Choosing fresh and healthy food is common sense, but can going organic boost your wellbeing even further? Here are 3 great reasons to make the switch.

Organic farming avoids the use of chemicals and pesticides. The build-up of pesticides in our bodies (especially in vulnerable groups such as young children, pregnant women and the elderly) can cause developmental, hormonal and neurological problems.  

Organically produced fruit and veg contains 20-40% higher levels of antioxidants, important compounds that protect cells from cancer and ageing*.

According to a new study** from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, eating fruits and vegetables with high amounts of pesticide residue such as strawberries, spinach, peppers, or grapes may reduce women’s chances of conceiving and bearing children.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases once a year a list called the Dirty Dozen. This is the list of the twelve fruit and vegetables that are the most polluted when grown in a non-organic environment. You can view the list and read more about the Dirty Dozen here. 

*2014 British Journal of Nutrition study | ** JAMA Intern Med. 2018

As well as enhanced health benefits, the BJN study also found that the increased level of antioxidants bumped up organoleptic qualities—taste, aroma, and mouthfeel—making organic fruits and vegetables more flavourful all round.

Freshness also impacts taste. Conventional farming uses a whole host of preservatives to make produce last longer and travel further. Crops are often picked early and ripened with chemicals as they travel across the globe. At ShiokFarm, the majority of our products are freshly harvested in the nearby region (Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand). However, some items only grow in non-tropical climates and are sourced from outside of SEA. In this case, we carefully select our growing and logistics partners to ensure maximum freshness.

Organic farming practices reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility and use less energy. This means less chemicals end up in our waterways, air, soil and, ultimately, our bodies. It also makes for a friendlier environment for wildlife to thrive, encouraging the biodiversity that is fundamental to sustainable agriculture and the battle against climate change.