So why pick organic?
Organic foods are grown without chemicals, pesticides, or fungicides. Nonorganic or conventionally grown foods may contain deadly poisons that can cause cell damage and toxic buildup and eventually lead to death. These synthetic poisons are completely foreign to humans and animals, and we are just now beginning to see their effects in civilization. Most farms grow sprayed foods because it keeps the pests away, thereby ensuring a larger crop even though the food is deadly. Organic foods are grown the way nature intended with only natural fertilizer that is compost or other organic foods or sea vegetables or plant matter. Plants grown only with these fertilizers are considered grown in a vegan manner (with no animal products). Other organic methods entail using manure or fish emulsion: these are considered organic only if the animals were fed organically.
~ Natural Healing Wisdom & Know-How by Amy Rost.
It is unlikely that in this poisoned world, any of us can fully escape getting these poisons in our systems. The only logical solution would be to grow our own food as almost all food we buy in supermarkets contain some kind of poison. Many of the poisons found in fruits or vegetables cannot be washed or peeled out as these poisons penetrate the whole fruit. The only option it would seem, would be to grow our own food from non-GMO seeds or buy certified organically grown food. We deserve fresh produce grown without chemical fertilizers, residues of toxic insecticides, chemical additives or preservatives.
Paavo Airola, Ph.D., states: “Organically grown fruits and vegetables contain more vitamins and minerals, as has been shown in many tests. They also contain more enzymes than the produce grown on depleted, chemically fertilized soils. Such foods have greater health-building and disease-preventative potential.” And “Synthetic, denatured and devitalized foods will not sustain health, but will inevitably bring about a gradual degeneration of normal body functions and, ultimately disease. It is of specific importance to see that all foods are natural when planning a therapeutic diet for treatment of disease. Only natural, whole, unprocessed and organically grown foods possess therapeutic value.”
So what constitutes an organic product here in B.C.?
Organic Certification in British Columbia:
“Food and beverages that are produced or processed using organic methods can be certified organic. The certified organic marks show consumers that the product meets defined national standards. You can confirm that a product is certified organic by looking for a symbol of certification.”
The Certified Organic Associations of B.C. states that there are almost 500 certified organic agricultural producers and over 200 certified processors and handlers in the province. B.C. organic food and beverage products that are marketed outside of B.C. require federal or ISO certification under the Organic Products Regulations.
If your product is certified under the federal Canada Organic Regime, you may be entitled to use the Canada Organic logo.
Any B.C. grown or processed organic food and beverage products that are going to be exported to other provinces or internationally must be certified organic under the federal government’s Organic Products Regulations (OPR). ~ www2.gov.bc.ca
More information regarding organic labelling in B.C., Canada and outside Canada can be obtained from these websites:
- www2.gov.bc.ca
- Certified Organic Associations of B.C. (COABC)
Andrew Weil, M.D., states in his book: 8 Weeks to Optimum Health: “I am well aware that many scientists and officials belittle concerns about chemical residues in our food, saying that the amounts present are too small to cause any harm. I see two fallacies in their argument. First, standards for acceptable levels of toxic agrichemicals in food are based on risks of acute toxicity—the possibility that exposure will cause immediate harm. They do not consider the risks of long-term cumulative damage to body defenses and healing ability. Second, those who argue that these chemical toxins are inconsequential to health fail to consider the possibility of synergy among them- that the effects of exposure to multiple toxins might together cause real harm.”
It is urgent for the public to educate themselves how important organic produce is. It will require work on our part to advocate for what is basic human right—to eat food that has not been touched by chemicals. Become knowledgeable as you make your purchases, know what foods are most contaminated and adjust your purchases accordingly. Grow your food using NON-GMO seeds. Learn how to grow your food in a 5- gallon bucket if you have to. It can be done! The public has the ability to increase the demand for organic produce if we stop buying anything but organic, and by voicing our concerns. This will help in the long run to make organic produce more affordable. Express your concerns to your local farmers for growing organic (and support farmers who have chosen to do so). Also, support stores that provide NON-GMO seed’s. With consistent advocation, together we can again attain the healthy, non-contaminated produce so necessary for our health and well being.