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Carlee Austin
English 111-24
Professor Salgat
September 12, 2014
Do You Know What Youre Eating?
When going to the grocery store, most customers think when choosing produce they only
have one choice. But consumers have two choices: organic vs. non-organic. Since 2007, there are
approximately 13,000 certified organic farmers (Organic FAQS). Over the past decade, organic
food has increased by 20% and is fast growing (Organic FAQS). With sales being at 12.8 billion
dollars in 2005, organic food is becoming a major industry to farming (Organic FAQS). Organic
foods are physically different and use fewer chemicals than non-organic food.
Most people do not know the difference between organic and non-organic foods.
Consumers dont realize that the main difference between the two is how the produce is grown.
This varies whether the produce is grown on a non-organic farm or an organic farm. Organic
foods compared to non-organic have many differences and similarities. When thinking about the
shape and size of food, consumers would think all the food would look uniformed. This is true
for non-organic food but not for organic. Organic food comes in many different shapes and sizes
that often seem imperfect (Solomon). This is true for cuts of organic meat too. Non-organic
meats are cut bigger than organic meats, but their coloring is the same. The sizing is different too
because non-organic foods are treated with growth hormones, and these non-organic animals are
given antibiotics to help them grow (Solomon). The key similarity is; both food groups have to

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follow the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) grading and quality standards. The U.S
Department of Agriculture or USDA is a government run agency that overlooks the farming
agency (Wallechinsky). The USDA helps farmers with setting prices, to inspecting food to make
sure it is safe for Americans (Wallechinsky). Along with meeting the standards with the USDA,
organic foods also have to meet the standards of NOP. The NOP or National Organic Program
develops regulations and guidance on organic foods (National Organic Program ). The NOP is
run under the USDA so both work closely together. The key difference between the USDA and
NOP is the guidelines on how produce can be grown. NOP is much stricter than the USDA. The
USDA can use any kind of food modifiers, growth-enhance hormone and other chemicals
(Solomon). While the NOP is strictly limited to the use of none of these chemicals (Solomon). A
few of these restrictions include no use of synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and
genetic engineering (National Organic Program ).
Everyone has their standard on what good quality food is. Quality can range from the
appearance, taste, smell, feeling of the food and how the produce was grown. For this reason, the
difference in quality between organic and non-organic is difficult to decide because of the
difference in everyones definition of quality. In Zak Solomons opinion someone who wants
low environmental impact, minimal additive and synthetic-substances, greater quality in food
then organic is the way to go (Solomon). But if someone likes higher product consistency,
greater size, more perfect looking characteristics with greater quality, than non-organic is for you
(Solomon). One quality difference is the chemicals, and other substances used to help the food
grow. Non-organic foods can use pesticides, synthetic substances, food modification methods,
food additives, fortifiers and substances (Solomon). Under the NOP organic foods are strictly
limited to the use of the chemicals and substances non-organic foods can use (Solomon). Along

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with produce, animals that are raised on organic farms are not given antibiotics or growthenhancing substances unlike the animals that live on non-organic farms.
This brings up the question of bias. Is there bias? Bias is present in the article Organic
vs. Non-organic: Whats the Difference? The article mainly talks about organic food, but the
author does talk about non-organic food too. When the author talks about the non-organic food,
only the bad things are talked about. Non-organic food has all these chemicals and food
modifiers in them, which in the article make them seem like the wrong choice for food. But in
reality they are not a bad choice at all. The author does bring up an excellent statement in the
article by saying nutritional difference between organic produce and non-organic produce
products are generally minuscule, although research is still ongoing (Solomon). This shows that
there is a plus to non-organic foods, but there is not enough evidence throughout the whole
article to show the good sides/plus sides to non-organic foods. Therefore, bias is not okay to
have in this article. Bias is not okay because organic food is just as good as non-organic food.
The author mostly criticized non-organic food by telling what kind of chemicals is used when
growing non-organic produce. While organic food is mainly talked about in the article, only the
good facts or positive facts are discussed. Not about any of the downsides to organic food.
But the author does say why organic food is better, along with backing up the idea with facts
about non-organic foods. Organic food and non-organic foods were being compared in the
article. From the way the author wrote the article, you could tell organic food was being
preferred over non-organic food. But he doesnt put it out in the open. The reader has to think
harder to see that non-organic food is being put down and less favored.
Now consumers are ready to go to the store and choose between organic and non-organic
foods. Just remember organic is not always the healthier way to go. But if the consumer is

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looking for produce that has fewer chemicals and food modifiers, than organic is the way to go.
Even if the physical appearance is a turnoff, just remember why it is different. Organic foods
have little to no chemicals on them or in them. The NOP sets stricter guidelines than the USDA
on how organic food is grown. Plus the animals on organic farms are not given antibiotics or
growth hormones, so they tend to be smaller. So next time you go to the grocery store and have a
choice between organic and non-organic recognize the key differences.

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Work Cited
Organic Farming Research Foundation. Organic FAQS. (2013): Web

Solomon, Zak. Organic vs. Non-organic: Whats the Difference. (2013): Web
United States Department of Agriculture. National Organic Program. (2014): Web
Wallechinshy, David. Department of Agriculture. (2013): Web