What Is Organic September, and Why Give Organic a Try?

Every September, organic food and farming get their moment in the spotlight. Organic September is a nationwide campaign that runs throughout the month, encouraging people to give organic a go and to think a little more about where their food comes from. You don't need to overhaul your whole shop to take part. A few simple swaps are the whole idea. Here is what it's about, and why it might be worth joining in.

What does organic actually mean?

Organic is a way of growing and producing food to a certified set of standards. In practice, that means farming without synthetic pesticides and manufactured fertilisers, no genetically modified ingredients, and stricter rules on additives. Organic livestock is reared to higher animal-welfare standards, with more space and no routine use of antibiotics. When a product is labelled organic, it has been independently certified against these rules, so the word carries real meaning rather than being marketing language.

Healthy soil, healthy food

At the heart of organic farming is something easy to overlook: the soil. Rather than relying on synthetic chemicals, organic growers work to build healthy, living soil, using crop rotation, natural compost and careful land management. The thinking is simple and powerful. Healthy soil grows healthy plants, healthy plants make nourishing food, and the whole system supports the wildlife, insects and pollinators that our food ultimately depends on. Choosing organic is a vote for that way of doing things.

Why people choose organic

People come to organic for different reasons, and most are perfectly sound. Some want to reduce their exposure to synthetic pesticide residues, particularly on foods with thin, edible skins. Many choose it for the environment, because organic farming tends to support more wildlife, cleaner water and healthier soil. Others care most about animal welfare. It's worth being balanced here: the evidence that organic food is dramatically more nutritious is mixed, so the strongest case for organic is really about how the food is produced and its impact on nature, rather than a promise of a nutritional miracle.

How to take part without overhauling everything

The spirit of Organic September is small, doable changes, not perfection. The easiest place to start is with the foods you buy most often, since a swap you make every week adds up. Store-cupboard staples are perfect: think organic oats for breakfast, organic flour for baking, organic dried fruit, pulses and grains, and organic oils. Our organic range, certified to recognised organic standards, is full of exactly these everyday basics, from Organic Jumbo Oats to organic pulses and organic olive oil to organic flour. 

Eating organic on a budget

Organic sometimes has a reputation for being expensive, but it doesn't have to be. The trick is to focus your organic spending where it matters most and to buy smart. Choosing organic versions of the staples you get through in quantity, and buying them in larger, better-value sizes, keeps the cost down. Members save more too, since our free Club unlocks lower prices across the range. Eating a little more organic really can fit a normal weekly budget.

Organic September is simply an invitation to try. Swap one or two everyday items, notice how it feels, and see whether it becomes a habit that lasts beyond the month. It fits neatly with our own Whole Plate idea, that most of your plate, most of the time, should be real, thoughtfully produced food. Pick a couple of swaps, and you've already begun.