Reply to How hardcore are you about buying organic?

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Reply to "How hardcore are you about buying organic?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]To answer OP's question, I buy all organic 99% of the time.  With the rare exception of wanting to make a specific recipe right then and not later (for the holidays, for example) I adapt and use what's available.  I also buy fair-trade and avoid packaged food and [b]"big organic[/b]" whenever possible.  We also belong to a year-round organic CSA.

I don't necessarily believe that the food is more healthful, I buy organic primarily to support agricultural communities.  At the very least I know that the farmers, workers, and neighbors are not being exposed to massive amounts of hazardous chemicals in order to produce my food.  At best, my food is coming from smaller family or worker-owned farms and I am helping someone make a living and keep their property in their family.  I grew up in a food farming community and it breaks my heart to see my grandparents' generation of farmers sell their land to large commercial growers who are stripping it by over-farming and just holding onto it long enough to make it valuable for developers.

So, I'd say: about as hardcore as they come.  ;)[/quote]

What is "big organic"? Can you please provide examples? Thank you. [/quote]

Horizon dairy is the best current example of "big organic": they have huge CAFO-style "farms" with their cows, located in areas of the country that are less suitable to dairy farming so that they can push the limits of requirements for pasture based on "seasonal" restrictions.  They are (seemingly) constantly under investigation and fighting lawsuits for non-compliance and are owned by Dean Foods (a big CAFO producer of conventional diary).

Cascadian Farm is another example of "big organic": they have huge farms and are owned by a conventional parent company that grows and produces much of food we're trying to avoid.  So, while Cascadian Farm products may meet my standards, the profit from buying them goes to a different corporation that exploits workers and pollutes, so I don't like choosing them.

In contrast, Organic Valley is a farmer-owned cooperative.  I can't think if any contrast to Cascadian at the moment, sorry.[/quote]

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