July 14, 2008

Organic: A Fad or Our New Way of Life?

Organically made products, ranging from fruits and vegetables to clothing, are easy to find and are flooding the marketplaces all over the world. In America, nearly three-quarters of us buy organic products at least occasionally.

However, do we really know what organic means? Personally, I wanted to change my eating habits and it seems that “organic” was the way to do it. However, someone asked me what makes a product organic and I did not have an answer! I decided to do some research and found that to earn the U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic certification, the land where the product is grown must be free from potential toxins such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for at least three years.

I also surveyed a few of my colleagues and found that despite the perceived health and environmental benefits of buying organic products, most of them chose not to purchase them. Expense, availability and convenience stand in the way. Below are some facts that might help you decide whether purchasing organic foods is right for you.

Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Some produce such as apples, berries, green beans and spinach are more vulnerable to pests (and more heavily pesticide-protected) than worry-free produce like bananas, oranges and broccoli.

With meats and eggs, the main concern relates to hormones and antibiotics. Conventionally raised animals are literally pumped with these substances to enhance growth, increase milk production and prevent disease. Therefore, the “treatments” are subsequently passed onto consumers through the animals’ fat cells.

Almost all milk, organic or not, comes from cows living in confined areas. What sets organic milk apart is that these cows eat grain that has not been genetically altered and feed that has no animal byproducts (the same standards as the meat and egg category).

Processed foods, such as the majority of packaged crackers, cookies and chips, contain a component from a genetically modified crop such as canola, soy and corn oils, cornstarch and high-fructose corn syrup. Genetic modification involves gene transfer between plants or animals to yield a crop with more nutrients, better flavor, increased production and greater resistance to spoilage (reducing the need for pesticides).

The bottom line is that if going organic all the time isn't an option for you, choose the most affordable and sensible foods for your unique circumstances. Here’s to aging smartly!

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Past Post

Summer Safety (July 2, 2008)

We’re Drowning in Gas Prices and Can’t Get Out! (June 23, 2008)

More on Aging Smartly (May 5, 2008)

What Are We Doing to Age Smartly? (April 14, 2008)

What is A Credit Score? (March 24, 2008)

Phishing or Fishing? Can You Tell the Difference? (March 3, 2008)

All About Taxes! (Feb. 18, 2008)

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For free or not for free? That is the question! (Jan. 21, 2008)

High-Pressure Tactics and Car Warranty Scams — Seniors, You’re It! (Jan. 7, 2008)

Shawne Buckner

Board Member

WENDCO Westside Neighborhood Development Corporation

As an outreach specialist, I am responsible for developing a consumer education program, giving public presentations and mediating consumer complaints against businesses regarding the purchase of goods or services. Many of these complaints involve foreign lottery scams, predatory mortgage lending, unauthorized charges on credit cards, mail order and telephone sales, motor vehicle repairs, Internet scams and prize offers. I am member of the Summit County Foreclosure Prevention Partnership Program and Tuff Stuff Committee and a board member of Westside Neighborhood Development Corporation of Akron, where I help to provide leadership in the area of housing and commercial revitalization.

I began my career in consumer protection and education in November 2006; prior to that I worked in the banking/mortgage industry for over 10 years. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, I graduated from Ellet High School and went on to pursue an education in criminal justice at The University of Akron.

If I had to pick one thing that I love about my job, I would choose the public speaking events that I give to senior citizens. My goal is to educate as many senior citizens as possible about ways to protect themselves from becoming a victim of crime. My speeches to senior groups range from medical health claim scams, free credit reports, work-at-home schemes and home improvement scams, to protecting themselves from purse snatchings, robberies and burglaries.