How important is organic?

When I go shopping, I make sure to buy only organic produce if I am going to eat the skin. It is a good investment, in my opinion, to not ingest the poisons used in conventional farming. For produce in which I will not be eating the skin (e.g. bananas, winter squash, pineapple, etc), I only buy organic if the price difference in minimal.

As for processed food labeled organic, I am not convinced that it makes that much of a difference. Again, if the price difference is minimal, I will buy the organic product. That being said, processed food is not good for you body and should be consumed in small portions, if at all.

As for meat and other animal products, I always buy hormone free. As much as possible, I buy organic. Better treatment of the animals and strict processing rules must be followed to carry an organic label. While this may be true of some conventional products as well, there is no way to tell.

Please find following, an excerpt from the Mayo Clinic website:

The word "organic" refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don't use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weedkillers, organic farmers may conduct more sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.

Here are some key differences between conventional farming and organic farming:

Conventional	Organic
Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth.	Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants.
Spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease.	Use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease.
Use herbicides to manage weeds.	Rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds.
Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth.	Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease.