Organic Foods

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I was shopping with a friend at Costco and BJ this weekend. She's a BJ member and I'm a costco member. So we were sharing different choices. Anyway I pointed out that the organic meats and cheeses and stuff are great deals at both places.

She says I only buy organic at Whole Foods. It makes me too nervous to buy such cheap organic food.

So am I crazy? Does it matter where you buy organic meat, veggies, cheeses?

[snafu]

There is no government standard for items deemed 'organic.' Some producers have developed their own standard for their type of item. You are trusting the producer has followed their interpretation for 'organic' and has not used items like manufactured fertilizer, fake color, genetically modified stuff or chemicals deemed un-necessary in that group. It's so losey - goosey you just buy on trust. Mostly people try to buy from local growers/producers/sellers because once items are trucked around there is not an iota of control.

For example, if you bake a loaf of bread, you know exactly what you used BUT unless you grew and milled your own wheat to grind into flour your control is reduced.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I thought stuff with USDA organic was organic?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

There ARE standards for what may be lablelled organic in the US. The place of production, the methods used must be verified and meet defined criteria. This is by law that I'd say has been effective since about 2003. Not sure of the date. It's very available information.

I grow organically but would not sell my produce as "organic" because I am not willing to go through the red tape. It would take a minimum of five years to get through the process anyway, since I grow in places which are not virginal soil.

[MonkeyMama]

To me, "Organic" is little more than marketing. & it sounds like friend has fallen hook, line, and sinker. So we should judge the quality of our food solely by how expensive it is? That is completely ridiculous.

We can argue all day about the merits of organic food, BUT I think we can all agree that you can't judge something solely by how much it costs. That is marketing, plain and simple. If you can convince people to pay twice as much for something, though it's basically exactly the same, that is what I Call excellent marketing.

[scfr]

In the USA there have been standards for over 10 years: US Organic Standards - Organic Trade Association

Poster snafu is from Canada.

Good reminder that this is an international forum and answers will depend on each poster's country of residence.

[disneysteve]

So we should judge the quality of our food solely by how expensive it is?

Exactly! Isn't it amazing how many people just automatically assume "cheaper" means "inferior" and not just with food but with virtually everything.

[PrudentSaver]

I think it's better to go with a trusted local farmer from a market. I know lots of people here that have their own little farms and grow completely organically, but can't qualify for things like "no soap in the restrooms." Not to mention that the agriculture lobby has pushed MANY pesticides in through the qualification process and they are now deemed USDA organic. Ugh. Do your research. Unfortunately, we can never trust labels in this country.

[Isla007]

hiiiiiiiiiii.........

Greetings, I'm a Nutrition learner.

Deciding on to consume natural nourishments is an incredible decision. Natural berries and bananas are an amazing decision depending on if you don't have refrigeration. Additionally, just about any vegetable will do fine for a couple hours without refrigeration. Bear in mind to incorporate a protein origin similar to a meat or cheddar in your lunch.

Trust this aides.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I didn't get the reason why if it's labelled organic USDA that why does it matter if you buy it from Walmart or Whole Foods? Is there a big difference? Isn't it still the same organic chicken breast?

I feel like pretty much everyone I know shops only at Whole Foods but then I point out they are paying a premium for organic meats and non organic "conventionally" grown produce. Why are you paying more than a regular store for the same thing?

[Bob B.]

Not to mention that the agriculture lobby has pushed MANY pesticides in through the qualification process and they are now deemed USDA organic.

Really? Give one example.

[SnoopyCool]

Certainly, marketing plays a role in the push for organic foods, thus driving up the cost. I imagine that this is why Whole Foods has been deemed the supreme shopping place for organic foods - because Whole Foods brings to mind this wholesome place where Wal-Mart may not. The experience of shopping at Whole Foods is, well, quite a heart-attack for me because it's way too expensive, but it feels more wholesome-y than shopping at Wal-Mart. I don't think there's a bit of difference between buying organic foods one place versus another, except maybe in range of foods carried. And perhaps in level of customer service, as well.

[Jon Spiels]

Idts

Oh, I don't think so! That sure sounds hilarious! It's not about the price, the more expensive the better. If he wants one with a higher price but still organic, then for what? He still buys organic, after-all.

[LuckyRobin]

Organic pesticides--rotenone and pyrethrin are commonly used in organic farming and can take up to 7 applications to be effective, as compared to 2 doses of chemical pesticides.

Places like Costco, BJ's, and WalMart have lower prices on organics because they can afford to buy in volume and they can afford to pass on some of those savings to the customers. Just like they do wtih everything else available in their stores. Also they are often importing from South America and Central America, so also less expenses there as well. It can be more expensive to ship something from one side of a state to the other than to fly it from another continent. Go figure.

The word organic means nothing. "Certified organic" is the only thing that is controlled by the USDA.

Certified organic processed foods can use up to 10% of their ingredients by volume from non-organic sources.

All Natural means nothing. It is not regulated by the USDA.

Free range means little. It basically means that you can have the barn door open so the chickens can go outside in their last few weeks of life, but that doesn't mean they do. Most chicks are raised completely enclosed for several weeks and are freaked out by the very idea of going outside by the time that barn door is left open.

Words to look for these days are "no spray," "humanely raised," "pasture raised," "grass fed," and "sustainably farmed," if you want what you think of as organic. Best places to get it are local farms and your own backyard.

As for Whole Foods? That doesn't mean organic at all, though people tend to think it is synonomous. It just means unprocessed foods. Some of them are organic, but a surprising amount are conventionally grown.

Just the stuff I've gathered in my research.

[Harlem]

I think you may buy organic food from everywhere. It doesn't differ that much.