Your everyday food choices are important – and not just because they impact your health and wellbeing. Making healthy “green” choices for yourself and your family can also benefit the environment for generations to come. When you support organic agricultural practices by choosing organic meat and other organic foods, here’s what you do for the planet:

Reduce unhealthy chemicals and toxins in our environment.

Most crops in the US are grown with the aid of various synthetic chemicals including pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and fungicides. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 60% of herbicides, 90% of fungicides and 30% of insecticides are carcinogenic. Certified organic farmers do no use most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. Organic agricultural practices prevent pesticides and other chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us. When you choose organic meat from small family farms, you “vote” for a planet free of harmful contaminants.

Build healthy soil.

Well-balanced soil is the foundation of healthy, nutritious food. Conventional farming depletes the soil over time. Organic farmers build healthy soils by nourishing the living component of the soil, the microbial inhabitants that release, transform, and transfer nutrients. Soil organic matter contributes to good soil structure and water-holding capacity. Organic farmers feed soil biota and build soil organic matter with cover crops, compost, and biologically based soil amendments. These methods not only produce healthy plants that are better able to resist disease and insect predation, but also protect biodiversity and promote soil stability and fertility. Choosing organic meat and other agricultural products means you’re voting to keep essential nutrients in the soil where they belong.

Protect the water supply.

Conventional agricultural practices contribute to water pollution, which is bad for our health and for the environment. As much as 99% of the pesticides applied to crops enter the environment. Contamination of soil and groundwater is a serious threat to many species of wildlife. By eliminating polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, and by building healthier soil, organic practices prevent contamination and protect and conserve water resources. So choosing organic meat means you’re voting for cleaner water.

Consume less fossil fuel.

Organic farming seeks to make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls. Organic farmers use green manures and crop covers, rather than synthetic fertilizers made from petroleum. If you want to vote against global warming, air quality deterioration, oil spills, and acid rain, choose organic meat and other organic foods.

Respect and nurture healthy animals and people.

Choosing organic is a great way to take care of the people you care about. You can nourish yourself, your family, and the planet by supporting sustainable farming practices and eating foods that are truly good for you. We think this the best reason to choose organic meat: because you can enjoy a delicious meal and peace of mind.

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