Organic vs. Conventional By: Elissa Hernandez Contemporary Diet and Nutrition Mark Maule HW220-01 August 16, 2011

Project Overview What is Organic Food? What is Conventional Food? How easy is it to find Organic Food? How are Organic Foods Labeled? What is the Cost Differences?

What is Organic Food? Organic is the way farmers grow and process agriculture products such as. Fruits Vegetables Grains Dairy Products Meat Farmers who grow organically do not use conventional methods to fertilize. For example: Rather than using weed killer, organic farmers use sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.

What is Conventional Food? Conventional farms produce food with varying levels of chemical fertilizers. Conventional Farmers Apply: Chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth Spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease Use herbicides to manage weeds Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth

How Easy Is It To Find Organic Food? Organic foods can be found anywhere in big cities. Such as: Mainstream grocery stores Local grocery stores Farmers Markets Co-Ops Organic Foods that can be found in smaller areas: May be harder to find May have to travel to bigger cities Look for local farmers

How are Organic Foods Labeled? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established an organic certification program that requires all organic foods to meet strict government standards. These standards regulate how such foods are grown, handled and processed. To use the phrase “%100 Organic,” products must be either completely organic or made of all organic ingredients. Products must be at least 95 percent organic to use this term.

What Is The Cost Difference? Organic Products From a Local Store Conventional Apples = $1.99 pound $1.99 pound Grapes = $3.49 package $1.69 package Bananas = $1.29 pound $.99 pound Potatoes = $.89 pound $.89 pound Basil = $3.99 package $2.29 package Celery = $.99 each $.89 each Nectarines = $1.29pound $1.99 pound Strawberry = $3.99 package $2.39 package

What Is The Cost Difference? Organic Products From a Mainstream Store Conventional Apples = $2.99 pound $1.99 pound Grapes = $3.99 package $7.99 package Bananas = $.99 pound $.68 pound Potatoes = $1.33 pound $.49 pound Peaches = $3.99 package $3.99 package Celery = $3.99 each $1.99 each

What Is The Cost Difference? The difference between Organic products and Conventional product are not significantly different in the local grocery store. In the Local grocery store they had a wider variety of Organic fruits and vegetables, oppose to the Mainstream grocery store. The Mainstream grocery store had less of a variety of fruits and vegetables and the cost for Organic products was far more expensive than conventional overall.

Conclusion Purchasing and consuming Organic products overall is better for our health, environment and our pockets. Shopping at local grocery stores or farmers markets is most cost effective and also have the most seasonal varieties of fruits and vegetables.

References Mayo Clinic, Nutrition and Healthy Eating Copyright@1998-2011http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255 Pictureshttp://www.google.com/search?q=organic+food+images&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=6fhKTtXsOMXgiALployPBw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBQQ_AUoAQ&biw=1099&bih=577 Planet Green, What Is Conventional Food? Willner, Nicole February, 2009 Copyright@2009http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/understanding-food-labels3.html http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/understanding-food-labels3.html http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255 http://www.google.com/search?q=organic+food+images&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=6fhKTtXsOMXgiALployPBw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBQQ_AUoAQ&biw=1099&bih=577