The word organic refers to the way farmers grow and process produce, in this case strawberries. The organic method of growing strawberries (or any fruit or vegetable for that matter) encourages soil and water conservation and also focuses on reducing air and water pollution. Organic methods also make use of natural fertilizers and pesticides unlike conventionally grown produce that uses chemicals for weed and insect control.
Conventionally grown
Organically grown
Uses chemicals and fertilizers for plant growth
Uses natural fertilizers like manure, compost etc to stimulate growth
Reduce pests and disease through spraying chemicals
Use insects, birds, organic mulches, vinegar and essential oil herbicides to reduce pests and disease
Use chemicals to control weeds
Use mechanical techniques to reduce weeds and also use methods like crop rotation, hand weeding and mulching for weed control
Use injections growth hormones and antibiotics to stimulate growth of plant and prevent disease and increase yield
Use preventive methods for controlling disease and also organic methods to increase yield
Use toxic fumigants for soil health
Use natural mulch for enhancing soil quality
According to a report by the USDA, a single sample of conventionally grown strawberry found more than 13 traces of chemicals that include the following:
Methyl bromide-This is a broad spectrum pesticide that is typically used for spraying fields that grow strawberries, tomatoes etc. The gas is used as fumigant for penetrating the soil at least 12-14 inches before the crop is planted. The field is then covered with tarps so that the gas gets to work killing almost all of the soil organisms-which includes the beneficial organisms as well. Additionally, farmers also use the fumigant not just while farming but also on their commodities (strawberries, tomatoes, nuts, grapes, peppers etc) during storage to prevent insects from harming them. For more information of the harmful effects of Methyl bromide, please click the link here.
Chloropicrin-This is a tear gas that is also a soil fumigant. It is a major irritant for the skin and eyes, and breathing it could induce nausea, vomiting, headaches and gastric disorders. Higher concentration can even lead to build up of fluid in the lungs and this government website has deemed it a highly reactive and dangerous explosive hazard.
Telone (1,3 D)-This soil fumigant has been classified as toxic and carcinogenic if inhaled or swallowed. It can also cause eye and skin irritation.
These 3 are just fumigants used for growing strawberries. As mentioned before, tests conducted on non-organic strawberry samples turned up residual pesticides in alarming proportions including 24 suspected hormone disruptors, 11 neurotoxins and 9 known carcinogens. Nearly half of the samples also turned up Fungicides Captan and Pyraclostrobin.
The strawberry industry is trying to adopt measures and invest in less toxic alternatives of growing organic berries. However “the big shift won’t happen until newer grants do not mitigate the risk of switching to new techniques of growing strawberries”.
Also growing organic strawberries requires a huge investment and, though it is profitable, it is also a risky venture. The initial investment is very high and managing weeds and insects organically without the use of chemicals is complex. Furthermore, labor shortages can also lead to destruction of crops particularly at the time of harvest.
Growing organic strawberries takes months of initial preparation. There are more than 20 different steps involved in the process. These include testing the soil to ensure that it passes certain standards, followed by several rounds of tilling, pre-irrigation, shaping and mulching to form beds of strawberry rows. Additional months of labor are also needed in caring for the fruit and nurturing the delicate plants. If these reports are to be believed: the total cost of growing strawberries organically can run up to nearly $50, 000 per acre! Naturally farmers want returns on investment in proportion to these costs and hence organic strawberries are costlier than their traditionally grown counterparts.
Needless to say, your best bet is to stick to organic strawberries no matter how expensive they may be.
This post was edited by WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH at March 19, 2019 12:44 PM MDT
Don’t get all butt hurt because I don’t agree with mushy pea eating lifestyle.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 19, 2019 2:03 PM MDT
I was curious who the freaks are, that are into the mushy pea lifestyle. That does not mean that I’m bothered by it. Why the hellz does anyone ask anything here or any similar platform?hmmmmm? GAWD.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 19, 2019 7:30 PM MDT
WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH 