Natural selection: What is the case for going organic

Susanna Tjokro, Contributor, Jakarta

Organic-labeled vegetables have landed in some supermarkets as well as high-end shops in Jakarta, largely due to growing interest in a "healthy" lifestyle.

It's a good start, but Indonesia has yet to catch on to organic fever spreading in many countries. Even so, a few organic-minded individuals are going against the mainstream of regularly farmed products.

In April this year, Ownie Sukri opened Natural Organic, offering only organic products, from food to toiletries. It's early days yet, but Ownie is optimistic because he has faith in organic products and is himself a loyal consumer of organic foods.

"I've children and I'm really concerned about what they eat. After reading some success stories of people who consumed organic foods and became healthier, I became a faithful customer of organic foods also. I started out with fresh organic vegetables and rice, and then gradually consumed other organic products."

He opened his own store because he found there was no shop that offered an entire organic product line in Jakarta.

"I knew that my shop would be advantageous to me also. It's hard to find various organic foods here, except for fresh vegetables. By having my own organic shop, I can get what I need easily. I also want to help other organic consumers in getting what they need," said Ownie.

Choosing the goods, among plenty of available brands, was another matter.

"I put my trust in famous brands, and the products must combine health benefits with great taste. Plus they must be palatable to Indonesians since most of my customers are Indonesians."

As for tips in buying fresh organic produce, he advises people to be picky .

"If they look too perfect, there's a possibility that it means the farmers use chemical pesticides. The brand is also crucial, as we must be sure the brand really sells genuine fresh organic vegetables and fruits."

Consumers can also check the brand's homepage to find more information about the products. Typically, they guarantee their products have never been exposed to pesticides, fungicides and insecticides. Tested and certified, their goods contain no herbicide or pesticide residues and neither chemicals nor preservatives have been added.

As his shop sells fresh produce of the Amani brand, Ownie did his homework by visiting the farm to make sure it lived up to its promises.

While most people think only of fresh fruits and vegetables when they think of organic products, there are countless of organic products like organic grains, cereals, wine, juices, chocolate, cookies, candy, pastas, processed fruit and vegetables, as well as organic meat/poultry, dairy products and eggs.

Organic oil, salt, sauces and condiments are also there to spice up the organic version of traditional home cooking.

As organic food in gaining more acceptance, there has been increasing interest in organic toiletries and skincare products as well.

For health-conscious parents, there are various organic goods specially made for kids, such as toothpaste, shampoo, cereal, candy and baby foods.

There are also products specially made for those with food allergies and intolerances, say, milks that are suitable for those with lactose intolerance. Gluten and wheat free organic products are also available.

However, some might wonder about organic products -- it looks pretty much the same as nonorganic ones but since it's more expensive, why buy it?

Organic consumers such as Ownie cite various reasons -- from fear of adverse health effects from traces of synthetic pesticides, the rise of Genetically Modified (GM) foods to concern about the effects of conventional farming methods on the environment.

In general, however, customers choose organic foods simply because they believe the foods are more nutritious, tastier and safer than nonorganic ones. Organic consumers demand the goods they buy are free of any biotechnological influence.

Certified organic products are grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers or GMOs.

GM is not allowed under organic standards hence eating organic foods reduce your chances of eating GM foods (www.soilassociation.org). These days, the idea of eating GM foods worries many people, as "back to nature" becomes the mantra of healthy lifestyle.

As for pesticides, organic farmers avoid pesticides. According to Organic Trade Association (www.ota.com), when pest populations get out of balance, growers will try various options like insect predators, mating disruption, traps and barriers.

If these fail, the certifier may grant permission to apply botanical or other nonpersistent pesticides from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National List of Approved Substances under restricted conditions. Botanicals are derived from plants and are broken down quickly by oxygen and sunlight.

As for organic meat, dairy products and eggs, they are produced from organic-feed animals, never fed animal by-products and allowed access to the outdoors, fresh air, water, sunshine, grass as well as pasture.

Organic livestock and poultry cannot be given growth hormones and the routine use of antibiotics is prohibited. When you buy organic meat, it means you get meat from a healthy animal and as the organic customers say, while healthy soil makes healthy vegetables and fruits, healthy animals make healthy humans.

How do we know that those goods truly deserve the "organic" seal?

National standards are the way of ensuring that customers get what they demand and pay for. Generally, before a product can be certified "organic", a government-approved certifier inspects the farm to make sure the farmer follows all the rules necessary to meet organic standards.

The inspection covers all stages in the production process -- from storage, processing to packing. Farm inspections are carried out at least once a year and spot checks are also undertaken.

Each government controls their organic farmers. For instance, in the U.S, people who sell or label a product "organic" when they know it does not meet USDA standards can be fined up to US$10,000 for each violation.

Organic standards are not the same worldwide and in European countries the word "bio" means "organic". European Union and U.S standards share differences as well as similarities.

For instance, according to Organic Trade Association (OTA), while no antibiotics or hormones are allowed in the U.S., however, the EU does include exemptions for synthetic veterinary medicines and allows for treatments up to three times per year. On the other hand, both have annual inspections, third party certification and accreditation.

Another distinction is that organic foods are not mass- produced, as opposed to modern intensive farming methods, and they require more labor, so they've got premium price tags.

In addition, organic farmers have an added cost of compliance with strict organic certification standards. The bright side is organic farming uses methods that protect the soil, water and environment. They promise to be free of biotechnology as well.

Interestingly, choosing organic foods not only positively impacts our own health, but also the health of the farm workers, since the products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures, without using toxic chemicals.

When all is said and done, customers are the ones who should really think about how beneficial organic products are to their health, and to Mother Nature.

i-BOX:

* To see a comparison of EU and US Standards, click www.ota.com/standards/other/eu_us.html * To read specific organic livestock requirements: www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/standards/prodhandreg.html * Organic Europe: www.organic-europe.net; www.europa.eu.int