Before listing the ten reasons, let’s define what is organic and why buy.

First, do not see “organic” as a brand, some people, from observation, look for organic products just because it seems like the “new” trend, but that is not and should not be the case.

Though it helps organic growth and production, the “followers” and true health concerned consumers have helped businesses thrive.

U.S. sales of organic food and beverages have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to an estimated $20 billion in 2007 (Organic Trade Association).

Organic foods differ from conventional foods in the way the products are grown, processed and distributed.

Those foods are grown free of pesticides, toxic chemicals and any synthetic fertilizers. They’re also restricted from being genetically modified (OTA), meaning that the plant was genetically altered for a desired trait (size, color, etc.).

Conventional foods are the exact opposite.

Why buy organics? Aside from the following list (or you can download the PDF), buy it because it’s good for the environment, the workers and most importantly us, the people eating the delicious fresh food.

Ten reason  to purchase organics (California Certified Organic Farmers):

1. Protect future generations – The food choices we make today will impact our children’s future decisions and, most importantly, their health.

2. Protect water quality – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the pesticides (some cancerous) in contaminated water are in 38 states. Also the pollution is one main factor for contamination, affecting our primary source of drinking water.

3. Prevent soil erosion – In conventional farming, the soil is used more as a medium for holding plants in a vertical positions to be chemically fertilized.

4. Save energy – Conventional, modern farming uses more petroleum than any other single industry, consuming 12 percent of the country’s total energy.

5. Keep chemicals off your plate – Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides can cause an extra 1.4 million cancer cases among Americans over our lifetimes.

6. Promote farm worker health – An estimated 1 million workers are poisoned annually from pesticides.

7. Help small farmers – They are the ones that truly pay attention to the growth and process of organic foods. Sadly, it is a decreasing industry.

8. Support a true economy – Organic foods are more expensive than conventional ones, but it is a direct purchase, where the money is going and what is worth. Unlike the hidden costs by taxpayers in conventional used food products that may be cheaper at your local market.

9. Promote biodiversity – Mono-cropping is the practice of planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year. While this approach tripled farm production between 1950 and 1970, the lack of natural diversity of plant life has left soil lacking in natural minerals and nutrients. To replace the nutrients, chemical fertilizers are used, often in increasing amounts.

10. Taste better flavor – It tastes way better. Pay attention to it. From the beginning of nourishing the soil to nourishing the plants to our mouths.

Also, check out organic certification and more about organics here at the Ecology Center’s website.