Comments on: What To Buy Organic http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/ Meat is murder. Tasty, tasty murder. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:42:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: andria http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7243 andria Thu, 19 Jan 2006 21:02:39 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7243 This prioritization of items to buy organic is based purely on personal health benefits. But the advantage of organic produce is not just for our own health, but also for the health of agricultural workers and land. I buy organic bananas, even though it may not be healthier for me. Traditionally bananas crops grown by have been sprayed from planes while workers are in the field. The organic industry also provides an alternative to the harsh labor practices of the big banana companies (Chiquita, etc). I don't mean to sound preachy, because I too only buy organic produce to the extent it is affordable. I just think we should be fair-minded about it though and consider all the benefits of buying organic, not just those to ourselves. I think the concept of "affordabiliity" is a bit of self-deception though. I could afford more of our budget for food than I am accustomed to, by reducing in other areas, but I only do so to a small degree. This prioritization of items to buy organic is based purely on personal health benefits. But the advantage of organic produce is not just for our own health, but also for the health of agricultural workers and land. I buy organic bananas, even though it may not be healthier for me. Traditionally bananas crops grown by have been sprayed from planes while workers are in the field. The organic industry also provides an alternative to the harsh labor practices of the big banana companies (Chiquita, etc). I don’t mean to sound preachy, because I too only buy organic produce to the extent it is affordable. I just think we should be fair-minded about it though and consider all the benefits of buying organic, not just those to ourselves. I think the concept of “affordabiliity” is a bit of self-deception though. I could afford more of our budget for food than I am accustomed to, by reducing in other areas, but I only do so to a small degree.

]]> By: tommyboy http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7153 tommyboy Mon, 16 Jan 2006 16:52:52 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7153 yeah my apple farmer grows it to feed to his migrant workers keeping them in a tobacco tomato induced high allowing him to exploit their labour for minimum wages... yeah my apple farmer grows it to feed to his migrant workers keeping them in a tobacco tomato induced high allowing him to exploit their labour for minimum wages…

]]> By: Phillip http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7149 Phillip Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:36:47 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7149 Tommyboy, think you can some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomacco" rel="nofollow">tomacco</a>? I can't get enough of that stuff. It goes good with everything. Tommyboy, think you can some tomacco? I can’t get enough of that stuff. It goes good with everything.

]]> By: tommyboy http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7147 tommyboy Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:28:42 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7147 phillp... yeah just cause its at a farmer's market may not mean organic...often "farmers" farm food terminals, which is the same as the grocery store but often of a lower grade..adn many farmers who come to markets farm "traditionally" and hence use pesticides...there are a number of Organic certifiying organizations, with varying degree of standards...soo its often confusing to the consumer..I look for the producer closest to the bruce nuclear plant, the vegetable are always soo big and shiny almost glowing... oh yeah and my father in law who is mister aquaculture scientist boycotted atlantic salmon a number of years ago because of the disasterous husbandry practices involved in farmed salmon... phillp… yeah just cause its at a farmer’s market may not mean organic…often “farmers” farm food terminals, which is the same as the grocery store but often of a lower grade..adn many farmers who come to markets farm “traditionally” and hence use pesticides…there are a number of Organic certifiying organizations, with varying degree of standards…soo its often confusing to the consumer..I look for the producer closest to the bruce nuclear plant, the vegetable are always soo big and shiny almost glowing…

oh yeah and my father in law who is mister aquaculture scientist boycotted atlantic salmon a number of years ago because of the disasterous husbandry practices involved in farmed salmon…

]]> By: Ashley http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7124 Ashley Sat, 14 Jan 2006 20:53:07 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7124 And while "organic" (I hate the term, all food is literally organic, and so are toenails, motor oil and diamonds) is healthier when it is what it's supposed to be, remember that, in the US at least, the oversight on it is anywhere from shakey to nil. Some companies will put any label they can get away with on food so with things like baby food, it's best to check into the company before trying it. That goes double for natural supplements. Big companies often gravitate toward the lowest quality level they can make money with (even in Redmond, oddly enough) but the smaller or more niche a company is, the easier it can get away with a dangerous grift. And while “organic” (I hate the term, all food is literally organic, and so are toenails, motor oil and diamonds) is healthier when it is what it’s supposed to be, remember that, in the US at least, the oversight on it is anywhere from shakey to nil. Some companies will put any label they can get away with on food so with things like baby food, it’s best to check into the company before trying it. That goes double for natural supplements.

Big companies often gravitate toward the lowest quality level they can make money with (even in Redmond, oddly enough) but the smaller or more niche a company is, the easier it can get away with a dangerous grift.

]]> By: Phillip http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7123 Phillip Sat, 14 Jan 2006 20:28:05 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7123 Apparently, the toxins are concentrated in the skin and in the dark layer of meat right next to the skin, even though that's where all the "good fat" is. Even in salmon. Apparently, the toxins are concentrated in the skin and in the dark layer of meat right next to the skin, even though that’s where all the “good fat” is. Even in salmon.

]]> By: rekounas http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7115 rekounas Sat, 14 Jan 2006 18:45:16 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7115 Phillip, I think there are fish that are lower or don't have any trace of mercury. I think salmon is on the list. I love salmon but my wife gags whenever she smells it. I bbq one last summer, brought it in the house, I ended up having to eat it outside. Shame really. Phillip, I think there are fish that are lower or don’t have any trace of mercury. I think salmon is on the list. I love salmon but my wife gags whenever she smells it. I bbq one last summer, brought it in the house, I ended up having to eat it outside. Shame really.

]]> By: Phillip http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7114 Phillip Sat, 14 Jan 2006 16:31:13 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7114 I just read the whole article. What bugs me is that fish, all fish, whether farmed or wild, are laced with mercury and PCBs. I love salmon, tuna, and trout, and you won't find a single one of these fish anywhere on the planet that doesn't have traces of mercury in it. I'd give up red meat and eat these fish every other day if it wasn't for the mercury. I just read the whole article.

What bugs me is that fish, all fish, whether farmed or wild, are laced with mercury and PCBs. I love salmon, tuna, and trout, and you won’t find a single one of these fish anywhere on the planet that doesn’t have traces of mercury in it. I’d give up red meat and eat these fish every other day if it wasn’t for the mercury.

]]> By: Phillip http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/comment-page-1/#comment-7113 Phillip Sat, 14 Jan 2006 16:19:00 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/01/14/what-to-buy-organic/#comment-7113 "Buy these items organic as often as possible. They list apples, bell peppers, [etc.]" Why don't they just say EVERYTHING? "Buy these items organic if price is no object." Again, kind of a redundant list, don't you think? If price no object, then by default, EVERYTHING is on the list. I buy organic when the price isn't much different the non-organic stuff. And whenever I can, I buy everything fresh from the farmer's market, which is almost always organic. I often buy organic bananas, carrots, and lettice. I'd buy it all the time if it was more affordable for the average joe like me. The organic stuff, besides not being full of chemicals, usually taste much better. That's my main reason for buying it. “Buy these items organic as often as possible. They list apples, bell peppers, [etc.]” Why don’t they just say EVERYTHING?

“Buy these items organic if price is no object.” Again, kind of a redundant list, don’t you think? If price no object, then by default, EVERYTHING is on the list.

I buy organic when the price isn’t much different the non-organic stuff. And whenever I can, I buy everything fresh from the farmer’s market, which is almost always organic. I often buy organic bananas, carrots, and lettice. I’d buy it all the time if it was more affordable for the average joe like me. The organic stuff, besides not being full of chemicals, usually taste much better. That’s my main reason for buying it.

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