September: National Organic Month

The word organic is thrown around a lot these days, often to suggest that the item you're buying is higher in quality (and is likely to come with a higher price tag!). But what does it actually mean if something is ‘organic’ and what are the benefits of this? With September being National Organic Month, we thought we’d round up everything you need to know about eating organic fruits and veggies. 

What Does Organic Mean?

If you buy something labeled as organic, it will have been produced with fewer pesticides, and will contain no artificial additives or preservatives and absolutely no GM. Essentially, it means that the items has been produced to higher environmental standards.

Getting an organic certification isn’t an easy feat, so you know that when you see the Soil Association’s organic symbol, the product will have met a very strict set of standards during it’s production process.

So What Are The Benefits?

In a nutshell, you’ll be helping to preserve the planet and combat climate change. But there's also many health benefits to gain too, as your veggies will have been treated with fewer pesticides, will contain more nutrients, and most importantly will allow you to know exactly what you’re putting in your body.

What Should You Buy Organic?

High-quality, organic food can sometimes come with a hefty price tag, and we know this isn’t feasible for everybody. So we recommend prioritising certain foods when it comes to buying organically. Try following the two lists below, and sticking with the ‘dirty dozen’ when choosing what fruits and vegetables to buy organically.

The 12 most contaminated foods are:

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (Imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

The 12 least contaminated foods are:

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn (Frozen)
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas (Frozen)
• Kiwi Fruit
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya