Food has three significant environmental impacts: production, processing, and transportation. At OrganicoHarvest, we are committed to minimizing the environmental impact in all three stages. Here’s how we strive to make a difference:
- Organic Production: By producing food organically, we not only reduce the environmental impact but also have the potential to reverse it. Organic farming practices prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and natural resources, promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing the reliance on harmful chemicals and pesticides.
- Chemical-Free Processing: At OrganicoHarvest, we prioritize your health and the environment by using zero chemicals in the processing of food. This ensures that the food you consume is free from harmful additives and preservatives, contributing to a healthier ecosystem.
- Local Sourcing: We believe in supporting local farmers and reducing the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. Most of the food that reaches you through OrganicoHarvest is locally sourced, minimizing transportation emissions and promoting regional food systems.
By choosing OrganicoHarvest, you actively contribute to these efforts and reduce your carbon footprint. Together, we can make a positive impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Less Green House Emission
Agriculture is one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. But the main reason is conventional (read chemical) methods of production. Just 150 years ago, the average carbon content of the soil which used to be somewhere between 12-18% (organic soil) decreased to 0.5-3% (conventional soil) in most parts of the world. So just imagine the potential of carbon capture of organic farming (soil) Vs conventional farming (soil).
An article here shows that 11% of total gases emitted are by agriculture only. But organic farming not only decreases emission but also have the potential for carbon capture. So more organic farming is better for the world.
Economical Transportation
In this day and age transportation, means have developed immensely. But we humans tend to take things for granted. So it is normal for food to travel thousands of miles before reaching the end consumer. For example, it is now normal to buy lemons from Chennai (about the Delhi market), coriander from Gwalior, and potatoes from Maharashtra.
On average, even in the case of the unorganized sector (leaving apart organized retail), vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants, okra) travel 160-220km on average, while onions travel 410km and potatoes a whopping 1530km. (Source: Here)
Long-distance transportation (called Food Miles) not only decreases the nutritional content (if it has any) but also contributes a lot to food wastage. Everyone is aware of the fact that most ripening is done artificially because there are many supply-chain challenges in shipping ripe harvest. So most farmers harvest unripe produce and ship it. Then when it reaches its destination, ethylene is used to help it ripe artificially (The transparent glue-type material on papaya is ethylene).
OrganicoHarvest has found a solution to this. We source food only from local farmers. Most of our food (80%) is sourced from a 150km radius while some fruit does travel higher distances (rest assured we try to minimize it). The benefit is that we do NOT use any artificial ripening agent (hence good for your health) and deliver you highly nutritious food at nearly the same prices as non-organic food (prices are only 20-30% higher compared to 300% from others).
Eco-friendly Packaging
We, at OrganicoHarvest, don’t just focus on providing you with more sustainable food. But we take sustainability a step further. You might remember from your school days that we all are taught about the four R’s i.e. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. But we took the lesson quite literally.
That’s why we follow the R’s in that very priority. We try to remove as much plastic from our supply chain as we can (this is Refuse). Even if we have to use, we use only a bare minimum of packaging ( this is Reduce). We try to reuse as much packaging as we can because we know that even if we recycle, a lot of energy and resources are used. and finally, if we have to, then we recycle as much as we can.