Can you actually tell whether something is organic?

I've told you a little bit about what it means for something to be organic, now I want to know whether you can actually taste the difference.

  I  informally surveyed 6 of my family and friends by conducting a blind taste test to see if  they could taste the difference between a certified organic and conventional New Zealand Rose apple.

Hypothesis: I don't  think people will be able to tell the difference between an organic and conventional apple, because although they are grown in quite different ways, they are still the same product, and yes, there may be subtle differences in taste, which experts in organic food may be able to pick out, but my guess is that  the average person who doesn't eat huge amounts of organic food won't be able to spot the difference.


Results: Unfortunately my test results were inconclusive, with three people guessing correctly and vice versa to whether or not their apple was organic. Which leaves me intrigued as to whether or not only some people can tell, or if it was purely luck.

Is organic food healthier than alternatives?

There have been rumours that organic food is healthier than foods that are non-organic or 'conventional.' But does it really have more health benefits?

First of all, from what I have found, there is no concrete evidence to definitely say that organic food is more beneficial to your health, although many people would argue that it is substantially healthier because you are not putting chemicals in your body, but there has in fact been evidence to show that the amount of pesticides in typically grown conventional  food are not of a high enough level to harm you in any way.

Organic:
 Healthier for you?
Not necessarily.
More sustainably grown?
Usually, depending on the farm.

Also remember, that no two farms are exactly the same, and two non-organic farms could grow their produce in completely different ways.
But in the end, whether you choose to eat organic or not is completely up to you, and  both organic and conventional farming have their pros and cons.

Why did I choose to investigate and compare organic products ?

I chose to study organic products, because although I have eaten quite a lot of organic products in my life, I only had a vague idea of what 'organic' means, I realised that there many things that can classify a product as organic. It is an interesting topic because there is a constant dilemma over whether to buy organic or conventional produce. There is also a lot of misunderstanding over what happens to the produce before it reaches the shop shelf. Overall I think this is an interesting topic to study.

What do you think organic means?

I wanted to know what the girls in my form class thought organic. There were quite varied responses. Here are their answers:

Jennifer: I think that organic means when food is grown naturally and without chemicals.

Ellie: Organic means fresh, no chemicals, it's not made in a factory with yucky sprays.

Simran: Something really, really natural.

Bianca:  Fresh, it means that it has no chemicals. Organic means new, green and nutritious.

Isla: It's fresh not processed, and with no chemicals.

Zara: No chemicals, and it it also very expensive.

Libby: It's real and not tampered with.

Mya: Something that's natural and not genetically enhanced.


How would you define organic?

How can you tell if something is organic?

 You can tell whether something is organic or not by checking to see if it is certified. There are many certifiers all over the world who will give you absolute peace of mind that your product is organic.

But be aware in New Zealand there are no specific regulations protecting the word 'organic,' only 'certified organic,' so if you are unsure, check!

Some of these certifiers are:

http://www.biogro.co.nz

http://www.on-ic.com/ 

For more information:

http://www.ifoam.org/

What does organic mean?

What does organic mean?

It can mean many things for something to be organic.
Firstly, it is a very broad subject, and there are many criteria on what organic food and agriculture should be. Secondly, the definition of organic is generally misunderstood, and if you don't actually know what it is, how can you know whether to buy it or not?
This is IFOAM's (International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements) definition of organic agriculture:

"Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic Agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved."

From what I have found out, there are many things that can make your produce or land organic, such as:

• No use of synthetic agricultural pesticides
• Excluded use of synthetic fertilisers- which means farmers use mulch or faeces on crops
• No GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
• No growth hormones or antibiotics are used on animals 
• No sewage sludge- this is the leftover waste after sewage or industrial waste water has been cleaned at the treatment plant, which although can have a number of highly dangerous materials in it, can have nutrients as well, which can be used on crops.

Note: these may vary from country to country.

"There is no one single definition of the term 'organic'. It is a complex matter that is best described by a set of principles rather than a single sentence."

-Organic NZ