Organic and conventional veggies both have pros and cons.
Organic vegetables are almost always more expensive than their conventionally grown counterparts. Generally speaking, organic farming involves more intensive labor practices and lower yields, which collaborate to raise the overall price of the product. Does this Spark an idea?
Conventional Farming Practices
Crop losses due to insect and weed pests are among the primary reasons for reduced crop yields. Conventional farming employs the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides to kill these crop threats.
Organic Farming Practices
Organic farming practices encourage the presence of beneficial insects, which act as natural pest controls; however, crop losses are sometimes significant. Weeds are also eliminated manually, which further increases labor costs.
Considerations
Because insects can, over time, become resistant to particular pesticides, conventional growers must constantly keep abreast of new chemical products. This may also lead to some price fluctuation of chemically grown vegetables.
Significance
According to a 2008 USDA report on foreign demand for organic produce, a kilogram of conventionally grown bell peppers was 75 cents. By contrast, a kilo of organically grown peppers cost $2.90.
Benefits of Organic Produce
Despite the higher cost, proponents of organic vegetables and produce cite the many intangible benefits of organic farming practices. Some advantages include better soil condition over time, reduction of plant pathogens and fewer risks to people via ingestion of chemical pest controls.
Tags: conventionally grown, Farming Practices, farming practices, over time, pest controls