Spring Break
Organic concerns?
Lara Oliver
Issue date: 9/30/08 Section: Opinion
One of the biggest trends hitting stores right now is a growing demand for organic produce. Grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers or additives, organic food offers a solution to many consumers who are concerned about what they and their families are eating.
This popularity has led many companies to change their methods of growing and manufacturing their foods. Organic versions of popular foods such as breakfast cereals and breads, are popping up alongside their non-organic cousins in super markets across the country, even organic Oreos are on their way to the family cookie jar.
But part of the allure for organic goods for many Americans is the idea that organic produce goes hand in hand with being environmentally conscious. While true in the case of actually growing the produce, the idea loses steam once it's time for the produce to make it to your local grocery store.
One popular part of the organic produce movement is Earthbound Farms. Earthbound Farms grows and distributes the most popular variety of organic produce found in grocery stores - bagged salads and individual vegetables. While delicious (and nutritious), the fact that Earthbound Farms is located in California while we are located in North Carolina reveals an important issue in organic produce - how old is it and how did it get here?
While growing organic allows farmers to control the release of harmful toxins into the soil-including not using human fertilizer for products because of the latent chemicals-it doesn't solve the issue of the fuel that must be used to transport the product and the issue of freshness for the consumer.
I say, instead of relying on these mega organic farms to provide us with our produce, why don't we return to the old staple of relying on local farmers?
Whole Foods once relied on these same large out put organic farms to sell produce, but has since switched to relying on local farmers for their vegetables. So why can't we?
This popularity has led many companies to change their methods of growing and manufacturing their foods. Organic versions of popular foods such as breakfast cereals and breads, are popping up alongside their non-organic cousins in super markets across the country, even organic Oreos are on their way to the family cookie jar.
But part of the allure for organic goods for many Americans is the idea that organic produce goes hand in hand with being environmentally conscious. While true in the case of actually growing the produce, the idea loses steam once it's time for the produce to make it to your local grocery store.
One popular part of the organic produce movement is Earthbound Farms. Earthbound Farms grows and distributes the most popular variety of organic produce found in grocery stores - bagged salads and individual vegetables. While delicious (and nutritious), the fact that Earthbound Farms is located in California while we are located in North Carolina reveals an important issue in organic produce - how old is it and how did it get here?
While growing organic allows farmers to control the release of harmful toxins into the soil-including not using human fertilizer for products because of the latent chemicals-it doesn't solve the issue of the fuel that must be used to transport the product and the issue of freshness for the consumer.
I say, instead of relying on these mega organic farms to provide us with our produce, why don't we return to the old staple of relying on local farmers?
Whole Foods once relied on these same large out put organic farms to sell produce, but has since switched to relying on local farmers for their vegetables. So why can't we?
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