Organic Food Shopping tips

How many times  have you heard this:

Eat healthier  organic, chemical free, cruelty free and locally grown.
It does indeed resonate with me , but now as I am  thinking about it  it is as equally important to me that I am  spending a bit more for organic produce because  it tastes better, provides more nutrients and isn't laced with poisonous pesticides.

The following are practical tips to help get the most out of your organic food dollar. Making 'green' choices when you shop can have far-reaching benefits.

Organic food is neither fad nor fashion – its about quality, family food at prices that don’t cost the earth.

Reports this month published a story on its investigation targeting which organic items you should buy and which are OK to skip. On the buy list: fruits and vegetables including apples, peppers, celery, cherries, spinach and strawberries. Also, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy.

Whether you’re shopping at a supermarket or a farmer’s market, here are the signs of a high-quality, healthy food:

• It’s grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers (organic foods fit this description, but so do some non-organic foods)

• It’s not genetically modified

• It contains no added growth hormones, antibiotics, or other drugs

• It does not contain artificial anything, nor any preservatives

• It is fresh (if you have to choose between wilted organic produce or fresh conventional produce, the latter may be the better option)

• It did not come from a factory farm

• It is grown with the laws of nature in mind (meaning animals are fed their native diets, not a mix of grains and animal byproducts, and have free-range access to the outdoors)

• It is grown in a sustainable way (using minimal amounts of water, protecting the soil from burnout, and turning animal wastes into natural fertilizers instead of environmental pollutants)

• If the food meets these criteria, it is most likely a good choice, regardless of whether it’s labeled local or organic.

The bottom line remains to look deeper than a label when it comes to your food. Most often, you will find foods that meet these high standards not at your local supermarket, but from a sustainable agricultural group in your area.

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New Functionality added to GreenPeople.org, an Eco Business Directory

Hello Green Merchants! We just wanted to inform you that Greenpeople.org is working hard on adding new functionality to benefit our members.

Here are just few additions that might benefit your as a merchant in  Eco Fashion niche: We have created Pinterest Boards and many of them  are related to Eco Fashion; Organic Women's Clothing; Men's Eco Fashion; Kids Fashion and many more. Our Members post articles our Facebook, Twitter and  Blog.

Since 2012 we have implemented  Green Assessment policy and  each business goes through thorough evaluation . If passed listing is awarded Green People Seal Of Approval.
As you may know from our previous emails, GreenPeople.org Directory is no longer offering free listing. If you are interested, please review options that are  currently available for membership.

To obtain a membership, please visit info page Add Listing

We hope you take on this opportunity, and to give you an extra motivation we  are offering  a Risk Free Guarantee:  If you  do not see a value in your membership, we will refund your membership fee(minus Green assessment 14.95)

If you choose not to upgrade your listing, unfortunately, in a month your listing will be deactivated.


Respectfully  GreenPeople.org Team

Beer and Sangria Popsicles Cooling Off Overheated East Villagers, NY

One of the members of GreenPeople directory , a vegan restaurant in NYC, just received a write up. Please check this out and share :

If you're after an ice-cold beer on a steamy hot day, it won't come any more frosty than in popsicle form.

The Organic Grill on First Avenue near St. Mark's Place has begun freezing its organic beer and sangria and serving the frozen treats to customers.

"I just had the idea because I never seen anyone sell beer popsicles or sangria popsicles before," owner Julia Chebotar, 25, of her "aha" moment this summer that led the restaurant to start selling the popsicles.

The Organic Grill, which serves mostly vegan and organic products for lunch, dinner and brunch, is a family-owned business that has been around for the past 13 years, Chebotar said.

"The citrus lemon and lime brings out the beer flavor really well," she said.

Chebotar's creation — clocking in at $3.99 for each 4-ounce treat — is a little more complicated than just freezing products in plastic containers with wooden sticks.

"With our Samuel Smith lager I pair pineapple and lemon, and with the Pinkus Pilsner we pair raspberry and lime or strawberries," Chebotar said.

The mix is then put in a blender with a hint of organic agave and raw cane sugar.

For the sangria popsicles, the organic fruit soaks in red wine or rosé, which are also organic.

"We have a red sangria with black berry, raspberry, peaches and orange," Chebotar explained.

The organic rosé sangrai, from South African, is blended with prosecco, peaches, orange and pineapple, she added.

There are also non-alcoholic versions featuring just juice and fruit.

During the recent heat wave, dozens of restaurant-goers stopped in for the icy treats.

"Customers love it," said Chebotar.

Mineral Sunscreen: Effective Natural Sun Care Solution

Remember the days when mom would slather a thick 
coating of sunscreen on us kids before heading to the beach?  We never worried about what was in sunscreen when we were little, but we now know the chemicals we put on our skin can affect our bodies and our well-being. 

Research is proving that synthetic chemicals in sunscreens can actually be more toxic than the sun’s rays. Mineral sunscreens can be just as effective in combating the harmful effects of the sun as chemical sunscreens without the added harmful ingredients or damaging effects.

Enviromental Working Group (EWG) weighed in on the benefits of mineral sunscreen as well, providing that “… mineral sunscreens have the best safety profile oftoday’s choices” .EWG notes that mineral sunscreens are stable in sunlight, do not appear to penetrate the skin and offer UVA protection, which is greatly lacking in most other sunscreen products.

About Mineral Sunscreens:

• Mineral sunscreens use only natural ingredients to protect skin from UVA and UVB rays.  Here are some points to consider about mineral sunscreens:   

• ·         Instead of absorbing into the skin, mineral sunscreens sit on the surface and form an actual barrier between the skin and the sun.  In comparison chemical sunscreens have to be absorbed into the skin to be effective via a chemical reaction with the UV rays.
• ·         Mineral sunscreens are non-comedogenic, meaning that the ingredients are as non-irritating as possible and only necessary ingredients are used. This is important for children and people with sensitive skin.
• ·         The UV protection ingredient or blocker in mineral sunscreens is zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide, both of which are natural minerals.
• ·         Because the ingredients in mineral sunscreens are not absorbed by the skin, they sometimes can leave a slight white tinge to the skin.
• ·         Mineral sunscreens stay on even when makeup is added to the skin and can last through strenuous activities that cause a lot of sweat on the skin such as exercise. 

  Coola Natural Mineral Face Sunscreen 

•   Mineral sunscreen adheres to the skin, doesn't slide off easily and is highly water-resistant. A good brand will tell you how long their product is water resistant and when to reapply. 
• ·         Since mineral sunscreens sit on the surface and are not absorbed into your skin, you may have to reapply more frequently. 

  Badger Baby Sunscreen

Overall, mineral sunscreens offer UVA/UVB protection from not only the harmful effects of the sun, but also from harmful chemicals typically found in other sunscreens.  Mineral sunscreens use non-toxic ingredients that are not harmful to the body and work to protect the skin from aging, skin cancer and irritation from the sun’s rays. 

            

All Natural Sunscreens:

We carefully researched and offer organic and mineral sunblock for adults and children that both protect and nourish even the most sensitive skin. We offer sunscreen products from reputable companies like Badger and CoolaSuncare.

Visit us on GreenPeople.org today and shop for natural and organic sunscreens and other products -  http://www.greenpeople.org/listing/WeDoOrganic-com-68590.cfm

Do you have a favorite natural sunblock for you or a member of your family?  Leave a comment and tell us your experience!  

Organic Cotton 101

What is "organic cotton?"

Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming. All cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal regulations covering how the cotton is grown.

Organic cotton is generally understood as cotton from non genetically modified plants, that is to be grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides. In the United States cotton plantations must also meet the requirements enforced by the National Organic Program (NOP), from the USDA, in order to be considered organic. This institution determines the allowed practices for pest control, growing, fertilizing, and handling of organic crops.As of 2007, 265,517 bales of organic cotton were produced in 24 countries and worldwide production was growing at a rate of more than 50% per year.

Ecological footprint

Cotton covers 55% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 75% of the world's insecticides, more than any other single major crop. Other  environmental consequences of the elevated use of chemicals in the non organic cotton growing methods consist of:
·         High levels of agrochemicals are used in the production of non-organic, conventional cotton. Conventional farming devours roughly a third of a lb of pesticides & fertilizers to produce enough for just  1 t shirt .

·         Cotton production uses more chemicals per unit area than any other crop and accounts in total for 10-16% of the world's pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants).

·         Pesticides, the nine most common are highly toxic; five are probable carcinogens.

·         GMO used in 70% of US grown cotton. That requires intense irrigation .
          Chemicals used in the processing of cotton pollute the air and surface waters.

·         Residual chemicals may irritate consumers' skin.

·         Decreased biodiversity and shifting equilibrium of ecosystems due to the use of pesticides.

Organic system plan 

Producers must elaborate an organic production or handling system plan which must also be approved by the state certifying agency or the USDA. This plan must include careful explanation of every process held in the plantation, as well as the frequency with which they are performed. A list of substances used on the crops is also necessary, along with a description of their composition, place where they will be used, and if possible documentation of commercial availability. This inventory of substances is important for the regulation of allowed and

prohibited material established by the SOP.Organic cotton growers must also provide A description of the control procedures and physical barriers established to prevent contact of organic and non organic crops on split operations and to avoid contact of organic production with prohibited substance during gestation, harvesting, and handling operations . This production plan can also be transferred to other states as long as it has already been approved by a certifying agency.

 Production 

Production requirements are specifically the set of changes that must be made to field and farming practices in order for a crop to be considered organic. To begin with, organic fields must go through a cleansing period of three years, without the use of any prohibited substances, before planting the first organic crop. Fields must also be equipped with physical barriers and buzzers in order to prevent contact of organic crops with any chemical substance product of surface runoff from crops nearby. Producers must also strive to promote soil fertility through cultivation practices while maintaining or improving the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the soil and minimizes soil erosion. Organic growers must also implement practices to support biodiversity. Such practices include integrated pest management (IPM), which consists of the manipulation of ecosystems that benefit both the crops and the 
organisms that live around it. In addition to these practices, producers may only apply crop nutrients and soil amendments included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed in crop production.

 Handling

Handling procedures are all the processes related to product packaging, pest control in handling processing facilities among others. The SOP allows the use of mechanical or

biological methods for the purpose of retarding spoilage of products, but at the same time it prohibits the use of volatile synthetic solvents in processed products or any ingredient that is labeled as organic.

 Pesticides

Since organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, it should contain fewer pesticides than conventional cotton. Pesticides used in the production of conventional cotton include orthophosphates such as phorate and methamidophos, endosulfan (highly toxic to farmers,^] but not very environmentally persistent) and aldicarb. Other pesticides persisting in cotton fields in the United States include Trifluralin, Toxaphene and DDT .Although the last two chemicals are no longer used in the United States  their long breakdown period and difficulty in removal ensures their persistence. Thus even organic cotton fields may contain them since conventional cotton fields can be transitioned to organic fields in 2–3 years.

Over time though, studies have been done to find alternatives to conventional pesticide substances. These nonconventional farmers have given up their land and its yields to the testing of different, more organic ways of pest control. Organic farmers argue that conventional farmers don’t know the long term effects of the pesticides they use, especially when the evidence is hidden under the soil. Some farmers in the US use composted tea leaves to act as a substitute for pesticides. Research continues to seek new environmentally, friendly ways to rid the soil of harmful pesticides. There has even been a study on using certain animal manure, like chickens, to decrease pest population.

 How is the apparel industry involved with organic cotton? 
Apparel companies are developing programs that either use 100 percent organically grown cotton, or blend small percentages of organic cotton with conventional cotton in their products. There are a number of companies driving the expanded use of domestic and international organic cotton.  

What kinds of products are made using organic cotton? 
As a result of consumer interest, organic cotton fiber is used in everything from personal care

items (sanitary products, make-up removal pads, cotton puffs and ear swabs), to home furnishings (towels, bathrobes, sheets, blankets, bedding), children's products (toys, diapers), clothes of all kinds and styles (whether for lounging, sports or the workplace), and even stationery and note cards.
In addition, organic cottonseed is used for animal feed, and organic cottonseed oil is used in a variety of food products, including cookies and chips.
 

Sources used in an article : Organic Trade Association , Wikipedia  

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