Healthy SoFlo Issue 51 - Inca Goes Above and Beyond to Provide Safe & Healthy Foods
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COVER STORY · AUGUST 2017<br />
INCA GOES ABOVE<br />
AND BEYOND TO<br />
PROVIDE SAFE &<br />
HEALTHY FOODS<br />
WHY ORGANIC BANANAS<br />
ARE THE ANSWER<br />
Over the last decade, organic foods<br />
have become very popular around<br />
the world. Industry sources<br />
estimate that the U.S. market for<br />
organic bananas represents more<br />
than 5% of the <strong>to</strong>tal volume of fresh banana<br />
imports.<br />
Organic eating is a part of a healthy lifestyle<br />
among Well Being <strong>and</strong> Food Active consumers<br />
according <strong>to</strong> the Natural Marketing Institute.<br />
However, as price difference decreases between<br />
conventional <strong>and</strong> organic products, more<br />
consumers are now eager buyers of all-organic<br />
products from the food that they eat <strong>to</strong><br />
household cleaners <strong>and</strong> personal care products.<br />
Research continues <strong>to</strong> prove that organic<br />
foods tend <strong>to</strong> have higher concentrations of<br />
essential vitamins <strong>and</strong> minerals. These minerals<br />
<strong>and</strong> nutrients are major keys <strong>to</strong> maintaining<br />
optimal health in an otherwise less than healthy<br />
environment.<br />
Some consumers are not able <strong>to</strong> distinguish the<br />
difference when eating organic products. This<br />
is why it helps <strong>to</strong> learn the benefits of organic<br />
farming <strong>and</strong> environmentally friendly practices.<br />
The natural method of growing bananas is<br />
<strong>to</strong> go from site preparation <strong>to</strong> irrigation <strong>to</strong><br />
harvesting then fruit picking <strong>and</strong> packaging.<br />
Eating a genuinely organic diet begins with the<br />
farmer who grew the food <strong>and</strong> ends with you, the<br />
conscientious consumer.<br />
Juan Bautista Dos San<strong>to</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Jose An<strong>to</strong>nio<br />
Ferreira Ospina of <strong>Inca</strong> Bananas have been in the<br />
banana business for more than 30 years. But it<br />
was just 5 years ago when they decided <strong>to</strong> start<br />
organic farming in a micro climate area they<br />
figured was a perfect place <strong>to</strong> produce bananas,<br />
Piura Peru. They made it their mission <strong>to</strong> as a<br />
sustainable company <strong>to</strong> bring the best product<br />
<strong>to</strong> the American market with an emphasis on<br />
educating the consumer while providing a higher<br />
quality organic product.<br />
Unlike many other products on the market, <strong>Inca</strong><br />
Bananas goes above <strong>and</strong> beyond <strong>to</strong> stick <strong>to</strong> their<br />
core values of providing healthy fruits that are free<br />
of pesticides, herbicides, <strong>and</strong> genetically modified<br />
organisms. Their products are grown using<br />
uniquely designed methods <strong>to</strong> reduce exposure<br />
<strong>to</strong> pollution <strong>and</strong> obtain fresh water in Piura <strong>to</strong><br />
maintain their full flavor, <strong>and</strong> go above <strong>and</strong> beyond<br />
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) st<strong>and</strong>ards<br />
of safety <strong>and</strong> quality. The producers count with<br />
different certifications such as Fair Trade, USDA<br />
Organic certified by the Control Union, Global<br />
Gap, <strong>and</strong> European organic certification.<br />
The country of Peru, where <strong>Inca</strong> Banana is based,<br />
prides itself on its lush l<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>and</strong> abundance<br />
of natural resources. Their organic farmers use all<br />
natural methods <strong>to</strong> grow their crops unlike many<br />
of their competi<strong>to</strong>rs. Their organic agriculture<br />
methods include using innovative techniques<br />
like crop rotation <strong>and</strong> the reuse of soil from<br />
compost <strong>to</strong> reduce pollution. The crop rotation<br />
process keeps soil fertile throughout the year<br />
because certain crops can deplete the nutrients<br />
in the soil if maintained in the same area for<br />
extended periods of time. By doing this, they<br />
significantly reduce the use of pesticides; thus,<br />
allowing the plants <strong>to</strong> grow naturally <strong>to</strong> a healthier,<br />
more prosperous state. This process is not only<br />
beneficial <strong>to</strong> the foods we eat but also serves the<br />
water we drink <strong>and</strong> the air we breathe.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the U.S. Department of Agriculture,<br />
organic farming has been proven <strong>to</strong> use less<br />
energy, lock carbon in the soil (reducing the<br />
carbon footprint) <strong>and</strong> produces more fertile soil<br />
because of the soil rotation technique utilized in<br />
organic farming. Combined, these benefits reduce<br />
the use or need for harmful pesticides <strong>and</strong> lessons<br />
the degree of overall pollution in the environment.<br />
Testing suggests that consumers prefer the flavor<br />
of organically produced foods over foods that<br />
aren't organically produced. Taste-testing results<br />
indicate that organic bananas taste sweeter<br />
than conventionally grown bananas. All organic<br />
foods yield higher antioxidant properties in fruits<br />
<strong>and</strong> vegetables that are organically grown. They<br />
maintain higher levels of vitamins <strong>and</strong> nutrients.<br />
The Peruvian organic production process is<br />
widely used throughout the country. It consists<br />
of a number of vitally important <strong>and</strong> efficient<br />
steps <strong>to</strong> ensure the quality of the crops. They<br />
include processes <strong>to</strong> ensure the soil is healthy<br />
<strong>and</strong> properly prepared for planting. Ridding the<br />
area of any potentially harmful rot, ensuring that<br />
THE CREST<br />
Organic agriculture only uses natural<br />
fungicides on the crown (organic acids,<br />
oils, biological agents) <strong>to</strong> prevent<br />
<strong>and</strong> control the rot of the crops. <strong>Inca</strong><br />
Bananas uses lemon juice <strong>and</strong> cuts<br />
the crown square in place with this<br />
practice. The square cut is <strong>to</strong> allow the<br />
fingers <strong>to</strong> obtain a firm grip on the<br />
crown; as well as <strong>to</strong> promote a clean<br />
<strong>and</strong> consistent image of the Clusters.<br />
16 HEALTHY MAGAZINE