We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Types of Environmentally Friendly Food?

By Tiffany Manley
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,016
Share

Environmentally friendly food, also known as eco-friendly food, encompasses a wide range of food products and food production methods. As more and more people become conscious of what they eat and where it comes from, an increasing number of options in environmentally friendly food become available. Environmentally friendly food might include organic, sustainable, local and all-natural products. Sometimes it is possible to purchase foods that fall into one or more of these categories, such as organically and sustainably grown cabbage.

When a product is labeled as organic, it generally means that the product was grown without the use of antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides and other products, making it an environmentally friendly food. A farmer or food producer is usually inspected and certified as an organic producer by a government authority, although the criteria for such a certification can vary by location. Some foods might be labeled 100 percent organic, meaning that they are completely organic; others might be labeled simply as organic, meaning that most of the ingredients are organic.

Sustainable foods are foods that have been grown or produced using sustainable methods. This term is often heard in conjunction with the terms "locally grown" or "community-supported agriculture." Sustainable foods are usually food items that come from a person’s local farmers and food producers. This generally ensures that the food is fresh, has not traveled very far, was grown using practices that do not harm the environment or the farmland and provide fair compensation for growers and producers. The term applies to items other than produce as well; coffee, tea, chocolate and rice are all foods that might be sustainable because of the growing methods, fair wages paid to growers or animal-friendly production methods.

When looking for local sustainable foods, many people turn to community-supported agriculture. Many localities offer a service to residents, allowing them to purchase a weekly share of produce from local farmers. Each week, a box filled with seasonal locally grown produce is delivered to each shareholder, allowing them to support local agriculture while eating fresh produce. Some services even offer additional products, such as nuts, meat and eggs.

All-natural products are another type of environmentally friendly food. The term "all-natural" refers to a food that is made with ingredients that have been processed very little, if at all, and that are as close to their natural state as possible. All-natural foods do not contain any preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-different-types-of-environmentally-friendly-food.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.