Buying Organic

[trick-r-treat]

I just sometimes wonder why organic produce cost so much more. If it does not have all of the insecticides and things, shouldn't it cost less?

[mom2manyboyz]

It's because without the synthetic fertilizers and pesticides it is more labor intensive to produce the same yield. Organic farmers have to rely on composting to fertilize the soil, which is basicly recycling organic compounds back into the soil, i.e. food scraps, leaves, etc. They also have crop loss due to pests.

Organic is more expensive, but another reason to go organic is GMOs. Geneticly Modified Organisms. Crops such as corn, have been in the news because scientists have geneticly modified and patented some corn. The purpose of the modification was to make it pest and drought resistant. Some people (myself included) feel geneticly modifying crops are dangerous to your health. Another concern, along that line, that has been in the news lately is cloning of animals for the food supply. The meat doesn't need to be labeled as cloned.

Organic means no clones, no GMO's, no pesticides and no harm to the environment. It also means a little more work and cost.

[Buzz]

Hello everybody, I'm starting to buy organic food but I need suggestions because sometimes I see a lot of options, get confused and don't know what to buy. It's ok if they just say it's organic? Thanks!

[mom2manyboyz]

Buzz:

You might want to check out th dirty dozen thread for a list of the most important produce to buy organic. There are several organic certifications. Just look for a certified logo on packaged items.

Be careful of anything that uses "organic" in the brand name, but doesn't carry an organic logo.

Also, in the produce section, organic stickers ALWAYS begin with the number 4. That's a trick I learned last year, and it is true. Non-organic produce usually has a number that begins with 9, but not always.

[mollyL]

I think organic is more expensive because the grower usually has alot of expense in becoming organic, rehabilitating the soil, as was mentioned. I don't know how long it takes the soil to become organic, but it takes alot of effort.
If you think organic fruits and veggies are expensive now, you should have tried to buy them years ago. When organics started showing up in stores, alot of the produce looked like they'd been through the wars and several times more expensive, but that's what it took for organics to become popular enough for grocery stores to carry them. There hasn't only been a considerable number of growers dedicated to organic, there is also the dedicated consumers.

[mom2manyboyz]

Originally Posted by mollyL

I think organic is more expensive because the grower usually has alot of expense in becoming organic, rehabilitating the soil, as was mentioned. I don't know how long it takes the soil to become organic, but it takes alot of effort.
If you think organic fruits and veggies are expensive now, you should have tried to buy them years ago. When organics started showing up in stores, alot of the produce looked like they'd been through the wars and several times more expensive, but that's what it took for organics to become popular enough for grocery stores to carry them. There hasn't only been a considerable number of growers dedicated to organic, there is also the dedicated consumers.

Hi Molly:

I completely agree with this. I once read how long it takes the soil to meet "organic" standards, but I forget what the number was. What I do remember is that farms are often classified as "transitioning to organic" while waiting.

I know an organic farmer that is actually organic, but remains classified as transitioning because of the paperwork and fees required for the organic label.

I know what you mean about the produce looking like it's been through a war. I still feel that way about a lot of fruit in the winter time.

[berlinlife06]

I'm broke, so buying organic is not exactly an option for me. I wish I had enough space or at least a little bit of land to plant my own things. B ut I live in an apartment in NYC, where everything is already more expensive... But I'll check the local farmer's market the next time and will compare prices.

[Buzz]

I think that altough buying organic sometimes is expensive is like a gift you give to yourself and your health, it's worthy.

[trick-r-treat]

I guess with all of the benefits your body gets, it is really worth shelling out the extra money.

[mbtaluka]

It is purer form of whatever foods we buy and so it is worth to put up some extra money for Organic foods and in fact it is for our health on the whole.