Natural Grocers® Even More Affordable Earth Day Specials - April 22-24, 2026

3 Clean Water: protecting a vital resource A study of four American agricultural watersheds found that every rainfall sample contained the herbicides atrazine and metolachlor. And all 50 states have a nutrient pollution problem of excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water. Agriculture is a major contributor through runoff of chemical fertilizers and animal manure. Organic farming focuses on soil health and doesn’t use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Organic standards also require pasture access for ruminants. Studies show that these practices help reduce the • Healthy soil acts like both a filter and a sponge—trapping sediment and pollutants before they reach groundwater or streams while storing water for drier times. Just a 1% increase in soil organic matter increases water storage potential by over 20,000 gallons per acre. • A recent U.S. Midwest study found that nitrate leaching in organically managed pasture was reduced by 93% and in organic cropland by 50% over four years compared to the conventional crop system. 4 Pesticides: from toxic chemicals to natural pest control Over a billion pounds of pesticides are used in the U.S. annually, with hundreds of millions of those destined for crops. And pesticides don’t just stay where they’re sprayed—they can drift far and wide, leaving residues in soil, water, and food. Organic farming works with nature’s processes, cultivating healthy soil to grow pest-resilient plants and encouraging the presence of natural enemies to maintain pest control, among other practices. Farms can thrive without pesticides: • Organic practices are a win for greenhouse tomato growers, according to a recent study. Beneficial insects were 97% more prevalent, and the pest-to-predator ratio was 9:1 versus 38:1 in conventional. • A 2021 study of tropical sugarcane farms found that within 1-2 years of transitioning to organic, saprophagous insects—vital for soil fertility in tropical systems—increased by 234%. 5 Organic is the gold standard for your health, too Research continues to show that choosing organic foods offers many health benefits. • Every 5% increase in organic food intake was linked to a 3% decrease in diabetes risk, according to a 2025 study, and the highest organic consumers had 35% less risk than the lowest consumers. Reduced pesticide exposure, improved omega fatty acid profiles, and higher antioxidant levels may be factors, according to the researchers. • A 2025 study found an association between organic food consumption and significantly lower inflammation markers. • Healthy soil produces healthier food: crops contain higher levels of micronutrients and phytochemicals, while pasture-grazed meat and dairy have healthier omega-3 to omega-6 ratios. So, where do you start if you want to make a more sustainable impact with your grocery list? Look for Certified Organic and Regenerative Organic Certified labels - the gold standard for the lifecycle of food and your health. And shop with retailers whose standards reflect the connection between planetary and human health. At Natural Grocers, our standards include 100% organic produce, 100% pasture-based dairy, 100% free-range eggs, 100% non GMO bulk, 50% organic across all products, and much more. leaching of nitrates and other chemicals into water. Soil health and water quality go hand in hand:

Let’s eat for the earth we want to inhabit.