Organic: Where Choices Matter Most
The choices we all make every day have real consequences: for our soil, our environment, wildlife, our animals and our own health & wellbeing.
At Daylesford we believe that choosing organic is the best and most ethical decision for all these reasons – and it tastes better too.
This is why we choose to farm organically and we are proud to be fully certified organic by the Soil Association.
Knowing where your food comes from and how it is produced is so important. What’s more, everyday shopping and eating choices can influence wider trends and industry standards, helping to make the world a better place.
We have highlighted four key areas in which the benefits of choosing organic are the most evident, and therefore, where your choices matter most.
ORGANIC DAIRY
Organic dairy cows tend to live longer, happier lives thanks to their high welfare, truly free range lifestyles.
The cows in our dairy herd live for an average of 6-7 lactations, which is much higher than the national average of 2.6. They enjoy a 100% GM-free, forage-based diet ideally suited to their ruminant stomachs. They have little need for medical intervention, so there is no need for the routine use of antibiotics.
Research also shows that organic milk is higher in nutritional value with up to 50% more beneficial omega 3 fatty acids.
ORGANIC CHICKEN
The standards for rearing organic chickens far exceed any other type of farming from the way they are reared, transported and eventually slaughtered. Choosing organic means you ensure transparency in what you are buying throughout the whole process.
Organic chickens are free to roam wide outdoor ranges with no overcrowding. Their instinct to forage for grubs, worms, grass, clover and seeds is nurtured and their natural diet is supported with an organic, GM-free pellet feed.
Organic high quality, high welfare, truly free range birds grow at a naturally slow pace and live significantly longer than even free range chickens, giving the meat time to develop a unique flavour resulting in superb eating quality.
ORGANIC FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Organic fruits and vegetables are grown in rich, healthy soil that has not been depleted by the overuse of pesticides, fertilisers, GM crops and harsh chemicals.
Many crops are susceptible to absorbing pesticides used in non-organic farming systems and the best way to reduce your exposure is to buy organic.
By rotating crops and selecting varieties with a natural resistance to particular pests and diseases, organic farmers are able to reduce or avoid disease and the need to control them with chemical inputs. Organic farmers are permitted to use just 15 pesticides, derived from natural ingredients, under very restricted circumstances.
ORGANIC EGGS
Organic standards far exceed free range when it comes to farming hens for eggs. The smaller flock sizes help to keep disease and distress at bay.
Organic hens thrive on an outdoor lifestyle with freedom to express their natural behaviours such as pecking and roaming. They enjoy the highest standards of animal welfare including an organic, GM-free diet, smaller flocks and never have their beaks trimmed. The routine use of antibiotics is banned.
Organic eggs are especially high in protein and omega 3, give us all eight essential amino acids and are rich in vitamins (A, D, E & K) and nutrients Betaine and Choline – necessary for brain development.
