The decision to buy organic often means weighing the pros and cons between the perceived benefits and the higher costs. For some, the benefits outweigh the costs; for others, cost is a deciding factor.
I was asked if I bought organic products and I said no. But, it has me wondering how much my grocery costs would rise if I did purchase mostly, if not all, organic items.
A quick peek at the weekly grocery ad from the big
chain store supermarket revealed these prices for regular food and their
organic equivalents:
regular milk: $3.49/gallon
organic milk: $3.49/half gallon
regular skinless, boneless chicken breasts: $2.99/lb.
organic skinless, boneless chicken breasts: $6.99/lb.
I think, at that price, I'd become a vegetarian!
regular milk: $3.49/gallon
organic milk: $3.49/half gallon
regular skinless, boneless chicken breasts: $2.99/lb.
organic skinless, boneless chicken breasts: $6.99/lb.
I think, at that price, I'd become a vegetarian!
I
grew up eating mostly organic food because, well, that's how it was
grown, in that place and at that time. Farmers used cattle manure as
fertilizer. Everything was natural, with very little artificial additives.
However, the ceilings of our home and my school were formed of asbestos and every evening, we sprayed the house and the garden with DDT to get rid of the mosquitoes.
I suspect they each cancelled the effects of the other!
Speaking of organic foods...this pomegranate, growing in my garden without any artificial fertilizers or sprays, went from hanging on the branch to....
being picked and placed in my fruit bowl on the dining table in under 5 minutes!
However, the ceilings of our home and my school were formed of asbestos and every evening, we sprayed the house and the garden with DDT to get rid of the mosquitoes.
I suspect they each cancelled the effects of the other!
Speaking of organic foods...this pomegranate, growing in my garden without any artificial fertilizers or sprays, went from hanging on the branch to....
 |
| Pomegranate on the tree |
being picked and placed in my fruit bowl on the dining table in under 5 minutes!
 |
| Pomegranate in the fruit bowl |
The lace table cover was crocheted by my mother.
I might not buy organic products, but I do grow some organic items in my garden.
How about you? Do any of you buy mostly organic items?
I have given buying organic food quite a bit of thought, like many in my neighbourhood. I ended up buying some organic products.
ReplyDeleteTop of my list are organic eggs. The animals are kept much better than others and the chance of something getting into the food chain that shouldn't be there at all is lower. I still buy inexpensive organic eggs, not from some neighbourhood farm where I could see the chickens. So it ensures just a minimum quality standard.
Second on my list is bread, but that's because my favourite bread happens to be from an organic bakery. I have tried other types of bread but my favourite rye is simply more nourishing than the others and I feel the difference (it would be too much to explain in a comment).
I seldom eat meat, if I do, it tends to be organic.
I generally do not buy organic fruit and vegetables, because the quality difference to regular products is small.
Sometimes there are other organic products, I occasionally choose those because I like them.
I do not buy organic milk or yogurt. I simply can't afford it and the quality difference is small.
It does sound like you have given much careful consideration to buying organic products. I think I will give this matter more thought, too. I will do more price comparisons and perhaps I will find some bargains.
DeleteOrganic Foods: I've read a lot of articles and what bothers me most is the loose control on suppliers. The imported products rely on a producer signing documents attesting their item is 'organic' without a consistent standard. No one tests air quality or water pollution for example. I would likely have a different view if food was grown or produced in a 100 mile radius.
ReplyDeleteI'll buy organic grown foods on the 'important' list like grapes,peaches, apples, tomatoes, carrots, red/green peppers, green onions etc because we eat the skin or thin scrap. Meat is too expensive and fish is likely the most dangerous of all.
Summer we grow green onion, chives, lettuce, tomatoes and 3-4 herbs. Neighbours across from our complex share their beans, beets, peas and zucchini.
I don't know too much about the different standards, because I have not paid a lot of attention to organic vs. non-organic, but I have read that the standards vary from country to country.
ReplyDelete