We are beginning to realize that bigger is not necessarily better, brighter fruits and veggies do not equal more taste, and faster crop yields can actually mean less nutrients. Well, at least I hope we’re beginning to realize this, because it is the honest to goodness truth.
Decades ago, science started meddling with nature, the natural growth of our foods. Seeds became hybrid seeds, fruits and vegetables became prize-winning items, and our health began to suffer for it. The truth is, genetically modified foods are not good for us. And I hate to tell you, but organically grown genetically modified foods are not much better.
Although organically grown produce is not fed with made-made chemical fertilizers or treated with man-made chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, the crop yield of these fruits and veggies is only slightly better than non-organically grown produce.
The seeming benefit of GM (genetically modified) grown produce is that it grows quicker, bigger, and more colorfully. It is tempting to think that faster growth is beneficial: more food, faster. It is also tempting to think that bigger and more colorful fruits and vegetables are healthier and more nutritious for you. Sadly, this is not the case.
Here are the Facts:
When plants are grown quickly, they do not have the time to aquire all the vitamins and minerals essential to us, and typically provided to us by eating fruits and vegetables. Studies have shown that over the last 5 decades, the percentage of vitamins available in our fruits and vegetables has gone down anywhere from 5-13%. Now let me ask you, are you eating 5-13% more fruits and vegetables every day to make up for this?
Some of the most important ingredients found in our produce are iron, phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin C. These are all so important for our growth and overall health. We can’t afford to short-change ourselves! The vitamins and minerals found in our fruits and vegetables help fight diseases and other ailments, aid in healthy growth in children and teens, and help maintain our daily energy.
The bottom line is, good things grow in small packages. If plants have time to grow, they have time to take in all the goodness surrounding them. Why use an organic fertilizer to feed your plants if they don’t have the time to reap all the benefits of the good food that you’re feeding them? Patience is a virtue, and in this situation, a necessity.
So, How Can I Grow The Good Stuff?
Just so we’re clear, the “Good Stuff” is heirloom fruits and vegetables. To be honest, no one set out to create heirloom seeds. No one set out to conserve them. Heirloom seeds kind of happened by accident. From the farmer who couldn’t afford fancy GM seeds, fruits, and veggies, to your grandmother’s claim that her fruits and vegetables were the best, and she wasn’t gonna change a single thing about the way she grew them, heirloom produce emerged.
Heirloom seeds are seeds that have never been modified and have been “purebred” for at least 50 years. They yield smaller, less colorful crop that takes longer to grow. But, studies have shown that heirloom produce contains more of the vitamins and minerals that we need to live a healthy life.
I encourage you to grow with heirloom seeds. Your yield will be so much more beneficial to you and you family. Good things come to those who wait, not those who find a quick-fix or the easy-way-out. Being healthy is a conscious choice you have to make. I hope I’ve helped you in making a wise choice. Until next times, take care and happy gardening!