You might have heard about the “organic” craze that has swept our nation for the past few decades. Sometimes it seems like no matter where you turn, there is a new product that is certified, “organic.” From soaps and shampoos to pet food and even cotton, there is essentially no product beyond the reach of organic farming.

So how does this whole organic revolution fit in with survival prepping?

Well, things can move fast during an emergency. As survival preppers, that’s the whole point of prepping. We plan now so that we are prepared when the time comes later.

In a crisis, you might only have hours, or even minutes, to grab your gear, your wits and get out fast. Of course, the alternative is that you might be stuck inside your house for months, or even years, on end. 

That is why we prepare well in advance every possible survival scenario. It is why we think about emergency shelter, water and food. So that when the time comes, we don’t need to think anymore. Instead, we can just leap into action.

Part of basic survival preparation is making sure that you have enough food to last in both short term and long-term survival scenarios.

While many preppers focus on storing high calorie and nutrient dense survival food, few consider where their emergency food actually comes from.

It’s a shame because where your food comes from is actually quite important!

At the end of the day, any food is better than no food. But with some proper planning, you can ensure that your family has access to the highest quality organic survival food.

Why Should You Choose Organic Survival Food During an Emergency Situation?

It’s no secret that organic food is often more expensive than non-organic food. Sometimes it is double, or even triple, the price!

When you’re prepping for an emergency and already spending money on all sorts of survival gear, you might be wary of shelling out that extra cash for the “organic label.”

Don’t worry, I completely understand. But I’m here to tell you that it is worth it, and here’s why.

1. Organic food is heavily regulated

The term “organic” is very strictly regulated by the government. To label a product as organic, it must be certified by the United States Department of Agriculture. This means that you can rest assured knowing where your food comes from. Perhaps more importantly, you can sleep easier knowing what IS NOT in your food.

Being labelled “organic,” is much different than products that are labelled “all-natural” or “earth-friendly.” These similar terms are not regulated by the government. Sometimes businesses try to use this language to trick customers into believing their products are certified organic. In reality, they are no different than other conventionally grown foods.

To be certified organic, a representative from the USDA must visit the farm or facility where the product is made. The representative will tour the property and ensure that all products and practices comply with the strict organic regulations. If they don’t, they won’t be able to label their food as organic.

Their job might include making sure that animals have access to adequate grazing space, that harmful pesticides are not stored on the property and that only natural manure is added to the soil.

There are additional applications and costs associated with being certified organic. This is the reason why organic produce and meat is usually more expensive than its’ non-organic counterpart. However, the trade-off is knowing that you are consuming highly regulated food.

2. Organic food doesn’t have harmful pesticides, chemicals and hormones

All of the regulation around organic food comes with a great benefit.

Organic food is food that is grown and processed without using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. It is also grown without genetically modified seeds, hormones or any antibiotics.

In the past several decades, we have learned that consuming plants and meats grown with harmful chemicals and hormones can negatively affect our health. It can cause cancer, infertility, and harmful levels of unnatural chemicals and heavy metals in our bodies.

Hence, the rise in organic farming!

Many organic farmers use natural compost, manure and natural farming practices to support their ecosystem as a whole. They rotate crops and focus on soil- health instead of simply yielding the most crop.

These practices produce higher-quality food that is less likely to harm our bodies and our earth.

When you are inn a survival situation, you might be on your own for the long-term. That means that you have to focus on your health because access to health care will be sparce. Staying away from harmful chemicals and pesticides is a way to take back control of your health. 

3. Organic food has more nutrients

This is the part where it gets really important for emergency preparedness.

Organic food has been shown to have higher levels of nutrients, like antioxidants, flavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients are powerful and help your body to fight stress and toxins.

I can’t think of anything more stressful than being in a survival situation. That’s why it is so important to make sure that your body is functioning at its’ highest level! There is a reason why almost every professional athlete consumes a strictly organic diet, it’s because their bodies need the nutrients and best fuel to get the job done.

Well, you’ll need it too in a crisis.

Organic is not just about the foods you are eating, but the quality of the food. Organic food can play an important role in survival because the quality is far superior to conventionally grown food. Yes, a tomato is a tomato but it’s worth the splurge on an organic tomato to maximize your nutrient intake, especially when every bite counts.

The Best Organic Emergency Food Suppliers Out There

Luckily, there’s a lot of great organic emergency food out there. Most of it is dehydrated or freeze-dried, making it an excellent choice for survival prepping. Here’s a few of my favorites.

Numanna is hands down the best supplier for organic survival food. Numanna started the organic emergency food trend and has the most comprehensive options for preppers looking to go organic.

Their organic family pack includes 162 meals contained in resealable bags. The meals are healthy, and the variety is unmatched. Some highlights include sweet habanero chili, mac ‘n’ cheese and broccoli cheddar soup, but the whole pack contains 11 different meals.

They also include basics like quinoa, pancake mix and powdered milk, which can then be paired with other survival food to make a complete meal.

Readywise is a close second to Numanna. Readywise makes a 90-serving organic bucket of freeze-dried and dehydrated meals. These meals come in individual packs of four, making them easy to access and prepare during an emergency situation.

Unlike Numanna, the bags are not resealable, which can be a pain if you are on your own and don’t need all four servings. The flip side is a family of four will find this incredibly convenient.

The Readywise organic bucket has a 25-year shelf life and a handle for easy transport. The meals include broccoli cheddar soup, oatmeal, pasta and pineapple chipotle chili! Unfortunately, there’s not as much variety as Numanna, but pickier eaters won’t mind.

I love Readywise as a company because they also have great options for survival food beyond simply organic. They make vegetarian and vegan survival meals, in addition to gluten free and allergy sensitive products. This makes Readywise a great choice for those with dietary restrictions and allergies.

Last on the list is Backpacker’s Pantry. I LOVE backpacker’s pantry because I think their food tastes really great. They have creative meals and a lot of options for organic freeze-dried foods, including breakfasts.  The pad Thai, green chili mac ‘n’ cheese and a rocky mountain scramble are a few of my favorites.

The downside to backpacker’s pantry is that they are expensive and it’s hard to buy in bulk. Usually, you’ll find these sold individually at REI or other outdoor retailers.

This makes Backpacker’s Pantry much less cost effective than the other organic counterparts, even Numanna. Furthermore, most of the backpacker’s pantry food only last for a few years, instead of decades. If you are willing to replace your food supply on a regular basis, then they might still be a great option, but if you’d like to buy organic emergency food and forget about it in your deep pantry, maybe this brand isn’t for you.

Consider Growing Your Own Organic Emergency Food

Of course, the most cost-effective way to get organic survival food is to grow it yourself. Perhaps your deep pantry includes a mixture of freeze-dried organic meals and survival seeds to plant in your garden. That way you can cover all of your bases to make sure that you have both short-term and long-term solutions.

Growing your own organic emergency food is a great way to have control over your food and what goes into your body. There are many different kits and seed-vaults out there, but you’ll want one that says “Non-GMO.”

Non-GMO means that the seeds are not genetically modified. Some farmers use genetically modified seeds that are resistant to certain diseases and pests, that grow faster or under more stressful conditions. Think of it like changing the DNA of the seed.

While there isn’t a lot of information out there about GMO seeds, they certainly aren’t organic. It might be nice to have a seed that is more resilient, but some people are worried that GMO seeds might affect our health in the long term.

It’s better to be safe than sorry and avoiding GMO seeds is a good choice.

Here’s a great example of a company that produces an all-organic seed-vault. This product contains non-GMO seeds and has incredible variety, especially for the price.

These seeds can be used to grow over 23,000 organic plants. From those plants, you can then harvest more seeds and cultivate an endless food supply. I love that this pack inn particular thinks about hardiness zones so that you can grow at least some of the seeds no matter your climate.

ARK Seeds also makes a great seed vault that has over 50,000 organic and non-GMO seeds. I particularly like this vault because it also includes medicinal and culinary herbs.

When you are in a survival situation for the long term, it is beneficial to have access to organic herbs and medicine to make salves, balms and teas. These will help with burns, cuts, bruises and other medical problems.

This kit also includes a growing guide, which is important in a pinch. Assuming you aren’t a gardening expert, some helpful tips for planting and harvesting will go a long way in making your organic food last.

Don’t Get Bogged Down in the Details

Yes, it is important to think about incorporating organic survival food into your emergency preparedness plan, but don’t stress out about it too much. At the end of the day, what matters the most is that you have access to some sort of healthy food!

Organic food is great and definitely preferred to non-organic food, but food is food, and when you’re in an emergency, you take what you can get.

The best way to make sure that you have access to organic food is to prepare from the get-go. Buy an organic emergency food kit and some organic, non-GMO seeds so that you have access to healthy food in a pinch.

Also consider learning to hunt and fish, so that you can catch some truly organic fish and game to supplement your diet.

Do not expect that in a serious crisis you will be able to find certified organic products, because the reality is that the government might not be functioning at that point. The best thing to do is prepare now so that you can rest easy later.