Tips to Recognize Organic Food Companies

So you’ve made the commitment to buying organic nutritious foods and eliminating harmful chemicals and preservatives. Bravo! By now you may have realized how very few dependable brand names are available at local supermarkets. Brightly colored packages and store deals no longer dictate your shopping trips. But many food companies have grown savvy to the increasing number of consumers that are making the switch to all organic foods. In an attempt to increase their consumer base, some popular brands have redirected their marketing techniques in order to make their food appear both cheap and healthy. This article will help to reveal ways to find dependable organic food companies, and how to recognize imposters.

Because the majority of consumers are more preoccupied with the cost of food as opposed to nutritional value, organic food companies have to compete heavily with popular brand names in order to market their products. Larger companies use preservatives in their food in order to increase shelf life, resulting in a larger period of time to sell the product for store owners. Large companies also have more revenue to dedicate to advertising and marketing in order to increase their distribution area. Therefore organic food companies are sometimes forced to distribute locally in order to cut shipping costs and save shelf life time. As a result, different organic companies will distribute to different areas. Some brands may not be found nationwide. It is more important to recognize organic brands that are offered in your own area and local stores.

If you’re curious as to how to spot organic foods, then the answer is simple. Do your grocery shopping in stores that specialize in organic foods. Find a local health food store near you and become acquainted with the brands that they offer. Recently a grocery store chain by the name of “Trader Joes” has been expanding across the nation. With 365 stores located in 31 different states, there’s a good chance of finding one close to your area. The store offers a wide variety of food products, many of which are 100% organic. And while they offer a variety of brands, the store specializes in marketing and selling their own brand of food merchandise which are also mostly organic products. But don’t fret if you are having trouble finding a health specialty store in your area. Many large grocery store chains still offer organic products as well.

When shopping in larger stores that do not specialize in organic products, keep one important thing in mind. Take time to read food labels. While it’s easy to look for the big green seal on products labeled, “USDA Certified Organic”, not every item on your shopping list will be so easily found in this manner. It’s important to take time to see the ingredients in the products that you are purchasing. Look for preservatives and unnatural ingredients like food coloring. Keep in mind that many large brand names will use earth tones and fancy lettering to make their product labels appear similar to organic food brands. But behind the labels you’ll find a list of numerous ingredients that are hard to pronounce, and even harder to find in nature. Certain brands such as “Kashi”, offer a variety of products such as cereal, many of which are organic. However, not all of their products are 100% organic. Many companies that offer gluten free products also use preservatives within their ingredients. This is a prime example of why it is important to focus more on quality ingredients as opposed to brand names.

In review, focus on finding a health food specialty store in your area, find out what organic brands are offered in your area, and take time to read food labels. By using these techniques you can ensure that the groceries that you are buying will be free of harmful toxins. Also take time to research as to whether organic produce is offered at your local farmer’s markets. By doing so you’ll help to support your local community as well as invest in a healthy future. Get started today to start feeling better tomorrow!