For decades, pesticides and insecticides have poisoned crops over the globe. Many people, either unaware or financially incapable, are forced to eat conventional products from grocery stores.  Only until recently, however, have people questioned what is being put in the foods they consume. 

Many people believe the main reason the big switch to organics hasn’t come into play yet is because of high prices. Conventional (non-organic) foods have significantly lower prices, making them a common choice among those not willing to spend extra money. 

Another issue is the lack of organic products in supermarkets. When walking along aisles in stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joes, you have limited options that are organic and most of the time you’re not able to find what you are looking for. The expansion of organic products in markets will likely hook in more customers who usually buy conventional products. 

Freshman Emma Lee is one person who would buy organic foods if they were more accessible.

“As I do not buy my own food, I am not sure what is and what is not organic, but I can say I will definitely aim for buying organic food when I become fully independent,” Lee said.  “I’d say the cost is why people normally tend to not buy organic food, also because there are not that many options compared to non-organic.” 

With dangerous additives being applied to conventional crops on a daily basis, many lives are placed in jeopardy from the dangerous effect they can have. Certain crops such as strawberries, spinach and grapes, when not certified organic, are considered part of ‘the dirty dozen.’ 

The ‘dirty dozen’ is a list of heavily sprayed crops that have been proven to cause countless health problems such as respiratory problems, reproductive issues and increased risk of obtaining certain cancers. 

With the lack of options for organic food, many people also believe they can’t eat any candies or junk foods anymore. This isn’t the case, however, as alternative candy companies such as Unreal, YumEarth and Wholesomesweet provide very similar products to their junk food counterparts.

You’d even be reducing the health risks of farmers who are working amongst pesticides with a dedication to eating organic products. Not only that but foods that have been grown organically are known to be rich in nutrients, such as Vitamin C, Iron, Magnesium and phosphorus. These key nutrients are most of the time removed with exposure to nitrates and pesticides in conventional products. 

Professional boxer Amir Khan shares the benefits of having a clean diet. 

“Organic food is the best for you, and I’m eating the best, a lot of fresh vegetables,” Khan said. “I also keep myself hydrated. It’s all made a big difference to my performance in the gym.”

Simply spending a little bit more to achieve a cleaner diet will get you much farther. Only until recently have people started looking at ingredients or the health effects that pesticides have on our bodies. If each person supported naturally grown organic products, a huge impact would be made on our future health.