How “Organic” do you have to be to eat Naturally?
By Shirley Hodge
Controversy surrounds “Organic” Foods. How Organic is Organic? Do you need a certificate to prove it is Organic? Is it worth the additional price tag? Is it possible to eat Natural Foods without that pricey little sticker?
A few simple, quick facts about Organic Foods relevant to South Africans:
- There is currently no South African legislation, standards or laws governing Organic farming and Production/Processing. International standards from foreign countries are used as a guide for our voluntary standards used locally by certifying bodies.
- Protection of customer and control of labeling using the word ‘Organic’, is primarily done by the Retailer and Supplier with various certifying bodies operating around the country.
- To be certified Organic means to be audited yearly by a certifying 3rd party, against the specific Organic farming and production standards applicable to the product and process. There are numerous certifying bodies in South Africa and many more around the world. They all have their own prescribed standards, some specific to different industries and products. They also all have their own logo on packaging, used to verify and guarantee Organic product to customers.
- It is the responsibility of the Retailer to make sure Suppliers are actually complying to Organic farming and production practices. This is done through regular visits and in-house audits. It is also compulsory for Suppliers to have an updated, valid Organic certification before any product is marketed as Organic.
- Organic certification is compulsory if supplying product marked “Organic”. This is detailed in the Consumer Protection Act, which is a way of controlling the sale of Organic products that are not really organic at all.
With all that said, I am an avid gardener myself! I sell organically grown fruit, vegetables and herbs to a local Ballito business called Home-Grown at Burnedale. Home-Grown is a local online retailer who specializes in Organic, Natural and Locally grown and produced food goodies. How does Dawn manage her business when it comes to marketing Organics?
Dawn visits and has direct, close relationships her suppliers. Simple as that!
Dawn has direct relationships with the people she gets her products from and she knows how things are farmed and made. Dawn is also very familiar with the various certifying bodies and their logo’s on product packaging and verifies certification details where necessary.
My fresh produce is organically grown but not certified. I support Organic certification all the way and if I were to go into supplying the major Retailers, I would agree to comply, (but first you would have to get me to agree to supply!) I am not interested in big scale production. All I want is a small food farm I can manage naturally, growing fresh organic goodness! Dawn is a perfect partner to work with on having a channel for supplying fresh, locally grown produce that is organic in every sense of the word, barring the certification! Certifications costs money and time and I am simply not interested in paying money to prove that I do what I do. I grow organic food so I can eat organic food so I can live well in a more balanced world…and am happy to be able to share the love!
A quick look at the differences between Organic farming and Conventional farming….
Organic |
Conventional |
In Fruit, Vegetables & Herbs |
|
NO pesticides used in growing products. Organic pesticides are allowed, which do not harm the ecosystems when used & are not poisonous to humans. | Synthetic PESTICIDES used, killing useful animals that are actually needed to keep nature balanced. A highly poisonous chemical, harmful to both humans & other animals. |
Insects are controlled using NATURAL methods like birds, good insect introduction, netting and eco-friendly traps. | INSECTICIDES are used to kill pests and manage disease, killing more insects than is necessary, disturbing the natural environment. |
Weeds are controlled NATURALLY through crop rotation, hand weeding & mulching. | Weeds are controlled by poisonous chemical HERBICIDES or ‘weedicides’ that kill natural plants that important insects live off as well as birds. |
Grown with NATURAL fertilizers like green & animal manure & compost. | Grown using SYNTHETIC or CHEMICAL fertilizers. Artificial growing methods. |
In Meat & Dairy |
|
NO antibiotics, hormones or pesticides are ever given to the animals. | Typically given ANTIBIOTICS, hormones and feed grown using PESTICIDES. |
Livestock and milking cows must graze on pasture for a minimum amount of time per day & chickens must have FREEDOM of movement, fresh air, direct sunlight, shaded covering and free access to specific size outside areas. | Livestock may or MAY NOT have access to the outdoors. |
Animals are given feed that is ORGANICALLY grown for natural growth. | Livestock are given growth HORMONES for faster growth for higher production rates. |
Disease is prevented with methods such as clean housing, rotational grazing and a HEALTHY diet and exercise. | Antibiotics and MEDICATIONS are used to prevent livestock disease. |
Each person to their own. The decision to select and buy as naturally as possible is the healthiest choice, but not always the most economically or readily available solution.