Foo - Organic Food

Ok, So what is your take on organic food? Im also posting a poll.

Personally, I eat some organics.. but I am not totally sold on their health benefits.

I really don't care for inorganic food. I loves me some carbon chains.

Whatever comes from my garden or the local farm markets is my first choice, but I will eat anything.
Joe

Where's the option for "If it tastes good, I'll eat it"?

I would eat a donut loaded down with chemicals and radioactive crap if it tasted good enough. On the other hand, I would also eat a donut that was grown on a tree, and not tampered with by humans.

Mmmmm, donuts...:)

mMmmmm tree nuts.....

What's the definition of "organic"? There has to be an objective standard by which foods are categorized as "organic". I've come to find that most of the stuff I find at the local farmers-market here is not "organic". Heck, I was at one of those open-air night-markets in the Philippines which has vendors plying all sorts of stuff. Kinda like a giant farmers-market with thousands of stands. Pick up a head of brocolli, hmm... this looks familiar. Turn it over and the tag said, "Kern Co. California"!

I know. I'm not sure there are any standards for what is "organic".

Dude, Organic is just more marketing hype. Sure they've got no pesticides or chemicals but I wouldnt pay the premium price just cause it is more expensive to raise oraganic animals or crops.

Ricardo

Just because i's natural doesn't make it healthy...

I think the problem is that the rules on what can be called "organic" are kind of lax. I've heard people who directly worked on "ogranic" farms who claimed that the farms weren't really as "ogranic" as they said they were.

I know. I'm not sure there are any standards for what is "organic".
Ever heard of the USDA organic standards? Obviously not, or you wouldn't have written the above..

http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOP/indexNet.htm

I couldn't care less whether my food is "organic".

I couldn't care less whether my food is "organic".

Well, you don't want chemicals and pesticides in you cabbage avatar, do you?

There are no scientific or medical studies or surveys that show organic food is any better for you.

You may think that is tastes "better", but....



ALL Food, even if it's organic or not contains some pesticides and chemicals.

At my supermarket if the fruit looks like it's starting to go bad they slap an "organic" label on it, charge 4x the price and it gets sold immediately.

Well, you don't want chemicals and pesticides in you cabbage avatar, do you?
What's the difference? I probably get exposed to higher levels of nasty chemicals each hour in the lab than I do eating regular foods for a day.

For you as an adult maybe you're ok, but kids in their growing phases are very vulnerable. Certain pesticides have been shown to cause behavioral disorders, motor dysfunctions, and develpmental delays.

The problem really lies in the term "organic", I wish we had a different term that really encompasses the actual process. Many natural processes are 'inorganic', such as bacteria fixing nitrogen in the soil. Salt can be used as a preservative and that's clearly inorganic. However, some of the 'artificial' perservatives may have more organic precursors. There has to be a balance somewhere. Stuff that's labled 'organic' will tend to spoil faster and mold & fungus may actually be more harmful to your health than the preservatives.

The nutritive value of foods tend to be higher with organics. The vegetables aren't as bloated with water to increase their size. Yet the total supply of vitamins in a giant tomato may only be the same as a smaller organic version.

That's only vegetables, I'm not even gonna touch the nasty beef farming practices that caused our beef to be banned in Europe.


Here's website with a lot of useful info: USDA - Alternative Farming Systems (http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?tax_level=1&info_center=2)

I brought this poll because I know some people who ONLY eat organic food... and I think it is a waste. Im curious out of this group how many peope are organic food eaters.

I judge the standard from rated USDA organic... or home grown garden kinda stuff.

We have lots of organic farms, maybe 80% of veggies grown in this area are organic. So it's better, and it's local, so it's all good.

If I can taste a difference, and the stuff is reasonably priced, sure.

Honestly, I believe that nothing on this planet is 100% safe for consumption.....everything here was designed to kill you, just some are better at doing it than others.

That said, I eat what I like, and what is reasonable to acquire.....why go across town to get organic when I can walk across the street to get regular stuff....and save time and/or gas in the process?

I usually end up eating organic food when I go over to visit a friend's house or something.

converted mostly organic by my girlfriend at first, but now i seem to eat less than i did when i used to shovel that supermarket gmo bs that i'd became used to like most.

if i had it my way i'd grow everything, but my garden space these days is filled with other organic goodness, so i'll have to stick to local farmers markets and other local natural markets, and places like whole foods.

great site on locating local markets and the such...

http://www.localharvest.org/

when i buy organic, it's generally because i find that it tastes better.

I go to the Internation Market in Atlanta. It's an adventure for sure. :beer:

About 80% of my diet is Clif Bars.

I prefer to eat all organic, all local produce. Most of my diet consists of raw fruits and vegetables, so I want to have the best quality and as close to nature as I can get. However, most of my produce comes from Wild Oats which is extremely expensive. I buy a good amount of produce there, but I also buy a lot of conventional elsewhere. I would really love to have a greenhouse and grow my own food all year round. Perhaps someday...

Shadiyah!! Here's a pic of the greenhouse at the home I'm considering!:)


http://www.movoto.com/MLSImages/12/40222522_8.jpg


Where I work I have to keep organics completely separated from the regular produce. They get their own racks, boxes and trays. If they are found touching regular produce or in/on the wrong racks/boxes/trays, we get fined and have to destroy the product.

I prefer to eat all organic, all local produce. .......

I would really love to have a greenhouse and grow my own food all year round. Perhaps someday...


+10

I'm not convinced that the amount of synthetic hormones in milk is necessarily harmful -- it is trivial compared to the level of hormones our bodies produce -- however, the amount of synthetic hormones that are shed out of the cows and into the environment is not trivial.

Similar observation for pesticides in some food products, particularly grain. That is not the case, however, for any fresh fruit or vegitables, and particularly the fragile fruits: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, etc. Pesticide residue on those fragile fruits is high, and dangerous.

Consuming local produce cuts down on transportation costs and petroleum use.

Shadiyah!! Here's a pic of the greenhouse at the home I'm considering!:)


http://www.movoto.com/MLSImages/12/40222522_8.jpg


Where I work I have to keep organics completely separated from the regular produce. They get their own racks, boxes and trays. If they are found touching regular produce or in/on the wrong racks/boxes/trays, we get fined and have to destroy the product.


Wow, how cool! That's awsome, Siu! Can I move in with you? ;)

+10

I'm not convinced that the amount of synthetic hormones in milk is necessarily harmful -- it is trivial compared to the level of hormones our bodies produce -- however, the amount of synthetic hormones that are shed out of the cows and into the environment is not trivial.

Similar observation for pesticides in some food products, particularly grain. That is not the case, however, for any fresh fruit or vegitables, and particularly the fragile fruits: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, etc. Pesticide residue on those fragile fruits is high, and dangerous.

Consuming local produce cuts down on transportation costs and petroleum use.

Oh yeah, I wasn't even thinking about the cost of transportation...very good point. It's really too bad that I'm addicted to avacados and young coconuts...I can't get those locally.

I've tried some organic foods, and honestly I can't taste a difference. The organic food actually gave me a peanut allergy type reaction and my mouth got really itchy. For the ridiculous prices, I don't think it's worth it.

so if Organic food can have pesticides and other stuff in it, what is the advantage of it?

If I've ever eaten organic food it was totally by accident. Not that I'd mind. I'll eat anything I think tastes good.

70% of produce is geneticaly engineered. I can't say this for certain, but someone told me bannanas often have human DNA in them these days. I really hate eating non organic food, especially in large quantities. Luckily for me I'm related to a bunch of farmers, and I have some nice healthfood stores very near me.

when i buy organic, it's generally because i find that it tastes better.
+100%
There's a brand of dried spices called "simply organic" that are awesome, I will never use anything but

I prefer organics, but I will try and not eat anything with high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated stuff. But maybe pie:D

Carbon based food tastes so much better thatn that silicon based stuff.

I try to eat as much organic and local food as I can. I'm not sure what the actual percentage is tho.

I try to buy organic not because of the health benifits but I find that most organic food taste better.

I eat slightly more organic than not.
How do you control the USDA definition for organic food when so much of
our food is imported. There was a story on ABC news (running all week) about Yogurt company
from New England, organic certification but the strawberries are from China, the peaches from Chile,
the blueberries from Cananda, and they are thinking of importing powdered milk from New Zealand.
Can I taste a difference? in the organic beef, cheese etc. yes. veggies? no.

marty