factory farms operate on cheap, nonre-
newable fossil fuels. Their heavy pesti-
Why Buy Organic
cide use both contaminates groundwa-
ter and soil and fosters erosion.
Meat & Dairy?
SuPPort loCAl FArMS
When we buy our meat and dairy
products from an organic stand at a
farmers’ market, we support that farm
eating fewer animal products is a good
and the whole concept of healthy food,
ensuring its continued availability. If we
choice for us and for our environment. when don’t, we are likely supporting the less
we support farms that ethically take care of the
wholesome practices of the multina-
animals they raise in a more humane way, we provide
tional food industry.
Buying organic animal products,
healthier choices for our families and support healthy rather than conventional versions, is
and ecological neighborhoods. look for farm products
better for our family’s health, our com-
that meet these criteria:
munity and our world.
Adapted from: Care2.com/greenliving/
No ANtiBiotiCS, ductively as organic fertilizer, recycling
why-buy-organic-dairy-meat.html,
horMoNES, GMo FEED
its nutrients.
an article by Annie B. Bond.
or othEr DruGS
Industrial farms produce so much
Animals raised organically cannot be
manure that it becomes a larger health
Organic Farm
fed antibiotics, genetically modified
risk, contaminating wells and water-
foods, or the bovine human growth
ways with E. coli and other pathogens. Certification
hormone (rbGH) or other drugs. The
FEWEr ChEMiCAlS
in a Nutshell
animals receive certified 100 percent
Organic agriculture uses crop rotation
organic feed and a wider range of nutri-
To qualify farm products for U.S.
and other techniques to improve soil
ents than those raised in factory farms.
fertility, instead of synthetic chemical
department of Agriculture (USdA)
Organically raised animals have
pesticides and fertilizers. Organic live-
certification, a farmer must track
been shown to be significantly healthier
stock are not fed food containing these
and report all related activities,
than their factory-raised counterparts.
chemicals, which concentrate in animal
including animal feed and food crop
The products from these animals carry
fat, so our exposure to such toxins is
practices, livestock health and living
a certified organic label.
reduced. conditions, and product processing,
No MAD CoWS
Farmers working on organic farms packaging, storage and shipping.
The practice of feeding cattle the
also are exposed to fewer chemicals.
Requirements are rigorous.
ground-up remains of other cows ap-
Organic farming safeguards groundwa-
pears to cause mad cow disease, or
ter, topsoil, habitats and neighborhood
Specifically:
bovine spongiform encephalopathy,
health.
Land must have been free of prohibited
which destroys the central nervous
EMBrACE DiVErSity
substances for at least three years.
system and brain, and can pass to
Small, sustainable farms tend to raise
No harmful pesticides, fertilizers,
humans who eat the cows. In humans,
a wider variety of livestock; industrial
antibiotics or hormones may be used.
it has a long latency period, and causes
farms rely more upon monocultures. Using sewage sludge as fertilizer is
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
We support a healthy gene pool by prohibited.
This practice is outlawed in or-
purchasing diverse foods.
ganic production.
No use of genetically modified
MorE huMANE trEAtMENt
uSE rESourCES WiSEly
organisms (GMOs) is allowed.
Free-range and ranch-raised animals
Organic farms use 70 percent less en-
No irradiation of feed is allowed.
are not confined. They spend much of
ergy than factory farms through careful
There can be no commingling of organic
their time outdoors in the fresh air.
ecological management that leverages
and nonorganic items at any stage.
Factory farms treat animals like
nature’s checks and balances to solve
Annual inspections of grounds and
commodities, holding them in tightly
pest problems and preserve topsoil
facilities must be conducted by a
confined pens. Often, they never move
from erosion. When we buy from local
disinterested third party.
more than a few feet their whole lives.
farms, we also reduce the distance food
travels from field to table.
The farmer must undergo a detailed
rECyClE MANurE
In producing, transporting, pro-
annual audit of purchases, production
Sustainable farms use their manure pro-
cessing and marketing food, typical
and sales.
November 2008 1
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