Healthy SoFlo Issue 51 - Inca Goes Above and Beyond to Provide Safe & Healthy Foods

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