Organic Foods...who Believes the Hype

[marurun]

I've seen organic produce that looks just as nice as the non-organic. But what I really prefer is produce from small lots. Sure, organic gets out some of the pesticides, and that's a good thing in the long run, but smaller-scale/sustainable farming often produces tastier vegetables. Hell, we grew some cucumbers in our own garden last year, no pesticides. Sure, they were smaller, probably a different variety. They weren't as pretty. But they were 3x as tasty. Same for home-grown tomatoes. You'll buy grocery store toms again off-season, but never during the on-season, not when your own taste so much better.

Also, free-range meat is often tastier as well.

[zarathstra]

I just can't bring myself to care. Plus, the inaccurate naming bothers me. As others have mentioned, all food is freaking organic, unless you enjoy metal ingots for dinner.

[GSZX1337]

It's worth it to me for organic meat. I just blend my fruit and sick chocolate in my milk, so I just buy the cheaper stuff.

[Nanten]

Plus, the inaccurate naming bothers me. As others have mentioned, all food is freaking organic, unless you enjoy metal ingots for dinner.

It's not inaccurate naming. It's a different definition of the word "organic."

[Metalcrack]

I understand the heath reasons/concerns, as I helped my family raise some animals for a few years, and my Dad continues to have a nice garden every year. Everything we raised was "organic", and no antibiotics were used unless there were sick...and nothing other than locally grown grains and hay I helped harvest were used for feed. There were no steroids, growth hormones, etc. used.

There was a major difference in the look, feel, and taste, of organic beef, milk, eggs and poultry.

All this being said, I simply cannot afford to spend 2x the money on milk, eggs and poultry. I do splurge on beef though, as it is extra lean where we go, and it makes very tasty meatballs!

[Anapan]

I used to work in orchards after school. There's a big problem with coddling moths (the worms in the apples are their larva) and the organic orchards are a breeding ground for them, they spread from the unsprayed trees to other orchards who spray pesticides. I met some guys that make home-made "organic" fruit leather and juice and stuff and what they really do is just grind up the wormy apples - worms and all. Bug juice anyone?

[wip3outguy7]

I tried being a vegetarian for 2 years and I could notice an obvious difference in my health when I would make a point to eat only organic. What shocked me most about eating organic foods was the short amount of time it took to notice a difference. Dropping processed foods for a mere 24 hours would result in a noticeable change in stamina and *snicker* bowel movement. I haven't tested this with meats, however. I would assume the results are the same.

[Niode]

I saw a local farmer with his produce out.

Ooh Err! The dirty bastard!

[zarathstra]

I tried being a vegetarian for 2 years and I could notice an obvious difference in my health when I would make a point to eat only organic. What shocked me most about eating organic foods was the short amount of time it took to notice a difference. Dropping processed foods for a mere 24 hours would result in a noticeable change in stamina and *snicker* bowel movement. I haven't tested this with meats, however. I would assume the results are the same.

This is why they test more than one person in studies about these things. I ate nothing but organic food for a few days at one point. I didn't believe the hype, but I was staying with people who did. You know what I felt? Sorry that they had wasted their money.

To each his own, I guess.

[marurun]

Zarathstra, most organic farming is actually very similar to other mainstream farming. The only difference is that the pesticides and fertilizer used are of organic rather than chemical or petroleum origins. Many people think organic means pesticide free, which for some produce might be the case, but the larger organic farmers use pest control methods derived from plants, like chrysanthemum-based pesticides. So when you buy from larger farmers the only difference is maybe a slight reduction in chemical intake. Probably not enough to have a significant impact on most people even over a couple years.

The real benefit, as I stated before, comes from getting produce from local sources and small farmer, especially co-op farms and growing what you can at home. There a real taste benefit is realized, and likely health benefits as well, not to mention positive environmental impact.