It seems like all the time these days we hear the term “organic” used to describe many different things – things as varied as milk, fertilizer, landscape maintenance, cotton t-shirts, and bamboo flooring. Have you stopped to ask yourself, what does “organic” really mean? Organic products and services are what we all want, but I think few of us are able to offer a definition of what it truly means for something to be organic.
Photo: Apple orchard in bloom, Riverhead.
In the original sense, “organic” meant that something contains carbon. If you ever had to struggle through an organic chemistry class in college, you already know this. You were taught that organic molecules are ones that have a carbon atom, and non-organic molecules are ones that don’t. Water for instance, which is composed of only hydrogen and oxygen, does not have a carbon atom and is therefore, in chemistry terms, not organic.
Today’s newer and more ambiguous definition of “organic” is different. In today’s terms, organic means a food or product that has been grown or formed from things that are natural. It has no synthetic inputs; it is not man-made; it was pre-existing on this earth, and was not manufactured in the labs of chemical engineers. Compost and sunshine for example, are organic, while the synthetic pesticide DDT and bioengineered corn are not.
Photo: Farm in Aquebogue.
In our minds, “organic” has come to be associated with not only being all-natural, but also better, healthier, and more environmentally-friendly. While this may be true in some instances, organic products are not necessarily better, healthier, or more environmentally-friendly. Just because something is natural and came into existence on its own rather than synthesized by people, does not intrinsically mean that it is better or safer. Take for instance, arsenic, a naturally-occurring element, and morphine, a compound manufactured by poppy plants. Although arsenic and morphine are natural, both are also harmful and can be deadly if ingested in sufficient quantities. Nicotine is also all-natural, as it is manufactured by tobacco plants. Radioactive uranium isotopes are also all-natural, occurring in the earth’s rock, soil, and water. Just because something is natural, doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Keeping this in mind is important when you consider pesticides. I hesitate to even bring up pesticides as they have come to represent cancer, death, pollution, government lies, and everything else our society considers abominable. It is amazing how many groups today believe that if we just eliminated and banned pesticides, we would rid the world of sickness and death and usher in a new utopian paradise where we would be one with all the world. But we need pesticides, even organic farmers. Contrary to popular belief, pesticides are allowable and are frequently used in organic agriculture. The difference is that in organic production, only naturally-occurring pesticides are allowable (excluding a few natural ones, including nicotine thankfully). All synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are forbidden in organic production. If you eat an apple certified by the federal US Department of Agriculture as organic, you’ll be guaranteed that there won’t be any synthetic pesticide residue on it. But there may be natural pesticide residue on it, so make sure to still thoroughly wash your produce.
Photo: Traditional, and organic, method of weed control employed at nursery in Jamesport.
Thankfully though, most organic growers are not simply substituting synthetic pesticides with natural pesticides and plowing on with business as usual (and yes, that pun was intended!). By eliminating synthetic pesticides, the number of pest control options has been greatly reduced, and organic growers must therefore get creative and explore other solutions for combating the ever-present insect pests and disease. By taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, organic farmers must focus on overall plant health and how their farm is working as a whole. Organic growers need to make sure that every part of their farm is conducive to plant growth and deters pests. Solutions for combating pests that a successful organic grower might employ include: selecting the most pest-resistant varieties of plants, growing many different varieties of plants, building the health of the soil by incorporating compost, using cover crops, and employing crop rotation. When a grower employs all these best management practices, only rarely will he or she need to use natural pesticides as a last resort.
Photo: Organic growers especially must focus on maintaining the health of their soil.
Don’t choose organic foods simply because they are grown without synthetic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Natural doesn’t necessarily mean safe. Instead, my suggestion would be to choose organic foods and products because there is a greater likelihood that best management practices were employed, and that the farm was managed from a holistic viewpoint. Until we have a national USDA best management practices certification program, we’ll have to rely on using their existing organic program as a gauge. Just remember to wash your produce before eating, even if it’s organic.
