Organic

Do you buy organic? Why?

Here are a few things to consider.

Have you heard about The Environmental Working Group?
I'd like to share some links from a conversation that is happening in another group that I am in. Scientists refuting the work of the Environmental Working Group.

I thought this might get some political conversation moving here on the TFP.

USDA, FDA findings debunk 'Dirty Dozen' fruit, vegetable list | AGDAILY

Dear EWG, This Is Why Real Scientists Think Poorly of You | American Council on Science and Health

Environmental Working Group and the Dirty Dozen


And what about organic agriculture? Is it really better for us?

I personally prefer the taste of most organic produce. They tend to be different varieties, which better appeal to my palate. But I am currently in California where organic farms are abundant, and often have shorter transport times / distances from farm to table.

I would rather purchase local produce over organic that has been trucked in from somewhere. When I lived in Ohio, most of the organic produce came from California and was really sad looking by the time it hit the shelves, but the local farms' goods, which weren't usually organic, were superior.

When I lived in Texas, I just bought whatever was grown in state and in season. Sometimes that was organic. Sometimes it wasn't. Most of the time I passed up produce that wasn't local.

Here's a related link:
Is organic agriculture really better for the environment?

Organic farmers don't often play nice with hydroponic and aeroponic farms.
It isn't well known among the general population, but organic certification includes these operations, and "dirt farmers" have been working to exclude them from the organic label. But their efforts have not been successful. The dirt philosophy is that with organic methods the soil can be improved over time rather than depleated. Hydroponics and aeroponics takes the soil out of the picture completely.

Here's an article, dated but relevant:
Organic Certification Has Always Been About Money. And That’s a Good Thing.

 

What Stan said.

But, like it or not, with a world population approaching 7.6 billion hungry mouths, industrial agriculture (and its attendant distribution system) is the only way to feed everybody.
Organics may be great for those who can afford the indulgence, but as a race, unless something is done about overpopulation, we are, as they say, fucked.

 

Very good points!

 

Well, since God ain't makin' any more land, the only way for a big farming operation to grow is by buying up smaller farms. So, of course that is what they do. It's been that way, not for forty years... more like 150 years when mechanization started to give economy of scale advantage to larger operations.
I (one of very few on TFP) grew up and lived on a small farm just outside of a small town. Those are my roots and culture. I don't like seeing small family farms (like ours) selling out to the big guys, but for most crops and stock a small farm is just not efficient enough to stay in business without subsidies.
And regardless of that, many young people simply don't want to farm. It's very hard work, with a lot of state and federal regulations to keep track of. And penalties and fines if you fail to do so.

 

Related reading:
Corporate takeover of organic ag
The Corporate Takeover of Organic Food

This is a largely reactionary piece that points fingers at specific companies. I have not verified any of the statements presented as facts. I am skeptical of this news source. Still, it is an interesting read.

 

After doing some research on line, and some reading at the public library, my impression of Dr. Mercola remains that he is out for his own interests, his brain is addled by conspiracy theories; and that he is largely full of fecal matter. Organic fecal matter, of course.

9 Reasons to Completely Ignore Joseph Mercola

 

Well, I could really care less.
So much so that I care enough to say it in a thread about it.

Really, it's just another gimmick.
IMHO...food - it better be healthy, it better be fresh...otherwise you're getting sued and fined.

This really should be the mindset and responsibility of anyone that provides it.
Why would you want otherwise?
Other than be some sick fuck who doesn't care how to make a buck.

And if this is true...then I don't mind if they throw the book at you.

I want to go out...buy...eat
Simple.

If ya poison me, then we'll have a problem...and I EXPECT my government to have a problem with it too. (and if they don't...then I'll have issue with my government too)

I don't want to have to think about my food.
Life is hard enough as it is.

 

An account of organic gone wrong.
Farming mom: 'Organic methods made our farm's environmental impact worse' | Genetic Literacy Project

Full version:
Organic, Conventional or GMO? This Farming Mom Tested Them All: - A Fresh Look

 

I honestly feel that organic is just another way of saying "out of financial reach for most people". At least here in the United States, organic produce is often far more expensive than the local equivalent. It recently came up in conversation with a few friends and I realized that my decision to not purchase organic exclusively has saved our family a significant chunk of change. Weeks that I spend $25 on food, they're throwing down $100+ for the organic equivalent. This shows me that eating organic is out of reach for the vast majority of low and middle-income families who are living on a budget.

I walked out of the 99 cent only store the other day with a huge amount of raw veggies and fruits for what felt like a handful of change. Had I purchased these items at the major grocery chain around the corner, it would have been triple the price, and had I chosen the organic equivalents at that store, it would have been double that again. I look at that and I wonder how anyone could possibly afford to eat an all-organic diet regularly.

I assume that the economics of agriculture are different in Europe, where organic is the norm. I presume that the prices would go down because there is more demand. But maybe food is just more expensive there all around. It has been so many years since I have visited, I can't speak to that.