Understanding organic food and the organic process w/ special guest Sandi Kronick CEO of Happy Dirt

Welcome back to the Period Chats Podcast! Today we get to hear from Sandi Kronick, the CEO of Happy Dirt. Based in Durham, Happy Dirt is an organic wholesale and distribution company. Ever since Sandi started it in 2004, they’ve been supporting local farmers who grow organic food. They do this by building up infrastructures like trucking and marketing, so that farmers can focus on their soil, and crops, and build a future for themselves and their families. So many questions have come my way about organic food, so today you’ve come to the right place; we’re about to learn SO MUCH from Sandi. The term “Organic” is legally regulated through the federal government. In the food and agriculture space, this single word means that a farm is adhering to hundred of pages of regulatory work that includes disallowing most synthetic products, as well as disallowed non-synthetic products in growing their crops (they still may use natural pesticides like garlic). The National Organic Standards Board oversees this and shows zero tolerance for things like harmful conventional pesticides and GMO’s, so consumers can rest assured that organic food has been through the relevant inspections. They also have a commitment to wholistic practices like crop rotation. Some people think that organic and conventional foods are the same, and that the label is kinda BS… and maybe cheaper price motivates this convenient belief! I used to be one of those people - but it turns out I felt better when I switched to organic, and it also turns out there’s science behind why. Our bodies don’t process certain synthetic pesticides well. Plus, many of the conventional pesticides that farmers are allowed to use in the U.S. can kill our off our gut microbiomes. We all know Preventative health is more efficient and less stressful than having to treat illnesses that could have been prevented upstream. So, as more and more data accumulates on the matter, a growing number of doctors believe that eating organic is a worthwhile preventative health measure. We talk about how Sandi’s company contributes to the world of organics, cares about maintaining consumer trust, and ensures that the principles of organic farming stay intact. We also talk about regenerative farming, which is a different but related thing to organic farming, and how some farms are doing both. Currently, there isn’t a certification program for regenerative farming, or a set definition yet, but that may be coming soon. Sandi reminds us why it’s important to go to our local farmer’s markets, and how not everyone there is an organic farmer but they’re all still heroes. She suggests some questions might be helpful to ask while there. Most states have an umbrella non-profit that connects citizens to farmers and farmers markets, so make sure you check for your state’s local food finder. I LOVED hearing about all the work that goes into organic food, and I know we’ll all feel more connected to our food and our bodies after this episode! Learn More Happy Dirt’s https://happydirt.com/