Food is a vital part of our everyday life. Yet no matter how much we enjoy eating it, sometimes we can still take it for granted! The food we choose to eat does a marvellous and unseen job of nourishing our bodies, giving us the vitamins, minerals and energy we need to make it through our day. That’s why, as we all know, it’s so important to choose the food we eat wisely!
You’ve probably already heard all the hype around organic food. Maybe you’re even an organic food eater yourself, like me! I love knowing that the food I eat is doing good for my body. But a few weeks ago, I had a thought! How does that food actually get from the grocery store near me all the way to my kitchen? And what is involved in the whole organic food and transportation process that makes it so much better for our bodies?
This led me down a rabbit hole of research, determined to find out just how my food is grown and how it makes its way from the farm to the aisles of the supermarket near me and, finally, into my tummy! If this is something you’ve wondered about as well, then join me on this exciting journey from farm to table as we learn about the organic food journey together!
Introduction to Organic Farming
So here we are at the beginning of this whole journey, and it starts with a wonderful thing called organic agriculture! This agricultural approach, dating back as far as the 1940s, is a way of farming that always puts sustainability and the environment at the forefront of every action.
This farming method avoids all damaging practices such as the use of pesticides, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and synthetic chemicals. Instead, organic farmers use healthy and sustainable practices that promote ecological balance, enhance soil health, and protect biodiversity.
These organic farming methods promote the growth of healthy, nutritious food for us to enjoy! But let's get a little deeper into how these foods are produced or raised and exactly what methods are used to promote such healthy growth!
The Farming Process
Before a carrot, potato, or tomato can even begin its journey, there’s something important that has to be done by organic farmers. They must first work on building healthy soil! How do they do this?
Most organic farmers use things like compost, crop covers and crop rotation to naturally enrich the soil and ensure it contains all the vital nutrients that help plants grow healthy and strong!
Once the soil is ready, organic farmers can then begin choosing seeds that are suited for that particular environment. This means there is less need for any kind of chemical growing agents or GMOs because the seeds chosen will naturally grow well in those specific conditions!
But, of course, all plants need a little TLC to help them grow healthy and strong. That’s where things like natural pesticides come in to help protect crops from birds and insects. And instead of using chemical-packed herbicides, organic farms manually remove weeds and use organic mulch to discourage weed growth!
The organic produce growing method is definitely more labour-intensive, but the results are so worth it! Once the produce is fully grown, it is harvested with great care, making sure to be picked at its peak ripeness for great flavour and nutritional value.
So that’s the farming process for crops, but what about organic meat and dairy? Let’s find out!
Organic Livestock Care
We’ve just seen how much care and attention goes into growing organic crops. And you’ll be glad to know the same level of care and attention is given to organic livestock raising! The journey of organic livestock involves sticking to strict guidelines to ensure sustainable practices and excellent animal welfare.
Organic animals are always raised on a diet of organic food, which ensures that they never ingest any of those nasty pesticides, GMOs or other damaging chemicals we’re trying to avoid!
When raising organic livestock, the use of antibiotics and growth hormones is strictly prohibited! This means there is a big focus on natural healthcare for animals, ensuring they receive a high standard of care.
Organic farmers prioritise giving their livestock a happy and comfortable life, minimising potential stress factors. The animals also have access to lots of outdoor space, so they can happily roam around and get lots of exercise!
Getting Ready For Market
Once organic livestock and crops are ready to be sold, they embark on the next step of the journey! But before these products can be sent off to the grocery store near me, they must meet very strict certification standards. An independent organisation (in Australia, it’s usually the NASAA) will verify that these crops have been grown or raised according to these guidelines before issuing the organic certification.
Once the organic produce has received an official certification, it can now continue on its journey to the local supermarkets! As you would expect, sustainability is a vital part of the transportation process. Organic farmers try to keep things local as much as possible to reduce the amount of travel actually needed! When produce doesn’t have to travel thousands of miles, then it helps reduce emissions and help the environment.
The goal is to use eco-friendly packaging and transportation methods to ensure the food is good for our bodies and the planet as well!
Time To Buy!
Now, we get to my favourite part of the journey! The part where I can wander down to the supermarket near me and buy my favourite organic produce, ready to create a tasty meal! It’s so good to know that by the time this food gets to me, it’s been grown or raised in the most healthy, sustainable and environmentally friendly way possible.
Understanding this journey has helped me appreciate every bite of the food I’m eating whilst knowing I’m making informed and healthy choices not just for myself but for the whole planet! I hope this blog post has been enlightening for you, too, and the next time you enjoy an organic meal, you can also feel happy knowing you are part of a larger, more mindful journey that starts at the farm and ends on your table!