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Other Health Foods
With the problems in the organic industry, including the dilution of a strict standard in growing and producing the cleanest and highest quality foods, and the added costs due to a highly bureaucratic certification process that can cost a company or farm tens of thousands of dollars a year in fees, many truly health-conscious consumers once again are looking for healthy options. They’re seeing the potential of the traditional farmers’ markets, community organic cooperatives, roadside farm stands, and “pick-your-own” programs. Internet shopping for organic food is growing, especially in bulk quantity. These modern markets feature products grown in a “green” way—produced in line with the original organic movement, which had its name taken away by the USDA and other agencies worldwide. And they often include a “buy local” slogan.
The problem is that there is no regulation regarding whether these products are “green,” organic, or beyond organic. One result is that, in some cases, authorities have stopped farmers from selling their products. Another problem is the notion that products that are better than organic—the “beyond organic” movement—should be more expensive. But just because products are grown with care, without chemicals, doesn’t mean they should be more expensive. Without the “middlemen”—typically two, three, or more of them taking a share before products get to the retail stores—most of these products should be less expensive than the same or similar products in retail stores.
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Despite these issues, if you’re a careful consumer and talk to the farmers and producers, and even visit their farms, you can usually find high-quality, healthy products that are often better than the organic version in retail stores, and often for less cost. Supply and demand will help weed out the overpriced products.
Virtually all the food I buy is organic, although more and more is not USDA-certified organic. And I buy the basics—vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, cheese, nuts, and seeds (although most of the vegetables are grown in my garden).
The most impressive operation I’ve seen is the Double Check Ranch in central Arizona, where I buy all my beef. While they don’t participate in the national organic program, I have inspected their ranch and would certify them as “beyond organic.” This ranch is clean, efficient, inspected by local government, and has a philosophy of not just producing healthy food but also incorporating an approach to farming that’s good for the land as well. (Its Web site provides many informative articles at www.DoubleCheckRanch.com.)
I also buy food from local farmer’s markets if I know the food is from a good source. And I have bulk items shipped. Most of these foods are cheaper than the organic versions in the retail stores. Additionally, my large garden provides a significant amount of food that is also “beyond organic.”
If you really want the highest-quality produce, the best option is to grow your own. If you have any yard space at all, a small vegetable plot—even ten feet by ten feet or smaller—properly tended, can yield significant amounts of vegetables in season for your entire family. Many areas have community gardens, where many individuals share a larger plot of land. By growing your own vegetables, you can ensure their quality, reduce the price of your produce, and revel in the enjoyment of growing your own food.
Eat as much of as many types of organic vegetables and fruits as you can, both cooked and raw. Try to eat about ten servings per day. In addition to variety, the highest quality vegetables and fruits may be those that are organically grown—or those that are truly “beyond organic.” Making all these healthy vegetable and fruit choices is just another journey on the road to optimal endurance performance and better health.