What does 'organic' mean?
Organic food must be certified organic, this means it has been grown or reared according to the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce. To be a certified organic food, the livestock or crops need to be grown or reared without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, routine antibiotics or growth-promoting drugs. Therefore, the cost of producing this food is higher and farmers often need to use innovative and more intensive practices.
Organic foods do not need to be fancy or expensive. Most of the fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in gardens at home, school kitchens and community gardens are often also organic. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to any home grown fruits or vegetables, they will be in season, have low food miles and will not be packaged in plastic, so there are many other health and environmental benefits.
Should I be buying organic food?
If you can afford organic food and want to buy it, you'll be supporting healthier soil and reducing the chemicals in your food. But organic isn't the only indicator of how a food affects your health or the environment, and it isn't automatically the better choice.
A few things to check before you pay the premium. In Australia, producers aren't legally required to hold formal certification to call a product "organic," so look past the front-of-pack claims. Terms like "made with organic ingredients" or "100% organic" can mean very different things, so for genuine assurance, look for the Australian Certified Organic logo, which means the product meets the National Standard.
For packaged or processed foods, check the ingredients list to see how much is actually organic. An apple puree, for example, might contain organic apple alongside non-organic ingredients, preservatives and additives.
Is organic always the most sustainable choice?
Not necessarily. To reduce the environmental impact of what you eat, you're often better off choosing food that's grown locally, in season and not wrapped in plastic. Because organic produce is more expensive and sells more slowly, it's frequently sealed in plastic to extend its shelf life, and may need longer refrigeration. In those cases, the packaging and its environmental cost can outweigh the benefits of organic farming.
Where's the best place to buy organic vegetables?
If you have access to a farmers market or grocer selling organic fruit and vegetables that are in season, grown locally (check the label for origin), unpackaged, and affordable in the variety and quantity you need, then organic is a great choice. If it's out of reach, don't worry, a variety of fresh, seasonal, local produce eaten while it's at its best means you're not missing out.