Top 10 Reasons to Eat Organic

Industrial agriculture takes a toll on our bodies—and our planet

synthetic pesticides used in conventional farming have been linked to the decline of bees, a critical pollinator. ETgohome/Shutterstock

Eating organic isn’t a fad. In fact, a 2019 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that sales from U.S. organic farms reached $9.9 billion, a 31 percent increase from 2016 and 2019. Whether you’re avoiding pesticides, looking for a healthier diet, or concerned about the environment, there is no shortage of reasons to eat organic foods. So if you’ve been on the fence looking at those greener organic pastures, wait no more. Here are 10 delicious reasons to take a bite of an organic apple today.

1. Environmental Health

According to Cornell entomologist David Pimentel, it’s estimated that only 0.1 percent of applied pesticides reach the target pests. The bulk of pesticides (99 percent) are left to impact the environment. Waterways and farmland are contaminated by chemical run-off from farms. Arguably one of the largest environmental disasters has been the loss of quality soil. Many organic farmers grow bio-diverse crops rather than the industrial monoculture model, which depletes the soil.

Organic management practices, such as crop rotation, substantially enhance soil quality and restore nitrogen and organic components. In short, chemically produced food is damaging our soil.

2. Safe Drinking Water

The more chemicals applied per acre, the greater the challenge in preserving water quality. The Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico, an area of low oxygen that can kill fish and marine life, is the most graphic example of the enormous harm caused when farm chemicals, flowing off of millions of acres, congregate in the mighty Mississippi. So, not only is chemically dependent agriculture damaging our drinking water, it’s also harming our waterways and oceans.

3. Health Risks

It should be no surprise that the chemical pesticides that kill off pests are also causing harm to your health. But it doesn’t just stop with harming you; pesticide, herbicide, and chemical fertilizer usage pose health risks to farmers and farm workers. Pesticides ingested by pregnant women have been linked to birth defects and deformities. Studies have also shown that some herbicides and pesticides stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells and cause mammary cancer in rats.