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What
is organic growing ?
The
term organic, in agricultural food production,
it refers to farming
practices.
It encompasses practices that promote the
health and vitality of the environment. It incorporates
systems that enhance biodiversity, biological cycles and soil
biological activity .
In order to regulate organic farming practices a number of different
certification bodies have been established in the United
States.
These organizations oversee the techniques used by the farmers or
manufacturers they are certifying and in doing so insist on a
particular criteria. Although the details of this criteria may
vary from one certification body to the next, some common standards
are as follows :
-- No synthetic
chemical
herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers
(including municipal
sewage sludge) are applied to the crop at any stage of its growth or
harvesting or to the soil for a certain period (often 3-4 years)
prior to planting.
-- Improving the
soil structure and its level of organic matter by applying
organic compost and other natural fertilizers.
-- Establishing cover crops that will discourage soil erosion and
will boost nutrient levels.
-- Minimizing damage to soil structure by regularly rotating crops.
-- Excluding the use of genetically modified seeds in the planting
of crops.
Is
organic food over priced ?
Very much so. In a
recent supermarket visit, I noticed fresh produced labeled as
organic are priced at least 50%
higher than other local fresh produce.
Unfortunately, some consumers are willing to pay extra cash for it.
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This unfortunate
situation is cause by a brilliant marketing campaign or scare campaign waged by
proponents of organic growing over the years around the world. The scare campaign
about the risks associated with non-organic food sources.
Furthermore, on several occasions,
I saw organic growers post flyers around fresh produce section in
supermarkets and weekend market stating reasons why they are more
expensive than vegetables grown using "synthetic
chemicals". Reasons given are :
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Higher cost due to
lots of extra care given to the plants such as weeding,
mulching, "green" fertilizer preparation, organic
remedy on pest management, etc.;
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Most organic growers
are small scale growers and can not get good credit line from
financial institutions; and
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Organic
farms in the country are usually small and limited in capacity.
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Is
organic food good for you ?
Although the organic industry does not overtly
claim that its food is better for you, they do question the safety
of foods produced by other means. This has created the perception
that organic food somehow has some added nutritional benefit.
Is
this true ?
In terms of nutritional value, there is no
different between organic food and foods grown by other means.
As a matter of fact, there is no scientific evidence that states
you can detect the nutritional difference between a piece of fruit
grown using organic method and a piece of fruit grown another way.
However,
one thing for sure is this ... animal by-products are used as
fertilizer in organic growing. These by-products may harbor salmonella,
E. coli and
campylobacter. And if we are to follow the principle of
ecosystem, well, I'm sure lots of you people will have
second thoughts about farm produce fertilized with animal
by-products. And if we are to follow the principle of
database, junk in - junk out.
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Salmonella (top), E.
coli (right) |
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In
hydroponic growing, we use the cleanest form of minerals to
fertilize our plants. It is like giving your child the
best a parent can afford.
Is
organic farming good for the environment ?
The organic food lobby argues that organically grown crops are in
essence "green" crops. In other words, they claim
organic farming is the most environmentally friendly agricultural
method to date. Myth or fact ?
Fact
#1: The
world's demand for food by 2050 will be nearly triple today's farm
output. We're already farming 37 percent of the
earth's land surface. Without the high-yield farming
methods, hydroponic included, more of the world's rainforest will
have to give way to farming. Without measuring the yield
size of the crop, hydroponic farms can produce 1.5x to 2.9x
more crop (in terms of number of plants) than organic farmers utilizing the
same amount of land.
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#2. The world has a severe shortage
of organic nitrogen; so organic farming would force us to convert
millions of square miles of rainforest lands to grow 'green manure'
crops.
Fact
#3. Ground water contaminated with high nitrate level in dangerous
to human health. In organic growing and soil growing, un-used
nitrates can and will eventually go to the ground water where in someday, we will be using
it for our drinking water. Unlike
hydroponic close system, water and nutrients are
re-cycled and re-used.
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This is a
photograph of a soil cut-away, where 1) a wide vertical
slice was made in a corn field from one row to the next, 2)
soil was removed from one side of the cut, and 3)
nitrate-reacting powder was sprayed across the face of the
other side. The "rusty" stained soil shows the
distribution and intensity of the nitrate in the soil.
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Is
FRESH FIELD
organic
?
If
we are to use the true essence of the organic concept and real definition of
organic growing,
then
FRESH FIELD
is
as organic as you can get
except
that we uses clean fertilizers.
| Organic
Criteria |
At
Fresh Field, we .... |
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No
synthetic chemical
herbicides, pesticides |
As
a matter of farm practice, we do not use synthetic
chemical herbicides,
pesticides and the likes.
We
employ botanical remedies, mechanical remedies, fast growing
method, or other methods that will not in anyway leave any
residual toxins in the human body once they consume our farm
produce. Furthermore, the chances of soil borne pest
creeping into the farm produce and soil borne diseases
attacking the plant is close to nil.
Besides,
the farm is not located in a traditional farming area nor are
there farms around the vicinity. Chances for pest
migration from nearby farm is not probable.
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No
synthetic chemical
fertilizers |
The
chemicals derived from the fertilizers use by hydroponic
growers are similar with those use by organic farmers, considering that
we share one
periodic table for chemical elements.
The
only differences are:
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The
source and the manner in which the fertilizer comes from. The
former being from manufacturers (hence synthetic) while the latter from
agricultural by-products and the likes.
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Organic
fertilizers are not readily available for plant absorption
as it needs fungal and bacterial decomposition stage
before the fertilizer can be absorb by the plant. In
hydroponic farming, it is readily available to plants once
the fertilizer dissolved in water.
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Chances
for synthetic chemical fertilizers to harbor harmful
microorganisms like salmonella, E. coli and
campylobacter are less likely than organic
fertilizers.
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Improving
the soil structure |
Not
applicable because Lettuce Entertain You Farm Corporation does not use
soil
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Establishing
cover crops that will discourage soil erosion and will boost
nutrient levels |
Not
applicable because Lettuce Entertain You Farm Corporation does not use
soil |
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Minimizing
damage to soil structure |
Not
applicable because Lettuce Entertain You Farm Corporation does not use
soil
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Excluding
the use of genetically modified seeds |
Farm
policy dictates that no genetically modified seeds shall be
use in the farming operation. |
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