A lot is going on in food and nutrition nowadays, and one of the most popular ‘movements,’ as it were, is the movement involving organic food. Organic food can span everything from vegetables and fruits to dairy and meat products, and if you have a mind to go organic when it comes to your restaurant or food and beverage manufacturing facility, then you may have your questions about its viability and feasibility as well. But buying organic can well be one of your best decisions, and there are now plenty of wholesale food and beverage suppliers who can fulfil your organic requirements. But what else should you know about sourcing organic food and why it’s profitable? Here’s your guide to buying organic for your restaurant or food and beverage product factory: what you should know.
Why should you invest in organic food?
First things first: why should you invest in organic items? There are many reasons why organic food is more popular with consumers today, even if organic food and produce cost more. One of the foremost reasons why consumers want organic food is that it doesn’t have traces of chemicals or pesticides that are often found in non-organic food. This isn’t just important health-wise – it’s important for the environment, too. Organic farmers are careful about maintaining the nutrients of the soil, and their methods don’t contaminate the water supply. Furthermore, organic farming develops biodiversity, and it doesn’t produce as much pollution. When it comes to dairy and meats, the organic method eliminates the risk of antibiotics and hormones in food, which many people consider unhealthy.
What to think about
- Pesticides
If you don’t want your diners or consumers to inadvertently consume or ingest residue from pesticides, you want something organic when it comes to the products you serve, whether it’s apples, celery, coffee, blueberries and other berries, grapes, lettuce and other leafy greens, and other vegetables and fruits where the ‘skin’ is eaten. And even if you wash the produce as carefully as possible, there could still be trace amounts of pesticides. This is something that organic fruit puree suppliers such as EE & Brian Smith are all too careful about, and the supplier makes sure that its selection of fruit juice and purees are sourced organically and are fully traceable as well.
- Antibiotics and growth hormones
Another notable concern of many is the use of antibiotics and growth hormones, especially for meats, eggs, and dairy. Some restaurants and food or drink manufacturers have even turned to using non-dairy alternatives than regular milk, such as soy milk, almond milk, and the like. Whilst there may still be a bit of debate regarding the safety of antibiotics and growth hormones in food, most people seem to be leaning towards more natural and ultimately ‘cleaner’ options.
- The environment
Many restaurants and food and drink manufacturers who want to shift towards organic items also have concerns about the environment and its impact on it. If this is important to you, it makes sense to use more organic food and drink products. Some produce, like onions, asparagus, and pineapples, may be quite free from pesticides, but there are other fruits and veggies which may have a lot of pesticides. If you want to do even more for the environment, consider having a seasonal menu as well.
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