More than ever before, people are paying attention to what they eat. Years ago, few people knew the words organic, natural, free range or hormone free in respect to food. They just did not give it a second thought. Now, however, people are taking these words to the store and coming home with different products. In addition, people now want to find these words when they dine out. For reasons of both budget and availability, it is important for the consumer to note that all organic foods are not equal in overall benefit.

For any food to carry the “USDA Organic” label, the United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) requires specific criteria. The standards demanded have to do with how the food is either grown, produced, or manufactured. For instance, to be truly organic no food may contain anything synthetic like traces of fertilizers or pesticides. Ninety-five percent or more of the ingredients of any organic food must be all natural. Any animals used for organic foods must be completely antibiotic and growth hormone-free. However, if food is marked “Made with Organic Ingredients”, only 70% of the ingredients are required to be organic.

The quality of food grown at local farms is likely to be higher than that of food that has been grown thousands of miles away and thus handled more before it reaches the local markets. Shipping from long distances raises the chances of the food losing some of its best organic benefits in transit. Nutritionists are big proponents of buying organic in order to avoid the high pesticide levels in products that are grown or produced commercially.

In the vegetable family, high amounts of pesticides are often found in potatoes, celery, spinach, bell peppers, and hot peppers. For fruit, the ones to watch out for are apples, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, pears, imported grapes, and cherries. In other words, although they are more a little more expensive, it is best to buy organic when shopping for these items.

Commercially grown fruits that are lower in pesticide levels are watermelons, plantains, bananas, pineapple, kiwi, plums, and mangoes. Vegetables that fall into this lower pesticide category are broccoli, cauliflower, onions, radishes, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts. These fruits and vegetables are a relatively safe option for those on a budget who can’t afford to buy organic. These products present less of a degree of risk than produce that contains higher levels of pesticides.

It is easy to find tips online or elsewhere when looking for the best products in cookware or kitchen gadgets. Shopping for organic food usually requires a little more thought. The decision as to what organic foods to buy is a personal one based on individual tastes and budget. But the smart shopper should make a point of finding out what things have an effect on the quality of an organic product and what organic foods provide the best benefits. A choice to switch to organic should always be based on the facts.

Stan Dyer is a prolific writer and photographer residing in Colorado. To have organic food and products delivered to your doorstep, visit http://www.OrganicFoodeStore.com.