more fully what the critical balances are, it s very difficult to import them to the farm in a bag or a bottle.
Vitamin C. High nitrogen levels reduce the concentrations of
vitamin C in crops such as lettuce, beets, endive, kale and Brussels sprouts. Similar effects have been detected on fruits such as apples, oranges, lemons and cantaloupe. Swiss studies have shown similar impacts on potatoes and tomatoes, as well as citrus fruits which are major sources of this important vitamin. Harvesting and storage. The fact that the average supermarket apple travels 1,500 miles from farm to table only adds to the problem. Most
fruits reach best eating quality and peak nutrition when fully ripened on the tree or plant, explains Julio Loaiza, Ph.D., a research scientist at Texas A&M University s Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center. However, fully ripened fruit may not withstand the harsh handling typically involved for travel to distant markets, which leads to a compromise in optimum maturity and nutritional quality. Breeding for high yields. Plant breeders could maintain and even increase the nutrient content of most crops, if they were asked to do so. But this goal usually takes a back seat to economic issues: Large-scale growers want size and fast growth so they can harvest early. These factors feed into sacrifices in nutritional quality, Benbrook says.
Why buy organic
What we need is a more holistic approach to our
food systems. We need to be sure that high yields and maximum profits for producers don t come with hidden price tags to consumers in terms of nutritional decline or environmental damage. This approach isn t anything new to organic farmers they ve been working their farms as holistic systems all along, and the result is a production system that is better for us, domestic animals and the environment.
Why organic food is the winner
Certified organic growers are not allowed to use chemical nitrogen fertilizers, ever. Instead they build soil fertility using cover crops, compost and slow-release natural fertilizers. Because they aren t grown with chemical nitrogen,
organic fruits and vegetables tend to be smaller, and yields seem lower compared to non-organic crops. But as mentioned above, studies have shown that organic crops often contain less water, so in terms of actual nutrient value (and flavor) per bite of food, organic often is a better buy than non-organic produce. The higher dry matter/lower water content of organic produce also impacts the levels of health-promoting
antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids. In a review of the scientific literature, Benbrook discovered that smaller fruits had up to five times more of these antioxidants per unit of
calories. There is more research that must be done before we can know to what extent the overall quality of our food is declining, and whether the rapidly expanding organic industry will be able to consistently produce more nutritious food than chemical-based agribusiness. But Benbrook says the public health implications are considerable: When you think about the diseases and long-term health problems that are caused by poor nutrition heart disease,
diabetes,
cancer the value to society of producing more nutritious crops is enormous. Indeed, a 1992 USDA report estimated the following potential health benefits if everyone in the United States could be convinced to eat a diet containing the recommended daily amounts of primary nutrients shown in the table:
- 20 percent reduction in cancer
- 25 percent reduction in heart and vascular conditions
- 50 percent reduction in arthritis
- 20 percent reduction in respiratory and infectious diseases
- 50 percent reduction in infant and maternal deaths
So, it seems to us that the government should be doing more to monitor the
nutrient content of our food, especially organic and pasture-based products. Currently, the USDA s National Nutrient Database, which is widely used as the official source for nutrient levels, includes more than 6,600 food products, including meat; fresh, frozen and canned produce; and processed foods. They even include candy bars, gumdrops, TV dinners and hundreds of fast food items in the database. But the agency has not included a single organic item, nor any entries for products from pasture-based meat or dairy systems. If they use our tax dollars to report the nutrients in candy bars, isn t it time they started including data on these healthier alternatives, too? If you agree that the government needs to do more to enhance the quality of our food supply, write your congressional representatives and let them know. After all, as one USDA secretary whispered while giving us the mandated brush off, It s up to the public. If they really want to know, they have to press Congress to appropriate the funds. You also can send a message every time you shop for your groceries: When you choose
organic or grass-fed
products, you are helping support farmers and ranchers who are offering high-quality foods from sustainable production systems.
