Page 138 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2023

HEALTHY LIVING
organic
natural
story by Luke Height photos courtesy of Tracy Galloway
It may come as a surprise to you, but food doesn’t actually come from a grocery store. I know, I know, it’s hard to believe that people are still doing things the “old fashioned” way and growing the food you eat.
With the world moving at a rapid pace, it’s often hard to sift out the real from the fake, and this is especially true for food. Tracy Galloway, entrepreneur, United States Army veteran, third generation farmer, and owner of Galloway Family Farm in Ocean Springs, helps us understand what to look for in organic food.
Many don’t realize that organic food is just a designation bought and paid for by companies in order for their products to be labeled this way on the shelves. However, it is a better option than the non-organic foods that have been sprayed with pesticides and other GMOs.
Galloway says, “If bugs aren’t eating the food, you shouldn’t eat it either.” These words speak volumes. Of course, you don’t want to eat produce infested with bugs, but what Galloway is saying is, if nature won’t touch the food, it’s for a reason. Pesticides are chemicals that are poisonous and harmful, but with organic food there is no use of such chemicals.
Labels today can be quite confusing, but Galloway helps us understand the difference between organic and natural foods. He says, “A lot of people are into titles, but they have no substance. Natural and organic are synonymous on our farm. We compost our soil and don’t use any harmful substances.”
Produce that is grown naturally and not genetically modified will not last nearly as long. Many of the foods in stores have been shipped across the country, sometimes more than once, before hitting the shelves.
On that note, Galloway leaves us with a few words of wisdom. “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.” His Grandmother always said, “When you lose your health, you have nothing else.”
Food, especially organic food, is essential for maintaining good health and living a long, happy life.
138 | May 2023
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Tracy Galloway.