Those of you who have been eating organic produce since before 2010 have no doubt noticed a relentless and continuing decline in quality in recent years. This deterioration has occurred simultaneously with the increased availability of organics at places like Super WalMart and Target.
Persistent examples I’ve noticed of organic produce that doesn’t live up to its top tier reputation include: overly large, water logged strawberries and raspberries that rot and start to mold within days of purchase, bagged organic salad mix that rots long before the “use by” date, cucumbers and peppers that taste bitter and are soft in the middle despite a firm feel in your hands at the market, and celery that is woody, tasteless and nearly impossible to chew.
When I first started purchasing organic produce in the early 1990s, this type of thing never occurred. Organic produce was consistently tasty and long lasting in the vegetable bin in the refrigerator. I didn’t need any tricks or gadgets like the BluApple or FreshPaper produce saver sheets to keep my produce edible.
The truth is that nutrient dense, high quality produce shouldn’t rot or mold easily. In fact, one of the clearest signs of high brix (nutrient dense) produce is that it will actually start to grow in your veggie bin. Carrots and onions, for example, will sprout new shoots. Root vegetables which get soft or moldy instead of sprout new growth is a worrisome sign of inferior produce and low nutrition, not just a sunk cost in the food budget.
Hydroponic Produce is to Blame
The reason why organic produce isn’t as good as it used to be is the rapid and widespread proliferation of hydroponic produce labeled USDA Organic. Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants with their roots immersed in water with dissolved fertilizers often containing synthetics. An inert, nutritionless medium like peat or coconut fiber might also be used in place of the soil with the roots periodically bathed with a fertilizer solution. Aeroponics, a related practice eschewing soil, grows plants in an air or mist environment.
Despite its popularity today, hydroponic production was never mentioned in the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990. In addition, the widespread inclusion of hydroponics within the USDA Organic program since 2010 has occurred despite the formal objections of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), and the refusal to issue any guidance or regulations on the industry by the National Organic Program (NOP).
The NOSB first attempted to define the term organic in 1995 and it was described as follows:
an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony.
In its recommendation to formally exclude hydroponics from the USDA Organic program in 2010, the NOSB further stated that “Growing media shall contain sufficient organic matter capable of supporting natural and diverse soil ecology. For this reason, hydroponic and aeroponic systems are prohibited.”
To date, the NOP has issued no guidance on the issue despite the NOSB urging rulemaking action on the situation.
Hydroponic Not to Be Confused with Aquaponic
When fish are added to a hydroponic system, it is called aquaponics – the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics.
Such a system cycles nutrient-rich water from fish tanks to naturally fertilize and irrigate, aka “fertigate”, the plants. This is considered a highly sustainable system as the water is recirculated and reused with the plants acting as natural biological filters. Synthetics are never used as part of the process.
In contrast, hydroponics without the aquaculture component frequently involves plant fertility maintained using off-farm and even synthetic inputs.
However, because aquaponics does not involve stewardship of natural and diverse soil ecology, it still should not be considered organic according to the NOSB.
Most Countries Do Not Allow Hydroponics to be Labeled Organic
The vast majority of organic hydroponic produce sold in the United States is grown in Mexico, Canada, or Holland. What’s so hugely ironic is that this very same produce cannot be labeled organic in the the country where it’s grown. It has to be shipped to the United States to obtain the coveted organic label.
Mexico, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Holland, England, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and 17 other European countries all prohibit hydroponic production to be sold as organic.
How the Hydroponic Invasion of USDA Organic Occurred
How has hydroponics so effectively taken over the USDA Organic produce market in such a short time with the NOSB formally recommending against it?
According to the Cornucopia Institute, the reason is because of the National Organic Program’s failure to issue any guidance or regulation on the situation for such a long time. This caused some accredited certifying agents (ACAs) for the USDA Organic program to declare “full steam ahead” and certify hydroponic farms to augment their revenue base. How many is anyone’s guess because certifiers are not required to state whether an organic farm is producing crops hydroponically.
Pressure came to bear when a petition to the NOP from David Chapman, an organic farmer in Vermont, asked to formally accept the NOSB recommendation. He was joined by the National Organic Coalition (NOC) which released a position paper on hydroponics in February 2014 in support of the NOSB recommendation saying, “Organic farmers are not just tillers of the soil, but also stewards of soil ecology on the farm. Until a clear definition has been provided by the NOP, (organic) certifiers should not be allowed to certify hydroponic systems.”
In response, the NOP stated on its website in February 2014 and again in its May 2014 quarterly publication that organic hydroponic production is allowed.
This simple statement in no way constitutes rules or regulations that are specific to hydroponics, however. No guidance has been given to the organic certifiers who are bringing these farms into the USDA Organic program about the use of synthetics, water quality and other issues with hydroponics.
Organic Hydroponics: Buyer Beware
As a result of the NOPs lack of attention to this matter, it is a buyer beware situation when it comes to organic hydroponics. As for me, I avoid organic hydroponic produce as much as I possibly can. The taste, nutrition and overall quality just doesn’t compare (not even close) with the same produce grown in nutrient dense soil. I know I’ll get a lot of nasty emails about this, but the truth is the truth. I’ve been buying organic produce for over 20 years, and organic hydroponic produce doesn’t fool those of us who know what real organic produce grown in ecologically balanced soil is supposed to taste like.
How to tell if produce was grown hydroponically? Unfortunately, nothing on the label will clue you in. With strawberries and sometimes cucumbers, it is easy. If they are huge, they are water logged and most likely hydroponic. Also, if the produce comes from Mexico, Canada, or Holland, it’s a good bet that it is hydroponic. With other produce, it’s not that simple.
One good way to tell if produce was grown in carefully tended, nutrient rich soil is to look for the word “biodynamic” on the packaging. Unfortunately, biodynamic and organic produce is still in the minority.
The best way to avoid hydroponics is to note which farms you are buying from that have produce that doesn’t last when you get home or taste very good when you eat it. Continue to buy only from those farms that are producing the good stuff no matter if it is organic or not. A phone call to the farm to confirm growing practices is a good idea if you want to avoid the trial and error approach.
There is one local, conventional farm near me that I have started to buy cucumbers from. Even though they are conventional, the cucumbers taste far better (which indicates superior nutrition) and last longer than the huge organic hydroponic ones at the healthfood store that taste bitter, are soft in the middle and rot quickly.
Keep the Soil in Organic
If this issue concerns you and you would like to lend your opinion, click over to this petition to the National Organic Program to urge them to “Keep the Soil in Organic”.
More Information
The Organic Hydroponics Dichotomy: Can a Soil-Less Growing System Be Organic?
Organic Hydroponic Produce? Not for Me
4 Steps to Keep Monsanto OUT of Your Garden!
Heirloom vs Hybrid Produce
Is Organic Really Any Better?
Wow, this is so true! I buy my sweet potatoes from a local grower and they last sitting out on my table for weeks and weeks with no signs of rotting at all and there are lots of sprouts growing from them. I also bought some organic ones from the store a few months ago and they got soft spots within a week and were barely usable in another week or two. And this happened twice! I’m not wasting money on them again, I’ll stick with the local ones!
You cant grow hydroponic sweet potatoes. The non organic one are sprayed with a hormone to prevent sprouting.
You are totally right! I,too, avoid hydroponics like the plague. Well written article.
In the late 1930’s and into the 40’s before the war the U.S was feeding soldiers over a million pounds of hydroponics fruits and vegetables near Japan. Japanese were using human waste for compost and disease was rampant. Funny how a loophole allows heavy metals and human waste to be considered “organic” today. Question since the brix of distilled water would be zero what would the brix be with the addition of dissolved heavy metals that are never added to hydroponics solutions such as arcenic, lead, aluminum, radioactive waste ect.
Thank you for this article. I never believed hydroponically grown produce would be as nutritious, but didn’t have the research to back it up; just common sense. It’s really disturbing that it is not required to be labeled though. We can’t even trust a “certified organic” label any more. I am so fortunate to have access to a good farmer’s market; and very blessed to be able to have a little garden myself.
You still don’t have it to back it up because your only looking at a small part of the picture. The forests outside of Chernobyl and fukashima look quite nice though toxic because of uptake of radioactive compounds that are potassium based. “Nutrients” covers the spectrum and many limited for our health though the plant may enjoy eating it. Some “Nutrients” are removed entirely for a reason, one thing nice about hydroponics is the water used to add our nutrients to is distilled or reverse osmosis, like a blank canvas. You don’t know what is in soil bought in stores, soil is naturally high in arcenic, Floride, lead, ect. In many places and what is killing people? Not traditional hydroponic food. I say traditional in the sense of sterile, not compost tea hydroponics or aquaponics.
I totally appreciate your blog and the attention you bring to matters like these which I would never know about otherwise. I always feel I can rely on you for relevant info especially as someone who has always tried to eat organic and sustainable. So thank you and keep up the great work. Petition signed also and hope more people join in.
You are right on the money! Our dear friends purchased a “certified organic hydrophonic” farm few years back. Even though the sellers had paper work to prove the organic certification it turned out to be FALSE! They had not been using any organic fertilizers, pesticides, etc. As it turns out there is no ( or very lax and little) control over hydrophonics industry vs organic soil based grown produce. What a disappointment! Thank you for the truth and integrity as well as your courage to write about it!
Not true, in every state I’m aware of dept of ag must regulate nutrient solutions that they be tested for Nutrient analysis of of NPK Micro, macro and traces which are added to distilled or RO water. It’s actually the other way around. What’s in the organics water? What’s in the soil? Dirty little truth is toxic waste otherwise costly to dispose of can be sold to organics folks as fertilizer or soil. Soil samples are only on a tiny amount of dirt so most organics folks can’t say for sure what their plants are eating, or what they are.
I appreciate your definition of the terms “hydroponics” and “aquaponics” in an effort to make a clear distinction between the two.
From the beginning of the whole hydroponics innovation I’ve been very dubious. That’s because it seemed almost like Frankenstein agriculture – something unnatural. God designed most of the plants that we eat to grow in a healthy soil environment – not artificially fertilized water.
I’m sure you’ve heard words like “synthesized” , or that hydroponics nutrients are petolium based. It’s an absolute lie, they are simply refined as in reducing impurities and in fact if you drink sports drinks or take vatmins your taking the same “synthetics”. It’s all scare tactics to corner the market, We shouldn’t be afraid of science especially in a time when Talaban like mentality is growing. Again I don’t use ignorant to demean but such statements are.
In many places around the world in ancient times hydroponics principles were used. One such culture were the Aztecs floating plants on rafts with roots dangling into lake and river water.
It was ancient cultures such as this that led early scientists to discover nutrients in soil and not soil were what gave plants nutrition. The first “sythasized hydroponics solution was putting soil into distilled water then filtering the water and placing plants into mayson jars suspending roots into solution.
Next was discovering the end stage indivudual nutrients. I say end stage because enzymes and bacterias break down nutrients to become water soluble. These little chemists take amonium nitrate NH4 and convert it to N03 nitrate which can then go into solution, it is that solution of mainly Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium NPK, of which quickly goes into solution of rain water so long as pH and other factors are correct.
Plant tissue culture can tell us exactly the right amount of nutrients a particular plant needs, we can precisely control other factors as well and most importantly is that traditional hydroponics that has been around since the 1930’s is sterile. The problem today is ” organic hydroponics” which uses compost teas and those practices WILL kill someone as googling are organics killing people should raise conscearn.
I first noticed hydroponic “organic” produce with tomatoes. These beautiful-looking red cuties, often still on the vine, appeared with the label “hot-house” grown or something to that effect. They were being grown in the winter in greenhouses employing hydroponic technology. I boycotted. Give me heirloom varieties grown in real soil, please.
If hydroponics are using synthetic / chemical fertilizers then they shouldn’t be allowed to bear an organic label – period!
Are you not buying cucumbers with pesticides, etc. if they are “conventional”?
Yes, but you can wash the pesticides off … nutrition in your veggies and fruits is more important than lack of pesticides, which most people don’t realize. I much prefer conventional produce that brixes higher than organic hydroponics which typically brixes extremely low. Here’s a video on how I wash conventional produce (I get low spray as much as possible) if I do buy it on occasion. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/video-is-organic-produce-really-any-better/
Aloha here at mauinewearth.com we build soil with our aquaponic systems we integrate three different kind of earth worms along with a multitude of other creatures that form simbiotic relationships with in the system. Constantly building new earth we also incorporate mycorrhizal and nitrogen fix ing bactierea along with biomass plants that utilize it . Our systems in corporate the suronding eco systems to instill health fertile soil as well as awesum organic produce, please feel free to chek out our site
Funny I was just reading about a Today story where they were asking a certified organics labeler what organics meant, she said no sythesized fertilizers and no pesticesides. I didn’t see anything about washing it off.
I like Hydroponics because it pretty much guarantees it will not have chemtrails on it.
Unfortunately, synthetics are commonly used with “organic” hydroponics unbeknownst to most people who buy it.
True, particularly follier feeding. Aquaponics plants are often due to nutrients falling out of solution and unavailable for plants due to fish needs of higher pH than many plants. Aquaponics works great with lettuce and spinach but higher plants such as tomatoes are more difficult. Many people just cheat.
I personally am not bias and run a large community organics garden. My farm organics and hydroponics but not a mix. My hydroponics fruits and veggies is sold with roots on at a premium due to taste. The world needs to be fed one way or another, if I wished to increase brix on a plant ID simply let it eat some black strap molasis before harvest, but I don’t want to do that because it tastes fantastic as it is, it’s subjective.
Hydroponics can be loaded with chem trails as you call them. It can be done right and one wrong, just like soil farming.
Petition signed.