We've all been told we should buy organic. But how many of us really know why? We cut through the bumph with our no-nonsense guide to organics, so you won't have to spend another minute loitering in the vegetable aisle trying to work it all out

What does organic really mean?

Organic food is produced with consideration to balanced soil, with farmers using a system of crop rotation to keep their ground fertile. With only seven types of pesticide used (in fact only four have been passed by the stringent Soil Association, who have been researching naturally produced food since 1946), there are fewer chemicals in your food, while the ban on genetically modified (GM) crops means that you won't be eating any 'super-veg'. Meat and dairy products come from animals reared using minimal drugs.

To be truly organic, food should be Soil Association certified. However, with an annual fee of up to £500 it's no surprise that 30 per cent of organic produce doesn't bear the 'symbol of trust'.

Why should you eat organic?

Not only is organic food proven to be healthier, with higher levels of vitamin C, iron and calcium, it also tastes better. Because those carrots aren't forced to grow quickly in time for the Sunday dinner rush, they can develop a depth of flavour not found elsewhere.

The lower water content (non-organic foods change structure through the use of agro-chemicals and retain 26 per cent more water) not only contributes to that flavour but may also mean that, pound for pound, organic food is really the more economical option.

And it's good news for those of us striving to be 'green'. The organic farming method produces less waste, and therefore less carbon dioxide into the environment. It also goes hand in hand with a higher standard of animal care and supports farmyard wildlife.

Is this just a way to charge more for a bit of dirt on my carrots?

Number one on any naysayer's list is the price of organic food. Studies show that your organic basket could cost up to 63 per cent more. And don't expect to buy exotic favourites all year round. Even if you can get your hands on an elusive boysenberry, chances are it will have clocked up thousands of air miles to get here.

Forget that handsome, shiny fruit you've been used to. It's a shock to be presented with the Dean Gaffney of the apple world, all pimply and misshapen, but that's organic for you. It's also famed for its ability to go off in seconds.

Even if you can get over the fact that your bananas don't all bend in the same way, you still might not be getting what you paid for. Consumer groups are concerned that those big, bad supermarkets and eateries are slapping organic labels on any old meat, while London celebrity hangout Julie's was recently fined for falsely advertising normal dishes as organic.

Organic myths debunked

No such thing as 'organic'
The UK Food Standards Agency claims that there is no difference between organic and non-organic food. However, the Soil Association says that in the course of their research they overlooked 150 studies which say otherwise.

Organic consumption poses a health risk
Two E. coli outbreaks in the US were initially linked to organic practices. It has since been proved that both were caused by storage and washing methods at the shops they were sold from.

Cruelty to animals
It might sound cruel, but in fact the ban on animal medicines is a positive. Farmers rely on the old adage 'prevention is better than cure' and never deny animals treatment where there's no alternative.

Organic farming saves the world
Organic farming is certainly the more eco-friendly method, but sadly eating organic isn't going to save the environment. It won't guarantee an end to melting glaciers unless we start eating locally produced food, instead of demanding goods that need to chuff out gallons of carbon getting here. Still, if organic farming does eventually become a worldwide standard, it will be excellent news for the Third World. Organic farming keeps soil fertile and provides jobs for those cash poor, labour rich countries.

What next?

If you think the organic thing is for you, check out local listings for farmers markets or sign up to a box scheme which delivers fresh, local produce straight to your door. Find out where those burgeoning organic supermarkets and restaurants are hiding. London-centric Fresh & Wild may have the monopoly at the moment but with American organic supermarket chain Whole Foods heading this way, things are looking up all over Britain.

This new addition to the organic scene may well bring an end to that long-running labelling debate. Presumably we can rely on an organic supermarket more readily than one of the monster chains that claims to be selling us the organic truth? But until then, Soil Association certification (pictured above) remains the gold standard.

With more and more people turning on to the organic movement, the future looks bright. In a recent survey by HSBC 22 per cent of people thought organic food was 'important'. Give it a few years and we'll all be eating Dean Gaffney apples - warts and all.