Local or Organic? Rick Sanderson, RootsLOCAL.co.uk

Shopping for food is now a much more complex animal than it has ever been. We are presented with different standards and logos, tiers and brands, and it can be very frustrating as a consumer to know what is the best value for money and just why we should pay a premium. A common conundrum is debating whether to purchase organic food instead of your usual selections. So, are there really any benefits to buying organic?

Organic foods only a few years ago were one of the fastest growing categories in the food industry. It was estimated by the Institute of Grocery Distributors that the market is worth £1.6 bn in 2006, and set to grow to £2.4 bn by 2011. Yet today the benefits of organics are still being debated.

The Soil Association and other bodies are careful not to make any claims that organically produced fruits, vegetables and meats etc. are any healthier than their traditionally produced counterparts. However, strict standards do require that organic foods be produced without the use of pesticides, or synthetic or sewage-derived fertilizers, no bioengineering, or ionizing radiation techniques. I can well imagine that you may not even have heard of these practices! And there in lies the difficulties of articulating the differences in standards.

For example, organic arable production aims to produce healthy, good quality food in an ecologically responsible way - for which the grower gets a fair return. These would also be standards upheld in ‘conventional’ production. The organic approach however is also designed to deliver positive health throughout soils, plants and crops, avoiding the need for agrochemicals and benefiting the environment and wildlife.

Some studies claim that organic produce is more nutritious, in part because of its reduced exposure to pesticides. As a consumer and someone who markets organic produce, I believe that reducing exposures to these chemicals may reduce harm and be healthier in the long run, that’s why I buy ‘Local-Organic’ where possible. One aspect to bear in mind is the ‘food miles’ that organic products may have travelled. In some cases this may do more harm to the environment than a locally produced ‘conventional’ product.

There are many ‘local’ and ‘farm assured’ products available that still offer the same health benefits to you as a consumer, and still offer vital support to the local, British farmers. Residues left over from production can be removed by washing and peeling fruits and vegetables, and from a food safety point of view nothing would reach your plate that could harm you.

So by making a more informed choice we can really make a difference to how our goods are produced, markets will move with what you buy. There are strong merits of both organic and conventional production, and it is important to understand exactly what these premiums stand for, and what you are willing to pay for!