Greening Princetons Organic Food FAQs

Q. What is organic food?

Organic food is grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers. It is grown on land that has been free of these chemicals for at least three years. Also, organic food is not genetically engineered. Organic animal products come from animals that have not been given growth hormones or antibiotics. Currently, it is estimated that 80 of antibiotics produced in the !nited "tates are given to farm animals# this practice is contributing to the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria, a serious threat to public health.$

Q. Is organic food healthier?

%enerally spea&ing, yes. Organically grown foods contain two'thirds less pesticide residues than conventionally grown foods (the fact that they contain such residues at all show how pervasive these chemicals are in the environment).* +he ,nvironmental -rotection Agency estimates that .0 of herbicides, /0 of fungicides, and 00 of insecticides (none of which are used in organic foods) are potentially carcinogenic.0 Although the government has determined acceptable levels for many of these chemicals, many studies have found much higher residues occurring in food samples than is allowed by law. 1ot only is organic food healthier because of the much lower levels of to2ic chemicals, it also contains higher amounts of positive nutrients, such as minerals and vitamin C.3 It4s not surprising then that scientific studies suggest that organic food tastes better too50

Q. Is organic meat/dairy/eggs better for the farm animals?

6es. One of the reasons that animals on conventional farms have to be fed so many antibiotics is to compensate for the stress of their environment. "ince organic farmers are not allowed to feed antibiotics and growth hormones to their animals, they have to treat the animals better. %enerally spea&ing, animals on organic farms live more natural lifestyles and are sub7ected to less trauma before slaughter (cattle from conventional farms routinely lose / of their body weight during pre'slaughter transport due to dehydration and stress8).

Q. Is organic food better for the environment?

Again, yes. -esticide and fertilizer runoff from non'organic farms pollutes local waterways and &ills wildlife (including beneficial insects and micro'organisms). In fact, seventy' five percent of the s&ylar& population has disappeared from the countryside due to conventional farming practices.. It is estimated that up to two'thirds of fertilizers used on farmland eventually end up in our waterways.. 9ertilizer run'off from farms in the :idwest have contributed to an 8,000 s;uare mile <dead zone= in the %ulf of :e2ico that has &illed thousands of fish.

Organic farming methods also improve soil fertility and reduce soil erosion.> +he !" currently loses about * billion tons of topsoil per year, significantly reducing crop yields, forcing abandonment of farmland, and contributing to dust storms li&e the ?ust @owl of the $/00s.8

Q. How do I know if something is organic?

:any organizations independently certify farms as being organic. Aecently, the !nited "tates ?epartment of Agriculture began an organic certification program. 9ood with the !"?A Organic label is at least /8 organic./

Q. What organic food is currently served at Princeton?

Currently, only organic granola and oat <O=s are regularly served on campus. Occasionally, ?ining "ervices serves organic mi2ed salad greens and ba&es bread with organic ingredients.

Q. What is Fair rade !offee?

9air +rade Coffee is designed to benefit coffee farmers and the environment. In many coffee'producing countries, small coffee farmers receive such low prices for their coffee that they cannot even cover the cost of production and support their families. Aecently, in fact, coffee prices have recently fallen to an all'time low, causing e2treme hardships for many Batin American farmers.$0 9air +rade coffee farms, certified by +rans9air !"A, are re;uired to ensure that the coffee was grown using sustainable methods (such as organic farming) and that farmers receive a fair price for their coffee beans. 9air +rade coffee farming ensures that families benefit from improvements in education, housing, and healthcare. Currently, 9air +rade organic coffee and espresso can be purchased at CafC Divian in the 9rist Campus Center. @e sure to as& for 9air +rade organic coffee by name. ?ining "ervices is considering ma&ing 9air +rade organic Coffee available in other locations based on the popularity of the 9air +radeEOrganic coffee sold in CafC Divian.

<Antibiotic AesistanceF -laying Chic&en Gith ,ssential ?rugs=, ,nvironmental ?efense 9und, httpFEEwww.environmentaldefense.orgEdocumentsE.$/HabrHgeneralHfactsheetHrev*.pdf * @. -. @a&er# C. :. @enbroo&# ,. %roth# I. Butz @enbroo&. *00*. -esticide residues in conventional, integrated pest management (I-:)'grown and organic foodsF insights from three !" data sets. 0 <Organic 9ood @enefits=, 1utiva corporation, httpFEEwww.nutiva.comEnutritionEorganic.php 3 <@enefits of Organic 9arming=, "oil Association, httpFEEwww.soilassociation.orgEsaEsaweb.nsfE9armingEbenefits.html 8 -eter "inger, <Animal Biberation=, pp.$3>'$80. . <+he @enefits of Organic 9ood=, -ositive Jealth magazine, httpFEEwww.positivehealth.comEpermitEArticlesEOrganic *0and *0DegetarianEfrost3>.htm > <1ew !"?A "tandards a @oon for Consumers=, ,nvironmental ?efense, httpFEEwww.environmentaldefense.orgEarticle.cfmK contentidL*0.$ 8 Bester A. @rown, <,co',conomyF @uilding an ,conomy for the ,arth=, pp..0'.8
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