Growing healthy communities & ecosystems.
Is organic food worth it for safety? Here's what you need to know
Is organic food worth it for safety? Here's what you need to know
ORLANDO, Fla. – Is your food safe?
It’s an age-old question and one brought to the forefront again this summer with headlines like these: EPA issues an emergency order for the first time in 40 years to ban a weedkiller than can harm fetuses. Or this one: A substance found in rocket fuel is also found in mac and cheese.
So, can you really avoid toxins at the grocery store? Is paying more for organic food worth it or are you just throwing away your hard-earned cash? The answer: it’s complicated. Buying organic food will reduce your exposure to synthetic chemicals, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture allows organic-certified food to be grown on hydroponic farms, which some people believe do not have all the benefits you’ve come to expect when buying organic.
Between 1992 and 2012, 31 million acres of agricultural land in the U.S. were irreversibly lost to development.
American Farmland Trust, 2018, Farms Under Threat: The State of America’s Farmland.
It is our mission to permanently preserve Turner Farm and Meshewa Farm, drawing lessons from our rural heritage to help build a positive future, demonstrating that local, organic, low-impact food production grows healthy communities and healthy ecosystems.
Feeding Body, Mind & Spirit
FARM
Rotating fields between certified organic crop production and regenerative grazing, we grow 50-plus varieties of vegetables without the use of unnatural chemicals, and humanely raise grass-fed beef and lamb, as well as pastured chicken, eggs and heritage pork, all of which you can buy straight from the source at our on-site Farm Market.
KITCHEN
At our Teaching Kitchen, students of all ages learn how to confidently cook healthy meals using our region’s freshest seasonal food, including vegetables and meat from our own fields and pastures.
COMMUNITY
Through education and outreach, we cultivate a healthier future for not only the people we teach, but also the planet. Our programs include community gardens, veteran farmer training, gardening classes, and wellness workshops with the UC Center for Integrative Health & Wellness. Turner Farm is also available for private event rental.
