LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent
survey of Natural Grocers customers, respondents revealed their top
3 reasons for choosing to purchase organic produce.
- To Avoid Pesticides: Over 90% of the respondents said
that the main reason they buy organic "is to avoid
pesticides."
- To Avoid GMOs:
Approximately 70% of survey respondents said that they buy organic
to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- Organic is More Nutritious: About 40% of Natural Grocers
customers choose organic produce because they believe it is a more
nutritious option to feed their families.
These survey results offer insight into the growth we've seen in
the organic sector over the last decade. This growth has been
mirrored by an increasing amount of scientific evidence emphasizing
the benefits of organic food and organic agriculture. Recent large
scale meta-analyses that carefully weighed all the data available
from previously published studies have shown that organic produce
is higher in antioxidants and much less likely to be contaminated
with harmful pesticides and heavy metals than conventional
produce.i
Organic buyers reduce their exposure to pesticides
More than 90% of the respondents said that one of the main
reasons they buy organic "is to avoid pesticides." This reasoning
is backed by solid scientific evidence, as one study found that 94%
of people in the United States
have detectable levels of pesticide breakdown products in their
urine.ii Conversely, studies focused on
the effect of eating organic have shown that consuming a diet that
contains at least 80% organic ingredients for just one week reduces
the pesticide breakdown products in subjects' bodies by
96%.iii Given these examples, it's no wonder
that avoiding pesticides is a primary reason consumers choose to
eat organic.
Organic produce is naturally non-GMO
The next most common reason—chosen by 70% of survey
respondents—to buy organic is to avoid genetically modified
organisms (GMOs). GMOs are pervasive in our food supply, and
produce is no exception. Currently, genetically modified (GM)
summer squash, such as zucchini, is grown in the United States and sold as fresh produce in
both the United States and
Canada. Similarly, approximately
80% of the total papaya grown in the
United States (predominately in Hawaii) is also genetically modified, which is
likely to increase as more GM papaya is in the process of being
grown in new places such as Florida. A small amount of sweet corn sold in
grocery stores is also GM, meaning that the delicious sweet corn
you throw on the grill could be a GMO—unless it's organic.
Other types of GM produce that have been approved to be sold in
the United States include potatoes
and apples, though they haven't made it to the marketplace yet.
Buying organic is a great way to be 100% sure that your produce is
non-GMO because GMOs are never allowed in organic production.
Organic produce provides higher nutritional content
The third most common reason Natural Grocers customers choose
organic produce is because they believe it is a more nutritious
option to feed their families. And they are right—side-by-side
comparisons of conventional tomatoes and organic tomatoes have
shown that organic tomatoes have 20% higher levels of lycopene and
30% higher levels of vitamin C.iv Other
studies have shown similar results when comparing organic and
conventional fruits and vegetables.
Many of the phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables that are
beneficial for human health are naturally produced by plants in
order to discourage pests from eating the plant. When plants are
sprayed with pesticides, the plant's innate production of these
beneficial phytonutrients is reduced, resulting in a less
nutritious product, while organic crops are forced to rely on their
own defenses and produce more phytonutrients to deter pests. And
it's not just about what organic produce has more of, it's also
what it has less of—data shows that organic produce has 48%
lower levels of cadmium, a harmful heavy metal that makes its way
into conventional soils through contaminated synthetic
fertilizers.
Organic produce supports a healthy ecosystem and agricultural
economy
As you can see, there are some pretty significant reasons why
consumers choose to buy organic produce. There are other reasons to
consider, too.
Organic agriculture is known to regenerate ecosystems and the
soil, while conventional agriculture strips the environment,
destroying our natural resources, and requires constant chemical
inputs. There are also numerous hidden costs of conventional
agriculture that burden society and decrease quality of life.
On the other hand, a recent study conducted by a Penn State agricultural economist found that
communities with high levels of organic agricultural activity are
more successful economically. So no matter what your reason is for
shopping organic, you should feel good about your purchase and know
that you are voting with your dollar for a type of agriculture that
benefits the environment, the economy, and human health.
Written by Jonathan
Clinthorne, Ph.D. Manager of Scientific Affairs &
Nutrition Education
Jonathan F. Clinthorne, Ph.D., is an ultra-endurance athlete trained
in immunology and expert in human nutrition. Clinthorne has served
on numerous medical advisory boards and has authored a number of
research papers covering topics such as probiotics, immune
function, inflammation and human nutrition.
Jonathan's mission is to help make free science-backed nutrition
education available to everyone and reduce our dependence on
pharmaceutical drugs. Jonathan has been seen on Fox TV, Forbes,
Ultra Running Magazine, Runner's World and Organic Authority.
About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural
Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com)
is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural
groceries, body care and dietary supplements. The company offers a
flexible, neighborhood-store format, affordable prices and free,
science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make
informed health and nutrition choices. Founded in Colorado in 1955, Natural Grocers has more
than 3,000 employees and operates 140 stores in 19 states.
i Baranski M, et al. Higher antioxidant
and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide
residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review
and meta-analyses. British Journal of Nutrition. 2014; 112(5):
794-811.
ii Barr, Dana B et al. Concentrations
of Dialkyl Phosphate Metabolites of Organophosphorus Pesticides in
the U.S. Population. Environmental Health Perspectives
112:186–200 (2004).
iii Oates L, Cohen M, Braun
L, Schembri A, Taskova R. Reduction in urinary
organophosphate pesticide metabolites in adults after a
week-long organic diet. Environ Res. 2014
Jul;132:105-11.
iv Vinha AF, Barreira SV, Costa
AS, Alves RC, Oliveira MB. Organic versus
conventional tomatoes: influence on physicochemical parameters,
bioactive compounds and sensorial attributes. Food Chem
Toxicol. 2014 May;67:139-44.
View original content with
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-top-3-reasons-shoppers-buy-organic-produce-300503419.html
SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.