LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent
survey of Natural Grocers customers, respondents revealed their top 3 reasons for choosing to purchase organic produce.
- To Avoid Pesticides: Over 90% of the respondents said that the main reason they buy organic "is to avoid
pesticides."
- To Avoid GMOs: Approximately 70% of survey respondents said that they buy organic to
avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- Organic is More Nutritious: About 40% of Natural Grocers customers choose organic produce because they believe it is
a more nutritious option to feed their families.
These survey results offer insight into the growth we've seen in the organic sector over the last decade. This growth has been
mirrored by an increasing amount of scientific evidence emphasizing the benefits of organic food and organic agriculture. Recent
large scale meta-analyses that carefully weighed all the data available from previously published studies have shown that organic
produce is higher in antioxidants and much less likely to be contaminated with harmful pesticides and heavy metals than
conventional produce. i
Organic buyers reduce their exposure to pesticides
More than 90% of the respondents said that one of the main reasons they buy organic "is to avoid pesticides." This reasoning
is backed by solid scientific evidence, as one study found that 94% of people in the United
States have detectable levels of pesticide breakdown products in their urine. ii Conversely,
studies focused on the effect of eating organic have shown that consuming a diet that contains at least 80% organic ingredients
for just one week reduces the pesticide breakdown products in subjects' bodies by 96%. iii Given these
examples, it's no wonder that avoiding pesticides is a primary reason consumers choose to eat organic.
Organic produce is naturally non-GMO
The next most common reason—chosen by 70% of survey respondents—to buy organic is to avoid genetically modified organisms
(GMOs). GMOs are pervasive in our food supply, and produce is no exception. Currently, genetically modified (GM) summer squash,
such as zucchini, is grown in the United States and sold as fresh produce in both the United States and Canada. Similarly, approximately 80% of the total
papaya grown in the United States (predominately in Hawaii) is
also genetically modified, which is likely to increase as more GM papaya is in the process of being grown in new places such as
Florida. A small amount of sweet corn sold in grocery stores is also GM, meaning that the
delicious sweet corn you throw on the grill could be a GMO—unless it's organic. Other types of GM produce that have been
approved to be sold in the United States include potatoes and apples, though they haven't made
it to the marketplace yet. Buying organic is a great way to be 100% sure that your produce is non-GMO because GMOs are never
allowed in organic production.
Organic produce provides higher nutritional content
The third most common reason Natural Grocers customers choose organic produce is because they believe it is a more nutritious
option to feed their families. And they are right—side-by-side comparisons of conventional tomatoes and organic tomatoes have
shown that organic tomatoes have 20% higher levels of lycopene and 30% higher levels of vitamin C. iv Other
studies have shown similar results when comparing organic and conventional fruits and vegetables.
Many of the phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables that are beneficial for human health are naturally produced by plants in
order to discourage pests from eating the plant. When plants are sprayed with pesticides, the plant's innate production of these
beneficial phytonutrients is reduced, resulting in a less nutritious product, while organic crops are forced to rely on their own
defenses and produce more phytonutrients to deter pests. And it's not just about what organic produce has more of, it's also what
it has less of—data shows that organic produce has 48% lower levels of cadmium, a harmful heavy metal that makes its way
into conventional soils through contaminated synthetic fertilizers.
Organic produce supports a healthy ecosystem and agricultural economy
As you can see, there are some pretty significant reasons why consumers choose to buy organic produce. There are other reasons
to consider, too.
Organic agriculture is known to regenerate ecosystems and the soil, while conventional agriculture strips the environment,
destroying our natural resources, and requires constant chemical inputs. There are also numerous hidden costs
of conventional agriculture that burden society and decrease quality of life.
On the other hand, a recent study conducted by a Penn State agricultural economist found that
communities with high levels of organic agricultural activity are more successful economically. So no matter what your reason is for shopping organic, you should feel good
about your purchase and know that you are voting with your dollar for a type of agriculture that benefits the environment, the
economy, and human health.
Written by Jonathan Clinthorne, Ph.D. Manager of Scientific Affairs & Nutrition
Education
Jonathan F. Clinthorne, Ph.D., is an ultra-endurance athlete
trained in immunology and expert in human nutrition. Clinthorne has served on numerous medical advisory boards and has authored a
number of research papers covering topics such as probiotics, immune function, inflammation and human nutrition.
Jonathan's mission is to help make free science-backed nutrition education available to everyone and reduce our dependence on
pharmaceutical drugs. Jonathan has been seen on Fox TV, Forbes, Ultra Running Magazine, Runner's World and Organic Authority.
About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com) is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of
organic and natural groceries, body care and dietary supplements. The company offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format,
affordable prices and free, science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition
choices. Founded in Colorado in 1955, Natural Grocers has more than 3,000 employees and operates
140 stores in 19 states.
i Baranski M, et al. Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of
pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Nutrition.
2014; 112(5): 794-811.
ii Barr, Dana B et al. Concentrations of Dialkyl Phosphate Metabolites of Organophosphorus
Pesticides in the U.S. Population. Environmental Health Perspectives 112:186–200 (2004).
iii Oates L, Cohen M, Braun L, Schembri A, Taskova R. Reduction in urinary
organophosphate pesticide metabolites in adults after a week-long organic diet. Environ Res. 2014
Jul;132:105-11.
iv Vinha AF, Barreira SV, Costa AS, Alves RC, Oliveira MB. Organic versus
conventional tomatoes: influence on physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds and sensorial attributes. Food Chem
Toxicol. 2014 May;67:139-44.
View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-top-3-reasons-shoppers-buy-organic-produce-300503419.html
SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.