Going organic for good health in Taichung

Words by Daniel C. Luthi, N.E.
Translated by Naomi Lai

According to the Taiwan Agriculture and Food Agency, land dedicated to organic farming in Taiwan in 2010 has increased to over 3,150 hectares, or about 0.38% of the total agricultural land area. While this may not sound like a lot of organic farmland, it is 3.4 times as much as there was in 2001. Then compare this to the 0.7 % of farmland certified and allocated to organic farming in the United States, and it starts to look like this country is certainly on the right track. On the other hand, if we compare Taiwan to Switzerland--a country of similar size with around the same percentage of available agricultural land--then Taiwan's 0.38% pales by comparison to Switzerland's 11.08% of agricultural land converted to organic farming.

To see further improvements, an issue that the Taiwan government must be seriously address as soon as possible is the fact that Taiwan's farms are small and close together, meaning that chemicals used on a nearby farm can easily contaminate the soil of organic farms. So far, the government has designated four zones covering 262 hectares for organic produce production in Taiwan. Hopefully, many more zones will be reserved and protected for organic farming in the near future, to ensure an adequate supply of clean, healthy fruit and vegetables.

Why buy organic?
Is organic food truly healthier? The answer is a definitive YES, and it may be well worth your money to start buying organic vegetables and fruit, as well as pasture-fed, free-range, hormone-free meat and poultry whenever possible. Let's look at some of the factors that affect nutrients and toxin levels in today's food.

Meat, poultry, eggs and dairy: Due to the poor quality feed (grains instead of grass or critters) and the utter lack of exercise for conventionally-raised animals (confined day and night), their meat is much less nutritious and exceedingly fatty. It contains antibiotics to fight infectious diseases as well as steroid hormones to accelerate growth and increase milk/egg production. Plus, a full range of toxic residues in their feed, including pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers, are passed on to us via meat, eggs and milk. Needless to say, this exposure, especially if it is often and over many years, can have a damaging impact on our organs and our reproductive and immune systems and, thus, our health, longevity and quality of life.

Vegetables, fruit, seeds and nuts: Again, conventionally-grown (meaning not organically grown) plants will contain pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers in considerably large quantities. Add to this the emerging evidence of higher levels of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals and especially antioxidants, in organically-grown produce and it seems we have confirmed my answer to the questions at the top of this article.

Overall, development of organic farming isn't going to happen overnight in Taiwan. To ensure a better health for yourself, a better future for the next generation and the sustainable use of land, we should all start to support organic farming and its development. We should also support a return to traditional farming, reduce chemical usage and protect the land and water resources around us. Together, let's move towards a healthier organic life.

Healthy DIY organic salads
Let's take a break from these serious talks and enjoy some cooking fun! The following are two of my favorite organic salads that you can try making at home for yourself. From what we know, the basic nutrition that humans need is often destroyed in contact with heat. If you buy organic fruit and vegetables, the best way to get the most out of them is to create tasty, light and energy-providing salads.

Japanese Seaweed & Wild Yam Salad:
1 cup wild yam or mountain yam, julienned
1 cup soaked Wakame seaweed
1 cucumber, thinly sliced
1 tomato, cut into thin wedges
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 head of Romaine lettuce
1 small bag dried Bonito fish flakes
1 tbsp. roasted sesame seeds
Dressing:
4 tbsp. Japanese soy sauce
2 tbsp. lemon juice (1 lemon)
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. sesame oil (100 % pure)
1 tbsp. roasted sesame seeds

Vietnamese Squid Salad
(For an instructional video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFj6t8-njT4)
1 squid, cut into strips
2 cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 tomato, cut into thin wedges
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
2 tbsp. celery stems, finely diced
2 chili peppers, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, finely diced
Dressing:
2 tbsp. Vietnamese fish sauce
2 tbsp. lemon juice (1 lemon)
2 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. water
* For more information on how to make the dishes, check out the video on www.5d.com.tw

Certification of organic produce
There is much produce on the market that has been tagged as "organic", but is it true? Taiwan's organic certification is still in its early stages, so it's often confusing for consumers. Unless consumers understand the official certification and the overall process, it is hard to tell what is truly organic and what is not. In addition, there are many groups in Taiwan that have started certifying organic food. Groups that have been certified by the government includes MOA International (MOA), Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (TOAF), and Taiwan Organic Production Association (TOPA). Produce certified by these three organizations helps consumers find the right organic product they need.

Where can you get organic produce in Taichung?

More and more people are concerned about their health, pollution on fruit and vegetables, and the environment as a whole. Many supermarkets, such as Taisuco, RT-Mart, Yumaowu Capita'n, and even the B2-level supermarket at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store, are also setting aside a "Safe Vegetables" or "Organic" section for their produce. The following chain stores also offer easily-found, safe produce and daily living supplies such as organic cotton underwear and socks.

-Leezen Taichung Flagship Store:
3, Taichung Port (TaiZhongGang) Rd, Sec 3; (04) 2329-8900 (organic foods, environmentally-friendly supplies, organic cotton clothing, towels and environmentally-friendly detergents, etc.)
-Santa Cruz Organic Foods:
211, GongYi Rd; (04) 2302-9322 (ree-range pork, chicken and fish; organic vegetables)
-Organic Garden:
99-38, AnHe Rd; (04) 2358-8489 (natural seasonings, noodles, organic grains and seeds, health books)
-Organics Super Market (Wenxin branch):
510, WenXin Rd, Sec 3; (04) 2315-6993 or call 0800-880-988 (fruit, vegetables, roots, grains, health products)