Organic News | Fruit Company Gifts

Eating and juicing fruit is the best way to get your daily fiber requirements

Organic Fruit Gifts If you are seeking to add additional fiber to your diet – as many of us are – then one of the healthiest and most natural ways to effectively achieve that goal involves eating more fruit either whole or by juicing it.

A diet that is high in fiber and fluids helps your entire body to function in a healthier and more effective way. This is especially true of your ability to process food through your digestive system and it may also help to reduce your chances of diabetes and heart disease. In order to achieve these benefits, men should consume around 30 to 38 grams of fiber every day, while women should have between 21 and 25 grams per day.

Though many people rely on artificial sources of fiber to help to get things moving, obtaining fiber from natural foods is the healthiest and most effective source for your body. It also helps to ensure that you’re receiving much more than just fiber in terms of nutrition. Therefore, it is a good idea to start making juicing and the consumption of fresh fruit a regular part of your daily routine.

Beyond fiber, fruits can also have a number of other positive impacts on your health. For example, an increasing number of studies are showing that daily fruit intake can help to reduce the risk of certain forms of cancers.

Moreover, even though it contains natural sugars, fruit is also known for giving you a burst of hunger satisfying nutrition within a small amount of calories. Many doctors and nutritionists recommend that if you want to eat a large amount of food without packing on the pounds, then juicing or eating fruits and vegetables whole should be a central part of that effort.

Also, a great healthy gift for yourself or someone you know is an organic fruit of the month membership. You can juice every day with fresh fruit delivered straight to your doorstep!

An organic apple a day is more effective for keeping the doctor away

Organic Fruit Benefits From childhood, we’re told that eating an apple every day is very good for our health, but what scientists are now starting to discover is that organic apples contain even more of the essential nutrients we need to consume every day in order to stay healthy.

In fact, studies performed in France, Britain, Poland, and Canada support recent American research that says that organic fruit contains higher nutrient levels than conventional crops that are grown in the exact same conditions but using organic methods.

Some of the benefits you can enjoy by eating an organic apple a day include:

• Bone protection – the flavanoid known as phloridzin is found exclusively in apples, as well as the boron also contained in the fruit, can help to lower the risk of osteoporosis and help to boost bone density among post menopausal women.

• Asthma reduction – children born of mothers who consume a large number of apples during their pregnancies are less likely to develop asthma than those whose mothers ate fewer apples.

• Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease – apples contain quercetin and this may help to protect brain cells from the damage of free radicals which can cause Alzheimers.

• Decreasing cholesterol – the pectin contained in apples can help to reduce their “bad” cholesterol levels.

• Prevention of lung cancer – people who eat large amounts of apples have a much lower risk (up to 50 percent) of developing lung cancer, possible because of the quercetin, naringin, and flavanoid they contain.

• Breast cancer prevention – there is a 17 percent lower risk of cancer among people who eat an apple every day.

• Prevention of colon cancer – the pectin and nutrients in the skin of apples can help to lower the risk of colon cancer while maintaining an overall healthy digestive tract.

• Decreased risk of liver cancer – a study on rats showed that consuming apple skin can reduce the risk of liver cancer by 57 percent.

• Management of diabetes – the galacturonic acid from the pectin in apples can help to decrease the necessity for insulin for more effective diabetes management.

This season, give the gift that says you really care with an organic fruit basket delivered to their front door!

What kids are really receiving when they go trick-or-treating

Halloween Gift Ideas Halloween can be a lot of fun for kids of all ages, with entertainment ranging from costumes to scary movies, and from trick-or-treating to eating tasty sweets. However, by taking a deeper look at some of the “treats” that are received, it may not be the ghosts and goblins that cause the fright that night.

Have a look at some of the ingredients on the packaging of the items you’ll be doling out or that your own children have received:

• Artificial colors and flavors – these are chemicals often based on petroleum products that can have adverse effects, such as hyperactivity, rashes, allergic reactions, fatigue, and headaches.

• Alkali – this ingredient is an acid neutralizer that is found in many chocolate products in order to lower bitterness and boost flavor. Unfortunately, most of the antioxidants found in the chocolate are destroyed by this ingredient.

• High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) – this is a fructose sweetener that is made when cornstarch is processed. Though it is inexpensive, it also involve the use of genetically modified enzymes. Moreover, it is known to increase an individual’s risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

• Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate (PGPR) – this ingredient is made from castor beans and is a binding agent (emulsifier). This is found in many chocolate products to reduce their thickness so that when they are melted, the result will be a texture with greater smoothness. However, like alkali, it reduces or eliminates the antioxidants in the product.

Many parents are choosing to give alternative treats to their kids and to the trick-or-treaters who come to the door. Some ideas include:

• Small boxes of organic raisins
• Granola bars
• Individually wrapped cookies that are trans fat-free and have low sugar.
• Pretzels
• Nicely wrapped organic fruit Gifts
• Fruit bars
• Dark chocolate

The characteristics of a ripe melon: what you need to know before putting it in your cart

How to pick a melon Though melons may look beautiful in a store, without the right techniques it is difficult to know what is inside their rinds without cutting into them.

Fortunately, there are some steps that can be taken in order to identify a ripe and flavorful melon. The trick is to understand that not all types of melon require the same techniques, and to know what methods are appropriate for each type.

For a cantaloupe, also known as a musk melon, examine its entire exterior, looking for a good solid shell without any moldy areas or obvious bruising. Its underlying color should be an orangy-white. If its underlying color is primarily green or white, move on to the next one.

The end with the stem should not still have the stem attached. A cantaloupe that was ripe when picked would come away from the stem very easily. Therefore, if the stem is still on the melon, it is likely unripe. Smell the end with the stem. If it smells slightly moldy or if it has no smell at all, put it back and try another one. A ripe cantaloupe should smell just slightly fruity and musky.

On the other hand, a watermelon’s rind should be inspected for black spots, large soft bruises, or cracks. Gently “thump” on the side of the melon with your hand and listen to the sound it makes. Compare the sound of several melons and pick one that makes a “middle” note. The higher the note, the less ripe the melon will be. The lower the note, the more ripe a melon will be. If the note is very deep, it may be overly ripe and may already be breaking down inside.

A honeydew melon should be inspected for cracks, bruises, or large dark spots on the outside. These melons should be avoided. Then, with the melon in one hand, press on the end opposite the stem (called the Best Fruit “blossom” end) and check for firmness. The more firm it is, the less ripe it is. A ripe melon should allow you to depress it slightly without a lot of effort. If the melon is quite soft for more than two inches across the blossom end, it is likely too ripe and is beginning to deteriorate inside.

By knowing these tricks, you will be able to select the best and most flavorful melon, which will give you a more pleasant experience and save you from wasting money on spoiled or unripe fruit.

For gift giving this summer don’t forget a organic fruit of the month club!

Organic produce growing in Turkey

News on Organic Food Face it, today’s modern farming is full of chemicals, fertilizers, herbicides, growth hormones, animal antibiotics, insecticides and other things has practically mutated what we eat today. The Turkish people have begun to notice this, and started to act against it, starting a whole new sector in farming.

It has always been known that unhealthy food makes the human body unhealthy when consumed. But today’s ‘healthy’ foods have become packed full of types of chemicals that leaves the growth and processing of said foods in ways that one should not consume. This puts the well being of people at risk, mainly those within large cities.

These non-organic farms also have a negative impact on the environment that can not be reversed. This is caused by the chemicals used. For this reason, organic growing has gotten the attention in Turkey. To some farmers in various locations throughout Turkey, organic growing has been the new normal for them. Turkey has become aware of the dangers of the unhealthy foods and growing/treating styles.

Recent data shows, from the Agricultural Ministry that there was a major increase in land, foods produced and the weight of food produced that was organic since 2002 to 2010. In 2002 there were 150 different types of organic products that were being grown within Turkey. The amount of land that was being used in Turkey was only 89,827 square meters.

In Turkey, by the end of 2010, there was a total of 11,179 different types of organic products that were being grown, 331,361 tons worth of organic goods that were produced, and 191,785 square meters worth of farm land dedicated to organic produce

Organic milk is a better choice over regular

What does it mean when milk is labeled ‘certified organic’, and is it really the healthier choice? Once upon a time it would have been hard to answer such a question. But, thanks to some tight regulations, as well as data collection and even scientific studies, it would appear that, yes indeed, organic milk may just be the better milk product.

What does it mean to be organic milk, though? In order for milk cartons to be labeled with the ‘certified organic’ label, it would mean that the producer has followed and met key criteria needed in order for it to be considered organic. The criteria would be no hormones were used to promote growth. Cows would have needed to be fed 100% organic feed, which lowers the amount of pesticides within the milk originally. No antibiotics must have been used, and lastly, the cows needed to have been grass fed for at least 120 days of the year.

The farmers must keep documentation of their organic plan, which is kept verified by on-site inspections by the United States Department of Agriculture. They make sure that the needed criteria is met for the farmers to be able to call it organic.

Nowadays, most of the major brand names of non-organic milk no longer use growth hormones, and they make it known on their labels. As for the antibiotics used, the residue left over in the milk really isn’t a concern to the consumers, because there is absolutely no antibiotics allowed to be used in any kind of milk. One of the best reasons to go with organic milk is because of the limited exposure to pesticide chemicals.

Organic fruits and vegetables in the U.S. today

In agriculture, the fastest and steadiest growth has been in organic farming. It has shown consistent progress for the past 10 years. In 2009, the sale of organic fruits and vegetables showed over an 11 percent increase from the previous year. By 2008, certified organic acreage in the United States reached almost five million acres; California was the lead state, with well over 400 thousand acres of cropland.

In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act after requests and petitions from numerous organic industries. Among the petitioners were the American Farm Bureau, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The Organic Foods Production Act is based on federal regulations that set the definition for organic farming methods, and on acceptable organic production inputs, from a national list. The intent was to set a standardized, minimum set of rules for all organic producers to follow. By 1993, the program was implemented; however, due to a lack of funding it had a slow start. After 1994 the funding was available and the program took off.

Strict laws and regulations must be followed for a grower to be certified as organic, additionally, they are inspected every year. Crops have to be grown on land that is free of pesticides and other listed substances, for at least three years previous to harvest. Other standards include careful oversight of soil richness, and proper manure disposal.

States with large amounts of certified organic cropland include Montana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. California leads all the states with more than 400 thousand acres. Vegetable stats show organic carrots make up 25 percent of the entire carrot crop produced, and organic lettuce represents about 8 percent of all lettuce acreage.

Organic farming brings communities together

Communities in states across the nation are becoming involved in sustainable agriculture. The past few years of unhealthy eating have created numerous reports about Americans bad health and alarming obesity rates. Couple that with the environmental issues and it’s no wonder there has been such a rise in organic farming and community gardens.

Community Garden

In the United States, two-thirds of adults, and 25 percent of all kids are considered overweight or obese. The downturn of the economy over the last four years caused over 14 percent of the (U.S.) population to fall into, or below the poverty level. It may not sound like much, but 14 percent of our population equals almost 43 million people.

This, along with the plight of the environment, has caused a rise in organic farming and community type gardens. In 2008, certified organic acreage reached about 5 million acres. In 2009, sales of organic food and beverages reached 24 billion dollars. People want healthier food.

Many communities are also participating in “community” gardens. There are around five thousand gardens that have been created across the United States now. Some were created to help beautify an area that has become neglected or impoverished. Area residents were encouraged to participate in cleaning up, landscaping and planting flowers in an area that would be seen as “belonging” to the community.

This helped to cultivate a sense of teamwork and personal responsibility; encouraging neighbors to help take care of one another. Other communities planted actual vegetable gardens in areas that were predominately poor. Everyone was invited to participate by helping to clean up, tilling, and planting the food. Because it belongs to everyone in that neighborhood, they are all responsible for the upkeep, and they get part of the food that’s grown.

These gardens help join people together, and clean up areas that have become downtrodden. It helps kids get out of the house and into nature, teaches everyone responsibility, and gives them a renewed sense of pride in their community. Plus, the vegetable gardens help feed countless families that may not get vegetables or fruit otherwise.

All of this just in time for Earth Day. Help us celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2011 and pick up a piece of trash, give your neighbor some fruit from your tree and thank Mother Earth in your own way!

Earth Day 2011

The big event is almost here. We are just a little over one month away from a worldwide happening. For over 40 years now, we

Earth Day Flag

have been bringing attention to our environment by celebrating Earth Day on April 22^nd. In honor of Earth Day, here are some statistics, and a few ways to get started going green; without losing your hard earned green.

When people think of “going green”, they also think about how much it’s going to cost them to do it. Some things do initially cost you more to get started, but over time that amount is compensated for in savings. What about right now? There are things you can do now, that won’t cost allot, and will make a big difference.

One thing that will make a big difference is recycling. Recycling just one aluminum can saves an amount of energy equal to watching three hours of television. Do you like chocolate? Hershey Kisses are wrapped with tin foil, and it’s recyclable.

Want to save between 10 and 20 percent on your overall electric usage? Turn off lights when you’re out of the room. Depending on the bulbs you use and their wattage, you could save a lot. Unplug laptop and cell phone chargers, and kitchen appliances, when you’re not using them; this helps save energy also.

Open up your blinds and curtains during the day and let the natural light in. This could also help warm the room on a cool day. Winterizing your home by sealing the drafts around windows and doors can save a bundle on heating and cooling expenses too.

Do you have one of those pesky, leaky faucets? If you can’t afford to fix it right away, try putting a container under it and using that for small clean-ups, or watering flowers. You could lose five to twenty gallons of water a day from a leaking faucet; depending on how bad it is.

Look for products labeled as biodegradable; use less plastic, and buy products you can use more than once. All of these things together will make a huge difference. And lastly, give an organic fruit basket this holiday…the earth enjoys a these pesticide free gifts!

Anyone can say their product is natural but is it organic?

Everywhere you look, manufacturers are describing their products as “natural” and “organic.” The fact is, the majority of people Organic Fruit are actually reading labels more, and trying to make better choices; for their health and the environment. This has forced companies to be more forthcoming in their advertising about ingredients they use in the products that we buy. But are the descriptions true? Not necessarily.

Believe it or not, there are no laws or specific requirements a company must follow in order to label a product as natural. So any business can label their goods as being all natural, or earth friendly, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are. The environmental and green movements caused many corporations to have to redesign their labels, touting themselves as health and environmentally conscious, to stay competitive.

There are a couple of labels that businesses can use that actually mean they have standards to adhere by. One is from The Natural Products Association. For a product to carry this label it cannot contain petrochemical ingredients, formaldehyde, parabens or phthalates. They also cannot contain more than 5 percent synthetic ingredients, and those ingredients can’t be toxic. Additionally, there are other guidelines that manufacturers have to follow to earn the certified seal.

Organic Fruits and Vegetables The other label that has specific standards is “organic”, or “certified organic.” This is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is monitored by the federal government and certain consumer watch groups. Organic agriculture is based on management practices that enhance, restore or maintain environmental harmony; as well as other specific requirements that must be followed.

Merchandise that carries the Natural Products Association seal did so voluntarily; there are no mandatory laws requiring all companies to do this. While the organic or certified organic label does require specific standards to be met.