If you are concerned with your health and your family's, you have probably turned to organically grown fruits and vegetables because you know that eco friendly foods contain no synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, and most conventional pesticides.
Adopting an organic lifestyle not only allows you to take better care of your health, but it also provides you with the opportunity to minimize your ecological footprint. Green shopping means to buy local produce, food that was grown near you, especially seasonal fruits and vegetables.In addition, there is the 'taste' thing. An organically grown apple, for example, tastes much better than that from an orchard which has been treated with pesticides and chemicals.
On top of all that, the issue of social and environmental sustainability stands out as a challenge that is increasingly being overcome. More and more family farmers are choosing organic production and joining the eco movement across the world.
In southern Brazil, especifically on Rio Grande do Sul's North Coast, family farmers assisted by Centro Ecologico - an NGO that has promoted organic production since 1985 - use agroforestry systems to grow fruits organically and seek to reproduce the Atlantic Forest biome.
These pictures show banana plants and açai palm-trees growing harmoniously together. Banana plants are exotic whereas açai palm-tree is not only native but also a key species in the forest. Birds, felines, rodents, and insects feed on açai palm-tree.
In November-December 2014, Centro Ecologico welcomed a Swedish student, Tuva Wrenfelt, who came to Brazil for some experience on organic farming. Here's what she said about growing organic bananas:
"I am right now in southern Brazil, specifically in the small coastal town of Torres in Rio Grande do Sul. Here I am a trainee at the organization Centro Ecológico which is working to help small farmers to convert to organic and agroforestry. Here I have learned something enormously when I visited farmers, walked through banana plantations (both organic and conventional) and helped on farms. If there is something that really makes a big difference in the life of the peasants that is when you choose to consume organic produce. In Brazil and many parts out of South America it is awful pesticides that cause farmers to get severe cancer and children are born with really serious birth defects. I've talked to farmers and heard their stories. I have deliberately asked why they chose organic farming, to see their reactions and hear their views. In any case, I have been looking as if I were stupid to even ask the question and then long explanations. To shorten the answer is that they feel better. Which is visible. After more than 50 days here, I think it is obvious here that farmers like feeling better.You may not be the one who normally buy organic. But if you want to make a small effort, buy organic bananas instead of the "ordinary" conventional ones. It makes a huge difference." (originally published in Swedish).
What about you? What is your choice?
