Fruits and vegetables are two imperative and irreplaceable pillars when it comes to a sustainable lifestyle and better nutrition. Traditionally, fruits and vegetables are grown in farms and sold in the market which is from where you get your supplies. However, traditional farming isn’t the same as it was a few decades ago. Today, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weed killers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other methods are used to yield more produce. 

One could easily argue that the health implications of consuming such foods are overshadowed by the ever-increasing health risks posed by the use of the chemical agents aforementioned. These chemical agents do produce higher and better yields, however, they also contribute heavily towards water pollution, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity to name a few. This is what gave rise to ‘Organic Farming’, a method that uses no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and promises ‘organic’ and ‘natural produce that excel in terms of quality and nutritional quotient.

Read the blog ahead to know everything you need to know about Organic Produce, its benefits, and how you can make the switch from conventional to organic without burning a hole through your pockets. 

What is “Organic Produce”?

The term ‘Organic’ means products grown without using any synthetic chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Unlike conventional, organic farming involves the use of natural fertilizers such as compost and manure that helps with their productivity. 

The pests in organic farming are controlled using natural methods such as insects, birds, traps as well as naturally-derived pesticides. Unwanted weed is controlled using methods such as tilling, mulching, hand weeding, crop rotation, or by using organic herbicides. 

All in all, organic produce is grown using naturally derived fertilizers and pesticides. The method is aimed at conserving groundwater as well as improving soil quality and fertility. This is done by reducing the use of harmful fertilizers that otherwise aren’t good for the soil and environment as well.

 
Organic fruits and organic vegetables are the most common examples of organic produce that extends to dairy products and grains too. It extends to raising animals organically wherein hormones and antibiotics aren’t used.

Benefits of Organic Food

Contains Fewer Pesticides

Growing fruits and veggies may require the use of several pesticides in order to keep the fungi, bacteria, insects, and pests away. As organic produce is grown without such synthetic chemicals and instead, uses natural pesticides, the residue on the organic produce is comparatively lower. This in turn means organic produce is healthier for farmers who don’t have to subject themselves to toxic chemicals used during crop cultivation.

Organic is Fresher

No preservatives are added to keep organic produce fresh and thus, they generally last a bit longer than conventional produce. There’s minimal processing involved with organic which means they are able to lock their freshness intact till it reaches your mouth. Additionally, organic produce is usually sourced from smaller and nearer farms (but not always) which means the produce is generally fresh to begin with.

Organic Farming is Good for the Environment

Organic farming tends to be better in many ways when it comes to the environment. It discredits the use of harmful and toxic chemicals for crop cultivation which drives down water pollution and increases soil fertility. It reduces soil erosion and helps conserve water which is a precious resource in farming, among clothes. 

Sustainable Agriculture

Organic farming is sustainable as it employs practices that are good for the soil, the environment, and the ecosystem. It discounts the need to have artificial and synthetic inputs that conventional farming thrives on for improved yield and productivity.

Richer Taste

Organic produce is believed to have a richer, fuller, and more authentic taste compared to the traditional method. It is also because of the natural cultivation methods used and the improved soil health helps the crops suck in more nutrients.

Why Is Organic Produce Better?

There have been countless studies comparing both organic and non-organic produce, however, there’s an ongoing debate around the same. However, evidence has shown that organic produce is nutritious.

More Antioxidants

Earlier studies have found organic produce has higher levels of antioxidants such as Vitamin C as well as micronutrients such as Iron and Zinc. Your body requires antioxidants to combat cell-damaging free radicals that are neutralized. It also reduces inflammation which is an automatic response of the body’s immune system attempting to eliminate these free radicals.

Organic produce may have up to 69% higher antioxidant levels compared to conventional methods. It is also because organic plants don’t use chemical pesticides to protect themselves and rely on their own protective compounds - antioxidants, which explains the high antioxidants level. 

Lower Nitrate Levels

Nitrate in the body from veggies and other dietary sources is converted to nitric oxide which improves blood flow by relaxing and widening blood vessels. It has a high potential to reduce blood pressure thereby helping with cardiovascular health. However, higher nitrate levels can cause Methemoglobinemia, a condition affecting infants where there’s an abnormal increase in methemoglobin that reduces red blood cells’ ability to carry oxygen. 

Organic produce carries up to 30% lower nitrate as per the studies. It is what makes organic produce better health-wise compared to conventional methods. 

 

More Vitamins & Minerals

A 2001 study that was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine compared five organic veggies with conventional ones. Apparently, the former had a significant amount of Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, and Vitamin C among others. The results show a significant drop in nitrate levels as well as better quality compared to their conventional alternatives. 

 

Organic Vs. Conventional Produce

There’s a distinction between organic and conventional produce. When it comes to conventional produce, these are the ones that are grown using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, pesticides, etc. On the flip side, organic produce uses techniques to lower the use of synthetic chemicals and instead, relies on natural remedies such as manure and compost for fertilisers.

Conventional farming can have negative implications on the people and the environment while organic produce is healthier for all the parties involved - the soil, the farmer, and the consumer. The technique uses more labor and costs more to get the job done.

However, it is true that organic produce is on the high end of the pricing scale when compared to conventional ones. The farming techniques and use of naturally derived and high-quality fertilizers and pesticides are what pushes the price of the produce upwards. 

 

How To Know If You’re Buying Organic?

Organic Produce may be slightly on the expensive side but they are laced with a plethora of benefits which means shelling a few bucks extra doesn’t go in vain. However, it’s crucial that you know exactly if you are buying organic or not. Check out some of the ways you can deploy to find organic.

Look for an ‘Organic’ Certification Label: Different countries may have bodies that are tasked with certifying a produce as organic. For instance, the EU Organic is for Europe, USDA Organic is for the USA, and so on. These labels guarantee that your produce is organic. You can also check out Pluckk Organic which is 100% certified organic with HACCP certification. 


Check for PLU Codes: Some countries have Price Look-Up (PLU) codes embossed on their fresh produce. Here, a five-digit PLU code starting with the number “9” is for Organic while a four-digit code is for conventionally grown produce. 

Read Product Descriptions: When visiting a grocery store or an online store such as Pluckk, read the description for keywords such as “100% Organic”, “Certified Organic”, or “Organically Grown” which denotes that the produce uses organic methods for their cultivation. 

Buy from Trusted Sources: Since organic produce is expensive, there’s always a risk of getting duped by stores buying ‘non-organic produce’ tagged as ‘organic’. Thus, we recommend buying from trusted sources. You can read customer reviews to find if a said store/website/app is delivering its promise of ‘100% Organic’ produce or not. 

Organic Produce by Pluckk

Pluckk has been a major player in the organic produce sector. We have more than 50 products available produced using an organic technique which includes the use of naturally deriving fertilizers and pesticides. Organic Produce is generally high in quality, better in terms of vitamins and minerals, and generally, on the heavier end of the pricing spectrum thanks to the techniques used.

We have Organic Baby Potato, Beans Cluster, Cabbage, Brinjal Bharta, Capsicum Green, Guava, Onion, Tomato Country, and Muskmelon among others. Our line of organics includes fruits, veggies, and herbs and we are continuing to extend the listings as you read.

Wrapping Up

That’s everything that you need about Organic Produce and how it can benefit you, the farmers and the environment as a whole. Of course, these produce can be expensive but treat them as an 'investment' towards a better and healthier future rather than tagging them as 'spends'.