McKinley Neal
As the owner of PAX Whole Foods & Eco Goods, a packaging free shop that sells organic whole foods, I spend a lot of time talking about what food we stock, where it comes from, how it is handled and how to prepare it. One question we get often is, ‘Why do you stock only organic foods?’, and the corollary, ‘aren’t they more expensive?’.
The History Of Organic Foods
Organic foods have a long tradition in Ireland, but a shorter official history. Prior to the second World War, chemical herbicides and pesticides were not commercially available so they weren’t used; food by default was grown with only organic matter like manure, compost and green fertilisers, with some homemade pest deterrents.
Following the war, companies that produced chemicals for battle and technological advances needed an outlet for their products, so started marketing heavily to farmers to help them deal more easily with weeds and insects. As population growth increased dramatically over the past half century, chemicals and modified seeds have been introduced all over the world with the promise of increasing crop yields.
Increased Use Of Pesticides and Herbicides
People today are increasingly aware of the hazards of widespread use of commercial herbicides and pesticides to human health when heavily sprayed crops like wheat, oats and other grains, soft fruits and leaves, and beans are consumed, especially in large quantities. We also know of the the devastating impact that all of this has on soil health and biodiversity, causing contamination of ground water, streams and rivers and even our own public water supplies. Recent research into the microbiome suggests that the rise in gluten intolerance may be partially due to the increased amount of pesticides applied to conventional wheat crops. This all begs the question… how can we avoid exposure to these toxins?
How To Decrease Exposure To Chemicals In Food
So how do you decrease your exposure to chemically-treated foods? Look for foods that are certified organic–there are several certification bodies for organic food and farming in Ireland– or buy vegetables directly from a farmer who grows chemical free. Farmers and food producers in Ireland are increasingly making the switch to chemical free growing and food production, and in Mayo eggs, dairy, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit and more are all available in organic quality. PAX stocks all organic, chemical free foods, both in store and online. The more all of us vote with our wallets, the more producers will be incentivized to grow organically, and prices will decrease.
James
See our full range of organic foods by clicking the button below.
Savings To Be Made
There is often the perception that these foods are more expensive, but I find in my own household that even if I spend a bit more buying certified organic vegetables, dairy and meat products, I am supporting local farmers directly (and many times, by buying at a market stall, or subscribing to a box scheme, I can purchase items packaging free, which is good for keeping my bin charges low), and then can save money on bulk organic grains, pasta, spices, etc. This all means buying far less processed and pre-packaged food…
You can find tips and tricks for cooking organic whole foods that are good for your health and the well-being of our environment in another blog post of ours, as well as more insights into the world of sustainability.
