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Grow Fresh Organic Vegetables –Eliminate The Confusion- Eat Healthy-Make Money

Grow fresh organic vegetables in your own backyard knowing you are doing something beneficial for your health and your pocketbook.

To grow fresh organic vegetables can be a great asset not only to your physical health and well being but could also improve your financial health as well. What is this organic thing all about anyhow?  Well I’m sure by now that a “Organic Produce” section has come to your favorite grocery store. You know, the place where you can buy supposedly fresh fruit and vegetables without worrying if synthetic fertilizers and harmful pesticides among other harmful practices were used in their production.

Not to worry, right? Well not exactly. Fresh?  Maybe, but for many of us this produce has to travel 2000 miles or more before landing on the grocery store shelves. Is it really organic? Well, we have what is called Organic certification and it addresses a growing worldwide demand for Organic Food, some 20% a year, and  is intended to assure quality, prevent fraud, and to promote commerce. Enter the bureaucracy, the  NOP, USDA, and the QAI the largest organic certifier in the world.

The United States, Japan and the European Union all have comprehensive organic legislation, and the term “organic” can be used only by certified producers. Being able to use the word “organic” on food products is a valuable marketing tool in today’s consumer market, but does not guarantee that the products are legitimately organic. Organic labeling made possible by certification itself usually requires some explanation. In countries without organic laws, government guidelines may or may not exist, here certification is handled by non-profit organizations and private companies. In addition the USDA makes no claim that commercial organically grown food is safer.

In the US, legislation defines four levels of organics:

• “100% organic”- single ingredient such as a fruit, vegetable, meat, milk and cheese (excludes water and salt).
• “Organic”- multiple ingredient foods which are 95 to 100% organic.
• “Made with organic ingredients” – 70% of the ingredients are organic and can appear on the front of the package, naming the specific ingredients.
• “Contains organic ingredients” – contains less than 70% organic ingredients. Cannot be advertised to the public and can only be mentioned in the ingredient statement.

Note that Small farmers with less than $5,000 in organic sales, such as those selling at small farmers’ markets, are exempt from the certification process but they still must be truthful in their label claims and comply with the new government standards.  However, it is the blind faith that I find amazing that is exhibited by so many of us that frequent these markets. What keeps a farmer from growing or buying non-organic produce and selling it as organic? Let us hope it is their reputation and integrity.

Now read this: In July 2008, it was reported that organic powdered ginger that had been certified by QAI, was found when tested to be contaminated with the banned pesticide Aldicarb. The organic ginger from which the QAI certified organic powdered ginger originated had been certified organic by two other USDA accredited certifying agents in China. Under Chinese law, foreigners may not inspect Chinese farms. Also, under USDA National Organic Program rules QAI as an accredited certifying agent must accept the certification decisions of other accredited certifying agents. In this case I assume Chinese nationals .QAI was not the certifier in China.

Now does this make any sense to you? Will you sleep better at night knowing all those bureaucratic acronyms are at work for you? The only thing that you can be sure about when buying organic food in a supermarket is that it will cost you more.

So what are the solutions to these problems? Grow fresh organic vegetables in your backyard, be in control. There are new techniques and methods available today that allow you to have greater yields in smaller spaces with less work, many times all year long. Not only will you save money, eat healthier but there should be plenty left over for you and the kids to sell out front to your neighbors or at a table at your nearest outdoor market making hundreds perhaps thousands of dollars a year.

About the Author

If you would like to learn more about the methods I used to grow fresh organic vegetables, listen to the man who made it all possible at http://www.growfreshorganicvegetables.com

Farmers Market (Paperback) $8.13 Colorful vegetables, delicious fruits, and lots of friends. . . . The farmers market is always fun! Illustrator Edward Martinez brings the hustle and bustle of market day to life.

Farmers’ Market Bridal Shower Invitations $1.81 These whimsical hand-drawn bridal shower invitations are reminiscent of posters you might see at your local farmers’ market.

The Irish Farmers Market Cookbook $15.99 Both a cookbook and a culinary tour of Ireland, celebrating the diversity and quality of local food and showing how the experience of shopping at farmers’ markets can transform your everyday cooking.Over 100 recipes range from new takes on traditional Irish favourites to dishes with more Mediterranean flavours, always emphasising seasonality, local produce and fresh ingredients the return to slow food.Includes a guide to the best farmers’ markets in each region of Ireland, with profiles of some of the farmers and producers bringing their food sensations to market.As well as using ingredients available at the market, recipes also recreate some of the breads, cakes, chutneys available, like Gallic Kitchens organic steak pies and Giana Fergusons baked cheese with winter herbs so even if you can’t visit the markets you can still enjoy a taste of Ireland.Recipes for everyday cooking Fried mackerel, Cork Beef Stew as well as more unusual offerings that reflect the wider range of produce available at farmers’ markets, such as Roast Pheasant with Apple and Sweet Geranium Stew.