We live in one of the most beautiful scenic parts of the country in the Tennessee Valley. The fertile farmlands supply our area with abundant amounts of fresh produce and livestock. These bountiful foods are found at local farms such as Sequatchie Cove Farm and Red Gate Farm in Dunlap, River Ridge Farms in Ten Mile and Dhamma Farms on Signal Mountain. They can be found at urban farms like Crabtree Farms; small outdoor roadside markets during the spring and summer, and at the popular Chattanooga Market on Sunday afternoons. Area grocery stores such as Greenlife Grocery and The Fresh Market sell fresh local and organic product and you can find them served in delicious dishes in many area restaurants.
Some of the farmers maintain organic certification from the USDA while others choose certification without the USDA stamp. Most area farmers are proactive in environmental conservation, which reflects their commitment not only to our health but also to the health of the soil today and protection for soil in the future.
The definition of organic is to occur or develop gradually and naturally, without being forced or contrived. True organic growers use no conventional pesticides and no synthetically derived fertilizers. They use no antibiotics or growth hormones in livestock. Instead, farming practices retain soil health and reduce pests and disease without chemicals. Called sustainable agriculture, the soil is protected to produce foods for years to come. Crops are rotated and ground waters are not contaminated with chemicals. When local foods are purchased, they normally do not contain preservatives often added to conventional foods to protect their quality during shipment and storage prior to arrival at stores. Local products reach your table faster than foods shipped across the country or from abroad.
There are many reasons why a person may choose organic or locally grown foods over conventional or “intensely grown (standard) food”. Concern over the safety and quality of our food supply has prompted people to choose organic or locally grown foods over conventional foods. This has intensified the popularity of organic foods and is part of the reason demand has increased over 50% in the last several years, and sales have grown to exceed 15 billion dollars annually.
For some, it is a lifestyle choice, which reflects environmental interests as well as a commitment to the nutritional benefits of organic and locally grown foods. Others select items suited to personal belief systems. For instance, some people choose a diet that includes grass fed beef instead of the conventional animal fattened on corn feed lots. (Grass fed cows have outdoor access; pasture for grazing; and are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones). Some people select only produce grown locally in the absence of pesticides, preservatives, and fertilizers; others form their choices based on cost and value of foods.
The level of nutrients in foods often influences purchase decisions. When comparing nutrients for conventionally grown (intensely grown) crops to organically grown foods; organic foods win because of improved soil fertility, which yields more nutrient dense foods. Among conventional foods, scientists have found differences in nutrients versus organic foods ranging from 6 percent for protein to 38 percent for riboflavin. Celery, green peppers, and tomatoes had lower amounts of protein. The differences in Calcium were most dramatic in broccoli, cantaloupe, and tomatoes, while iron was lower in collards, cucumber, and honeydew melon. Asparagus, spinach, and tomatoes were also lower in the vitamin C department.1 So, although organic foods may cost more initially, you should expect to higher nutrient foods.
If issues concerning the environment influence your food selections, then organic foods and local harvests may be for you. After all, lower environmental toxins used in organic farming help protect the soil and water table. When you buy locally, you are not only supporting the local economy, and a community based lifestyle, but you know that less fossil fuel is used to deliver foods within our area, less time is spent in a controlled environment and less containers will be added to environmental waste.
If finances are a prime motivator, ask yourself how you can get the most from your food dollar. There are tremendous costs involved in developing organic foods; from the inclusion of the limited resource ingredients, to transport costs, to the cost of packaging. These additional costs increase the cost of organic foods by 50 percent to 70 percent versus conventional products 2, yet many find that they taste better and are satisfied with less on their plate, and despite higher costs, get their monies worth after all.
Food consumption is one of the most important decisions we make for our health, our economy, and our future. Investment in your health and the health of a family is a tremendous responsibility that can easily be lost in today’s culture and on the go lifestyles. Fortunately, we have many opportunities to select from an abundance of locally grown, fresh quality foods, and organic foods right here in the Chattanooga Region.