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

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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
COVER STORY · AUGUST 2017 By Andres Portillo there are nearby routes and a viable source of water, developing a topographic plan to accurately locate the irrigation and drainage infrastructure, using a chisel plot to break hard layers of soil and penetrate roots so that the exchange of gases could be adequately facilitated; and a number of other thorough procedures that will significantly impact the health of the plants and eliminate any potential harmful substances from invading the plants and/or causing disease. This process also guards against weed growth, pest infestation, and helps to control and outbreak of the Banana Streak Virus (BSV), which can lead to spread. Peru is recognized as one of the main centers of biodiversity in the world. Its ancient agricultural tradition, based on the selection and management of various plant species, has allowed it to contribute to the world food market with important products such as the organic banana. What contributes to Peru's success in organic farming is that it has several ecological floors. It concentrates eighty-four of the one hundred and four micro-climates known in the world. Their different altitudes and climates generate exceptional conditions for the development of various crops. It has an extensive coastal strip whose dry tropic climate and regime of irrigation “ What contributes to Peru’s success in organic farming is that it has several ecological floors. with rivers that contain silt and organic materials of the mountains, transmit to numerous and fertile valleys. Those unique qualities coupled with other local environmental factors yield not only a great tasting product but a product that is of exceptional quality regarding color and presentation as well. This great diversity of ecological floors and the country's accompanying natural attributes facilitate a wide range of agricultural products, many still native, and allow for large crops and help to maintain sustained quality production throughout the year. The cut of the banana crown says much of the care of the fruit. A well cut "square" crown communicate how the company treats the earth, the plant, the farmers and especially its consumers. Power yourself and eat Inca Bananas, each 100 gr of bananas count with an energy value (89 kcal), high potassium (358 mg) and vitamin (8,7mg). One large distinction is that Peru has the ability to export to the local market. To date, Inca Banana exports over nine million boxes to locations in Europe and the United States. Their main goal is to connect the customers they currently have with real producers that have an ecological production niche. This explains why the name Inca bananas is used. It represents a past culture that fought hard for its identity. It is representative of authority and struggle. It fought for its home and rightful place in history. The country of Peru has undergone those same struggles. Inca would like to position themselves a go-to organic brand that can always be trusted to provide a quality product and help bananas to continue to be the top selling fruit in supermarkets. Nowadays you can find new food products based on bananas such as banana pudding, bread, smoothies and pancakes. Check Inca Bananas www.incabananas.com website to learn new recipes. For questions, contact us at 786.973.4816. 17 HEALTHY MAGAZINE
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Healthy SoFlo Issue 51 - Inca Goes Above and Beyond to Provide Safe & Healthy Foods

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