The organic trend has finally hit Macau. There are organic sections in many supermarkets, organic fair-trade coffee in some local coffee shops, and most significantly, a growing interest among Macau citizens. However, you still need to spend time looking for organic food, only a limited range of products are available, and what is available is often quite expensive. So why bother?
Roughly 100 years ago, all foods were “organic” – grown without pesticides, herbicides, hormones and other chemicals. With the early 20th century came large-scale chemical based farming and massive growth in food processing. These farms strived for more produce, working against natural cycles of the earth, relying on chemicals to produce big harvest returns. This process exhausted the soil which led to the production of not only nutrient deficient, but also pollutant-ridden, agrochemicals crops.
According to specialists, pesticides, which are present in most commercial produce, must be processed by our immune systems, and have been shown to cause cancer as well as liver, kidney and blood diseases. In contrast, organic farming works with the land, seasonally and sustainably. Fresh, organic produce contains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other micronutrients than intensively farmed produce.
So perhaps you’re thinking: “What if I can’t fully sustain myself with organic food?” Well, there are little tricks you can use for preparing non-organic produce that local Chinese people have known for ages. For example, soak your vegetables or rinse them a few times before eating raw or further cooking. For more a modern technique, you can buy natural Veggie Wash that will help to clean your fruits and vegetables of wax and pesticides.
Another good reason to eat organic is avoiding GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). GMOs are created when a gene from one species is transferred to another, growing something that would not be found in nature. Think about tons of GMO soya, corn and abnormally big salmons and milky cows.
While scientists are still researching how dangerous GMOs are and how much better organic is, we have to make our daily choices. Let’s choose a fresh, healthy, delicious whole food diet, and buy organic whenever possible.
Shops where you can find organic products in Macau:
ORGANIC PLUS
20, Estrada de Adolfo Loureiro
SUNNY HEALTH
Room 2204, 22/F, Luso International Bank Building, Rua Dr. Pedro Jose Lobo
PARK’N’SHOP
G/F, Centro Comercial de Seac Pai Van, Lot CN5a, Taipa
