#1 Choose Organic Milk
There's a whole lot more to a glass of milk than meets the eye. Unknown to most of us is the cow it came from, the dairy farm where the cow was raised, and all of the land needed to growing food for that cow. It takes a huge amount of land and that makes it a huge opportunity. When you choose a glass of conventional milk, you are buying into a whole chemical system of agriculture. When you buy a glass of organic milk you're creating more benefit than you might know.
When parents start making organic choices they often start at the top of the food chain, with organic milk. Most moms understand that the food they eat and the medicines they take can go directly into their breast milk. There is a sensible connection that the medicines and foods given to dairy cows can affect our family's health. We would prefer avoiding the routine use of antibiotics, artificial hormones, pesticides, and genetically modified feed. And with good reason. Some recent USDA monitoring data found synthetic pyrethroid pesticides in 27% of conventional milk samples, and in only one organic sample - and even that at a lower level.
Some people who switch believe organic milk is better for their families because of conjugated linoliec acids as well as omega-3 fatty acids or even the antioxidant beta-carotene. Many choose organic milk because they believe in the taste, or as a means of supporting responsible, compassionate animal care.
These are all good reasons to choose organic milk, but for me...
A Vote for Change
I see each glass of organic milk as the tip of an organic mountain. Nurtured, living soil, responsibly tended land, produces vibrant organic pasture and nutritious organic feed, which leads to healthy organic cows. Organic cows must, by regulation, be allowed to graze on pasture during the growing season. Organic milk represents an entire organic ecosystem. If you drink milk, choose organic every time and you will be making a big impact.
An astonishing 200 million acres of farmland in the US are devoted to growing feed for our livestock. By choosing to drink organic milk, or to eat cheeses or yogurts made from organic milk, you are voting with your dollars to effect a big change.
If you go to a fast food restaurant, ask for organic milk, let your beverage be a positive choice. Ask for it in our schools. If you eat ice cream, look for it there. If we join together to make this change, imagine what could happen.
But can it really work?
The popularity of organic milk has already resulted in many conventional farmers choosing to raise cows without the use of artificial growth hormones. This is a big accomplishment, brought about by consumer spending. If we keep choosing organic milk, we can expect similar changes in the whole system - as well as good nutrition - and a cleaner environment - for our families.