THE RENEWED FOCUS ON EATING RIGHT AND NATURAL SINCE COVID-19 HAS LED TO THE ALL NEW ORGANIC REVOLUTION
If there is one area where the Coronavirus pandemic is causing massive rethinking, it is in what we eat, where we get our food from, and how the food is produced, stored, and prepared. There is a growing awareness regarding the health benefits of a natural, balanced diet which is boosting the demand of organic, sustainable foods. We find out more
WHY GO ORGANIC:
Because of health factor, organic fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals etc are now proving to be the food of choice for home. “Organic foods are composed of the natural and organic ingredients that are cultivated as per standards of organic farming. They do not contain any artificial preservatives to sustain a longer interval of time,” says dietitian Garima Goyal. Bengaluru-based consultant Swati Singla says that she first started buying organic vegetables when she chanced upon a stall at a local event. “At that time organic vegetables were not that easily available and even if they were marketed as organic, one wasn’t sure about the authenticity.
Although the produce was more expensive, I immediately noticed the difference when I started consuming raw veggies in salads and juices. The cost can be deterrent for large families but I feel the health benefits supersede the cost. Having switched to organic vegetables and fruits, the difference in the flavour and taste is very apparent. I am really happy to make the shift,” says Singla.
THE ORGANIC MARKET AND ITS CHALLENGES
While organic food is gaining popularity now, the Indian organic market is yet to flourish. Manu Khera, CEO of an IT company in Ahmedabad says, “I have been using organic veggies for more than one year and I have five different vendors who deliver organic produce. From kale, spring mint to bhindi, I get all my veggies from them. Sometimes, the supply is erratic and sometimes the quality isn’t that great. My ultimate goal is to grow my own vegetables and have the farm to table experience within a short span.”
CONSIDER A HOME FARM
Organic farming has suddenly mushroomed in the midst of COVID -19. “Organisations and individuals are highly encouraged to adapt DIY techniques to grow clean produce in rented lands all across India. Organic farming stems from production of fresh food and livestock without adding any artificial agents like herbicides, weedicides, fertilisers and GMOs. If you’re focusing on eating right, it’s great to lean towards clean eating from a genuine source. Besides health benefits, there are environmental benefits of organic farming too,” says integrative nutritionist Payal Kothari.
JASMIN BHASIN
IT’S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS NOW, SINCE I STARTED USING ORGANIC VEGETABLES AND FRUITS.IF YOU HAVE TRIED THEM, YOU MUST HAVE FELT THAT THEY TASTE DIFFERENT AND WAY BETTER THAN REGULAR VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. THEY ALSO IMPROVE YOUR IMMUNITY
SHARAD MALHOTRA
HAVE BEEN USING ORGANIC FOOD ITEMS SINCE I GOT MARRIED. IT WAS NOT A LIFESTYLE CHANGE BUT WE THOUGHT OF TRYING IT. WE’RE NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN