When is Organic Not Organic? A look behind the scenes...
The general consensus is that when you pay a 50% markup for a tomato from the organic aisle or a carton or milk displaying the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certification logo, you are buying healthier food. You assume it is healthier for you, since the food should be grown without the interference of man-made chemicals, but also healthier for the animals and the environment.
Take Stonyfield Farm—a far cry from mass-producers such as General Mills or Kellogg, who have entered the organic market—as one case study of how a company may be compelled to compromise its practices as the organic food market expands. Back in 1983, Samuel Kaymen founded Stonyfield Farm merely to feed his six children and to promote environmental responsibility. Today, the company’s main hub is an industrial plant in New Hampshire, where it handles milk shipped in from other farms and, perhaps soon, milk powder from New Zealand. Continue reading the article here http://blogs.currentprotocols.com/?p=706
See how the organic industry has changed during 1995 to 2007 http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/corporate-ownersh...
For those who don't remember, the USDA took over the regulation of the organic industry in the early 1990s (at the complete dismay to the organic community) and turned it into, in my humble opinion, a mockery. Just another thing we must push to regain. Oh, and it keeps getting worse.
In the late 1990s I did a little experiment because I sensed something wasn't quite right when my organic certified produce appeared different. And, rather suddenly... when organic markets began popping up all over the place and even regular stores began carrying organics - my little warning flags went straight up because you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that thousands of people did NOT just go out and decide to have organic farms.
Prior to then, it was extremely challenging to find enough organic produce to replace regular produce in ones home. I know, I did it for 30 years and would even drive an hour each way to a store that was truly organic, Walnut Acres. Does anyone remember Walnut Acres? They are not what they used to be, in the mid 1990s AOL, I believe it was, bought them out and shut down their farm and their labor intensive kitchen where women would sit and literally hand peel every tomato, potato, carrot, an hand chop the beans that went into the Walnut Acres canned food - which was very good. Yup, the new buyers shut down the entire farm and store. What a shame. The store carried produce only from certified organic farms - such certificate back then was extremely hard to obtain because the standards and regulations were impossible to obtain unless you were the most devoted of the devoted. Even weeds had to be pulled by hand. Hence few farmers wanted to be bothered, making organics hard to come by.
So my informal experiment was...
At a Whole Foods market I bought one bunch of regular broccoli and one bunch of organic broccoli. I brought them home, smelled them - they both smelled the same, they both looked the same, they both had the same water content (organic produce 'should' have a lower water content because it is typically under a bit more stress and the variety of seed is different).
I then cut a piece off of each bunch and in separate pots cooked (steamed) each for the same length of time using the same temp.
After being cooked I examined them, they both looked exactly the same, they smelled exactly the same, AND they both tasted exactly the same.
I then left the remainder of both heads (uncooked) in the fridge to see how they rotted. Organic produce 'should' pretty much dry out and become rubbery. Whereas regular produce will become moldy, slimy and stink like something just died.
At two weeks later, I examined both heads of broccoli and, you guessed it, both had rotted the EXACT same way! You can imagine the choice words I had about this.
This got me a bit peeved. I had been buying real organic produce for 30 years and with my background in plants, well... let's just say I'm not stupid and I knew then that the USDA taking over the organic regulations completely ruined a perfectly fine industry and it keeps getting worse by the month!
What do "you" think? Do you care about this issue? Does it matter to you if your family has chemical-free food to eat or not?
Take Stonyfield Farm—a far cry from mass-producers such as General Mills or Kellogg, who have entered the organic market—as one case study of how a company may be compelled to compromise its practices as the organic food market expands. Back in 1983, Samuel Kaymen founded Stonyfield Farm merely to feed his six children and to promote environmental responsibility. Today, the company’s main hub is an industrial plant in New Hampshire, where it handles milk shipped in from other farms and, perhaps soon, milk powder from New Zealand. Continue reading the article here http://blogs.currentprotocols.com/?p=706
See how the organic industry has changed during 1995 to 2007 http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/corporate-ownersh...
For those who don't remember, the USDA took over the regulation of the organic industry in the early 1990s (at the complete dismay to the organic community) and turned it into, in my humble opinion, a mockery. Just another thing we must push to regain. Oh, and it keeps getting worse.
In the late 1990s I did a little experiment because I sensed something wasn't quite right when my organic certified produce appeared different. And, rather suddenly... when organic markets began popping up all over the place and even regular stores began carrying organics - my little warning flags went straight up because you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that thousands of people did NOT just go out and decide to have organic farms.
Prior to then, it was extremely challenging to find enough organic produce to replace regular produce in ones home. I know, I did it for 30 years and would even drive an hour each way to a store that was truly organic, Walnut Acres. Does anyone remember Walnut Acres? They are not what they used to be, in the mid 1990s AOL, I believe it was, bought them out and shut down their farm and their labor intensive kitchen where women would sit and literally hand peel every tomato, potato, carrot, an hand chop the beans that went into the Walnut Acres canned food - which was very good. Yup, the new buyers shut down the entire farm and store. What a shame. The store carried produce only from certified organic farms - such certificate back then was extremely hard to obtain because the standards and regulations were impossible to obtain unless you were the most devoted of the devoted. Even weeds had to be pulled by hand. Hence few farmers wanted to be bothered, making organics hard to come by.
So my informal experiment was...
At a Whole Foods market I bought one bunch of regular broccoli and one bunch of organic broccoli. I brought them home, smelled them - they both smelled the same, they both looked the same, they both had the same water content (organic produce 'should' have a lower water content because it is typically under a bit more stress and the variety of seed is different).
I then cut a piece off of each bunch and in separate pots cooked (steamed) each for the same length of time using the same temp.
After being cooked I examined them, they both looked exactly the same, they smelled exactly the same, AND they both tasted exactly the same.
I then left the remainder of both heads (uncooked) in the fridge to see how they rotted. Organic produce 'should' pretty much dry out and become rubbery. Whereas regular produce will become moldy, slimy and stink like something just died.
At two weeks later, I examined both heads of broccoli and, you guessed it, both had rotted the EXACT same way! You can imagine the choice words I had about this.
This got me a bit peeved. I had been buying real organic produce for 30 years and with my background in plants, well... let's just say I'm not stupid and I knew then that the USDA taking over the organic regulations completely ruined a perfectly fine industry and it keeps getting worse by the month!
What do "you" think? Do you care about this issue? Does it matter to you if your family has chemical-free food to eat or not?
Tags: diet, food, meat, nutrition, organic, vegetables, yogurt
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nissa Gadbois - Family Centered on -
Thank you! I've been trying to tell people this for years. Organic farmers - real, hard-core organic farmers, have been disgusted with government regs which encourage the attainment of minimum requirements. The list of allowable substances and practices has shocked me.
Support your local CSA farm, work a few hours a month there. See - and taste - how real organic food is raised. Eat pastured meats and dairy. Real food tastes much stronger, and is more satisfying. You eat less as a result. It truly is health food.
Check out Demeter, their standards blow USDA organic away, look for Demeter certified where you can.
And I hope folks stop shopping at Trader Joe's thinking they're getting organic for cheap. They're not. They're getting private label stuff that may have some USDA organic ingredients, but basically the same rubbish they buy in a regular grocery.
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Permalink Reply by Evelyn Vincent on
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I totally agree, buy local whenever you can or grow your own.
So do you know which part of the consumer goods industry is FAR worse than the food industry... personal care and household cleaning, both are far worse. It's sooo bad that it makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.
Both of those industries have me trained so that when I see "all-natural", "Pure", "!00% Natural", "Organic", etc. I do not even bother picking up their product because those are today the HUGE clue that they are not even close to "my" idea of organic and natural.
Heather said:This is the precise reason I don't buy a lot of organic produce. In theory, I should seek out local farms, get to know them and buy my food there to be sure I am truly getting organic. I settle for growing what I can and the theory that a little organic is better than none.
I just don't trust the label. If I thought the organic foods that charge a premium were truly organic, we'd switch over completely.
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You're welcome, and thanks for backing me up even further.
Last night I wrote an article in my blog regarding my experiences with the food industry, coupled with a review on the new movie "Food, Inc."
Here's a link to read it: Food, Inc. A horror movie with a message gets 3.5 stars
NissaG said:Thank you! I've been trying to tell people this for years. Organic farmers - real, hard-core organic farmers, have been disgusted with government regs which encourage the attainment of minimum requirements. The list of allowable substances and practices has shocked me.
Support your local CSA farm, work a few hours a month there. See - and taste - how real organic food is raised. Eat pastured meats and dairy. Real food tastes much stronger, and is more satisfying. You eat less as a result. It truly is health food.
Check out Demeter, their standards blow USDA organic away, look for Demeter certified where you can.
And I hope folks stop shopping at Trader Joe's thinking they're getting organic for cheap. They're not. They're getting private label stuff that may have some USDA organic ingredients, but basically the same rubbish they buy in a regular grocery.
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Permalink Reply by Devon Zimny on -
I don't have the time, energy, or money to worry about organic We do have a garden and grow some vegetables, and lately I have been getting some stuff from our local farmers market ( I do like to support our local farmers). But it is hard these days to remain on a budget and buying organic is way to expensive!! So it just isn't high on my priority list! I do agree that not all products labeled organic are really organic, and that is terrible considering how much more you spend!!
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Permalink Reply by Joanna on -
Hi Evelyn,
Thanks for the information! I don't know much about Organic Food but have been thinking of starting to switch to it. I have been hesitant so far because I am not sure whether they are worth the price. I think that the mentality is that pricy things are generally better but I have found cases that they are not. I have done a recent post on bottled water quality and have found the study results from the Environmental Working Group. Feel free to browse through our discussions there.
Also, I find your post to be very useful for our community, we have a group of wives who will surely benefit from this. Can you please post your discussion in our group if possible? http://www.networkforwives.com/group/consumersavvywife
Thank you!
Joanna
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Permalink Reply by stevie on -
If you have a local farmer's market, I would look there to buy organic or fresher produce. there are several in So. Cal and my city has at least 3 during the week-- and it's worth it since the food tastes better - particularly fruit -- and it lasts longer.
Also I think perhaps the organic methods of growing don't always show up in something like broccoli and I would suggest that you contact your market HQ and talk to the head produce buyer.
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Permalink Reply by Laurie Franks on -
Ah, this is really great info! I belong to a local CSA which we love and I'm really learning how different true organic food is from the grocery store stuff. I do buy the Safeway O Organic produce which usually does seem very different when compared with their regular produce. For instance, the O potatoes don't last as long and dry out, whereas the regular potatoes last longer and get moldy. I sure don't want to be spending this extra money on fake organic food though!
My CSA ends in October, and I believe the local farmer's market ends in the fall also, so during the winter it seems hard to get true organic produce. Though naturally, I know we should be eating our own frozen/canned summer produce through the winter and not actually have access to much fresh produce.
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Permalink Reply by stevie on
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has anyone here attended the Natural Products Expo -- West or East? West is the world's largest and it has stringent guidelines for food, products and even raw ingredients to be featured there.
I have been there 5-6 x (once a year HUGE expo near disneyland..)
it's how I can keep tabs on the best of.. because not everything that's ORGANIC really is. it's about reading labels. I hate reading a label and finding 1-2 organic ingredients and the rest of it is dreck.
I am pretty picky about my skincare & hair care products-- I have a huge assemblage on the blog. I even found organic spirits, fruit juices and more that I write about as well as great beauty lines.. even some clothing..
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