Should We Buy Seasonal Food - Even If It’s Not Organic? Part 2
Here we continue on from our debate with a look at what Organic and Fair Trade mean in terms of our food.
One is more concerned with the health of the environment and ecosystem, while the other places more of it’s attention onto the growers and the farming communities of developing countries.
Organic:
Many governments have strict laws regarding the use of the word ‘Organic’ on food and feeds and they must be registered with a certified organic body. However organic food can be imported from any country in the world, as long as it also has a certified organic body.
The aim of organic farming is best described as optimizing the health and productivity of linked communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.
As a result the environment is better treated; livestock and crops are not injected or sprayed with chemicals and the resulting food is as natural as can be and ultimately contains more natural ingredients and nutrition.
As a result the animals that we farm will be better treated (ie. have more space and more natural diets), the wildlife and watercourses will not be exposed to intensive farming and overuse of chemicals and associated problems, and the resulting food will be more nutritious and virtually chemical free.
Fair Trade:
This heading is more directed at the workers themselves, rather than the nutritional value of their foods.
Basically, it promotes the equality of workers in all countries by guaranteeing certain prices and certain working conditions that benefit small farms and local farming communities.
As it offers better quality of life to people, it therefore offers a great alternative to non-fair trade products from the same locations, for example fair trade bananas. We can’t grow them here and have to import them; so why support poor working conditions by buying non-fair trade products?
The amount you pay is not that different, but more of the money can go into schools and communities rather than an international firms pocket!
Your Conclusion?
It is still very difficult to decide when you should by organic and when fair trade? And can local produce even be fair trade?
You need to decide what is important to you first for each food type (as sometimes you will have little choice apart from not eating that food when you want - but when it’s available!).
1) If you want to reduce climate change then only buy locally and seasonal to prevent carbon emissions from extra resources and from flights and shipping long-haul.
2) If you want to be more environmentally friendly, then choose seasonal to reduce growth enhancers being used; and organic which will reduce the chemicals and fertilisers being used en masse in the countryside and waterways.
3) If you want to support developing countries and small farms, then buy fair trade (and possibly organic) to reduce their stresses and exposure to multi-national abuse and chemical overload!
4) If you want to ‘be healthy’ and reduce your families exposure to chemicals then buy locally and organically to reduce your exposure to artificial ingredients and chemical in your foods, but also from exposure from exhaust fumes from transported goods from elsewhere.
Sometimes, it’s not that easy - or that clear cut, but if you want to seriously make a difference, you are going to have to start making some decisions.
