Many friends have told me that they’d love to switch everything they eat and use organic if only they could afford it. Some people feel the organic movement is just a marketing craze put out by industry. The following are my observations as to why real organic products are, in fact, more expensive. After reading, you can judge for yourself whether you want to pay more for them.
- The land: under many certified organic standards, the land has to have been free from chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides for at least 7 yrs and has to pass soil testing.
- The seed: the seed of plants grown have to have been non-GMO for at least 3 generations, sometimes longer. The seeds used (organic seeds) are also more expensive than conventional ones.
- Spacing of the plantation: the plants have to have enough space to breath and in some hot countries like Australia, plenty of space between plants is critical for healthy growth and to be free from pests and bacteria (which often occur more frequently in crowded conditions). Some fruits, like grapes or peaches require spacing as wide as a truck, and smart planning of row direction to allow adequate cooling breezes to sooth the over-heated fruits and soil during long, hot summer days.
- Crop rotation and fallow: normally, plants like soy require fields to rest for 1 full year for the soil to recover and re-mineralize back to conditions suitable for another yield. In “modern” agriculture, with GMOs and fertilizer, many plants produce twice a year, and hens are induced to lay eggs twice a day (instead of the normal once a day) through the “help” of hormones.
- Certification fee: the organizations that setup and monitor the standard as well as certify processors or manufacturers charge annual fees and sometimes additional taxes for the products to carry their logo and approval. So there you have it! That’s why organic cost more. The nutrition values are typically higher in organic products than conventional ones (according to this study here: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/804091-huge-new-study-proves-organic-foods-are-healthier-and-more-nutritious/). Also, under most standards, they contains none or only minimal artificial ingredients. Personally, I feel it is very reasonable to pay a little more for organic products, especially certified ones. What do you think?! :)
Moreen :)