Organic-worth the price?

MissTart · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 14

I love the idea of eating organic and cage free and free roaming and free falling and all that, but I can't afford it!!!!! I would think the meat shot to hell with hormones and the fruits and veggies bathed in chemicals would be tons more expensive than something plucked from the dirt or raised in a field. Further, a produce clerk at a chain grocery store told me that when some of the supermarkets place the organic fruits and veggies in the bins near the "regular", the organics almost always get a chemical bath from the run off when the mist the regular stuff.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

Ooh, so much to go at here.

But I'll start with this.

Commercial produce actually costs more to produce than organic stuff. The reason it is cheaper in the shops is that it is subsidised to the hilt.

...and who pays the subsidies in the long term...you do.

You're just paying for it indirectly.

That'll do for starters...

ejane · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 15

I feel the same as you Miss Tart, I'd love to eat all that organic stuff but my pocket book won't let me. I wish they could just lower the prices a wee bit.

Thumperfive · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 55

I'm always nervous about "organics" that I don't know where they really came from - just 'cause it's marked on the shelf means nothing these days!

rattitude · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 101

Personally I can hardly see how the chemicals would run off ontop the organics unless they learn how to do it sideway and the misting draws out the chemical which are mainly embedded in the whole top five millimetres of the vegetable?

I pay attention to certification programs -- if you look them up online you can see exactly what standards they are held to and compare that with the normal goods to see if the difference is worth the money.

Personally there are some produces I will only buy humane. Eggs are one. Visiting a battery chicke outfit was enough to leave me with the option of eating humanely farmed eggs or not ever sleeping again. yes they cost more but on what planet does it make sense for a dozen egges to cost 69 cents. (Answer: not this one).

I eat only locally produced meat from the farmers market as a special treat but by dropping meat from my diet and replacing it with eggs, dairy, soy and vegetable combination with full protein I immediately saved a lot of money. I shop every few days and buy what is fresh, on sale and local. It takes more time but is actually saving me money because I buy raw ingredients and only as much as I need. My wastage is now zero. IMHO is you are throwing away any spoiled food you have some savings you could make and spend the difference on human foods.

I also saved money by dropping snack foods altogether except for a little ice cream and nacho chips

I am mildly motivated by organics but strongly motivated about animal welfare. Eating chemicals is mainly a harm to me--eating intensively raised pork and battery eggs is contributing to misery for animals.

[/rant] Wink

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

There are a lot of factors involved in commercial production, but by far the biggest push factor is the consumer. Us.

There will never be any change unless consumers change their mind set towards wanting convenience food cheaply.

The argument against organic produce always rears it's head in the form of price.
I just think people should eat less anyway.
They will spend money on chocolate and fast food, so personally I can't see the problem.

The other issue is that people, rarely - exceptionally - speak of their concerns about animal welfare, unless they have been personally involved. Yet we are quite happy to be called animal lovers and donate to the nearest sanctuary or take in a stray.

Even if you step outside of intensive rearing and take a look at livestock like sheep, their conditions have deteriorated beyond belief. Their commercial value is that low that many farmers no longer find it viable to call in a vet.

The condition I have seen some sheep in would give Freddie Kruger nightmares.
Yet the consumers don't see themselves as responsible for any of it.

Thats my little rant over as well Confused

destiny · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 213

I'm quite interested in this, and I wish more organic things would be available to me. It's the animal harm that makes me want to find out all that I can about the subject.

I've often wondered the same... at the way prices have gone up for *everything* in the supermarket, I never understood how we can still buy a dozen eggs with their protein, baking value, etc. for so much under a DOLLAR! (USD) It never made sense. Often a dozen eggs sell for the same price as one of the larger candy bars. Freaky!

Thumperfive · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 55

the funny thing is that lots of foods have been genetically changed and we don't know it - where do you think seedless grapes came from? Or seedless watermelons?

Laughing

rattitude · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 101

Most of them are natural hybrids and 'sports' that just happened. With plants you only need one to be spotted and it can be duplicated many times to make a crop.

The main actually GM crops out there so far are soy and corn made pesticide resitent. I am only mildly worried about that sort of GM. It's not like they really cross a potatoe with a jellyfish--they take out a small sequence. So eating it is probablt fine--the big issue is that these new strains contaminate the local ecosystme and start to out compete and eradicate local varieties--and these varieties are vital because they suit local condition and have natural resistence.

The commercial crops are nearly clones so one pest might wipe them all out in one go.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

I get more worried about stuff like irradiation and preservatives on vegetables and fruit.

If I pick raspberries outside and don't do something with them within a couple of days then they go off.

If I buy them from a supermarket, they have travelled for days before they've even got to me and still last ages.

I'd rather take my chances on eating a few bugs than eating tons of chemicals.

telegraph.hill · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 211 Location: Leeds, England

Yes - me too. Better to eat a few bugs than loads of chemicals.

Interesting that you should mention irradiation - I did a wee write up on it not so long ago. It can denature some of the vitamins in the food. Also, it's not exactly safe for the people doing the irradiating. However, I don't think it actually makes the food radioactive.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

Well where does the taste go? That's what I want to know.

Strawberries in particular, manage to taste of absolutely nothing.

I suppose it is the consumer drive for choice all year round that has caused the issue. But I just don't like to eat stuff like this.

telegraph.hill · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 211 Location: Leeds, England

Yes - irradiation does effect the taste. I think that was also one of the arguments against it.

destiny · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 213

Interesting (albeit disjointed) thought while I was reading this thread. The first thing that came to mind was that our ancestors didn't need any of these horrid chemicals, they grew foods and meat and that was that. But *then* the next thought was "yeah, but they also died at age 40." Hmmm.... Question

(No, I'm NOT saying the junky additives and chems are good, certainly not, but I found the comparison interesting.... any thoughts?)

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

Just a lack of modern medicines, Des.

Today we can immunise against, or use medication to fight, diseases that used to be fatal.

Really, we should be in the position now where we can take full advantage of all that is available to us.

Modern medicine, comfy lifestyles, all varieties of food.
OK we are not dying by 40 and the average lifespan is longer, but we aren't as healthy as we could be.

If you take on board the incidences of obesity, asthma, diabetes - it should looks like we are doing a lot to actually contribute towards our own ill health, in spite of everything.