be used, present the certified organic grower with some distinct and extremely demanding obstacles. This is where the problems start.
With over 40 state and private agencies presently authorized to certify food as organic, standardized labeling has not been dealt with. So ready yourself for some mixed signals the next time you're out shopping for you favorite organic treat. For one thing, organic goods are not consistently labeled because many producers using all-natural systems do not pursue official certification at all. In addition, the terminology within seals, labels, and logos approved by organic certifiers can vary.
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