The Organic Food Fad is officially dead

Federal Review ^ | Sunday, June 04, 2006

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The New York Times reports that Wal-Mart, the bane of all limousine liberals and aging hippies, has entered the "crunchy granola" market:

Beginning later this year, Wal-Mart plans to roll out a complete selection of organic foods — food certified by the U.S.D.A. to have been grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers — in its nearly 4,000 stores. Just as significant, the company says it will price all this organic food at an eye-poppingly tiny premium over its already-cheap conventional food: the organic Cocoa Puffs and Oreos will cost only 10 percent more than the conventional kind. Organic food will soon be available to the tens of millions of Americans who now cannot afford it — indeed, who have little or no idea what the term even means. Organic food, which represents merely 2.5 percent of America's half-trillion-dollar food economy, is about to go mainstream.

With organic food about to become as "mainstream" and "middle America" as Ford Explorers, Kraft singles and "American Idol," how long before the so-called "elites" find it no longer has the same "counterculture" appeal as Volvos, brie and NPR?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

But farmer's markets and megastores can be great, too. It counts what you are buying and why.

There is such a thing as quality. Quality you usually pay more for, because it's worth it. But then there is elite appeal, like $200 tshirts.

I buy quality coffee cause I like it. But I will shop around to make sure it's quality, and not just snob appeal I am buying.

My local health food store sells some things at prices comparative to the local stores. Because of demand, I can buy cage free eggs at my grocery at a price I feel is tolerable.

Why should the rich and/or trendy be the only ones to benefit? Good stuff is good stuff. I'm glad to see it become more abundant.

[dr huer]

Once upon a time fresh milk was delivered the same day it came from the cow. Six kids, now all healthy college graduates, three with PhDs, nourished with milk from Walker-Gordon's rotolactor.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Good stuff is good stuff. I'm glad to see it become more abundant.

Me too. And you are right about the shopping around.

High quality decaf whole bean organically grown single region coffee is available is good. That I can buy them for four bucks a pound from Sam's Club is great!

[A. Pole]

she's convinced that shopping at a place like Whole Foods is *not* about eating healthy foods but,rather,about the conspicuous display of affluence

In some case it might be, same way as some people who listen to classic music do it out of snobism. Still Beethoven is better than Michael Jackson.

[SE Mom]

Some fresh organic stuff such as strawberries and tomatoes tastes better .
Mostly because it is grown locally.

---

Mine is grown locally...in my garden:)

[Ruddles]

"--indeed,..."

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I live in a apartment but I grow what I can in pots.

One day I shall have a large garden where I can grow everything that strikes my fancy.

And maybe some fruit trees.

[A. Pole]

Care to try to define, in scientific terms, exactly what "organic food" is?

For me it does not have to be completely organic, even some natural/organic components ruin the taste or you health.

Good example is the adulterated cream - now they put locust bean gum from the carob tree or similar gum junk almost everywhere. It is HORRIBLE and sold at Whole Foods too!

BTW, they use these "natural" gums to develop Krohn Disease in laboratory animals.

Haagen-Dazs (expensive) and some flavors of Breyer (affordable) icecream are not contaminated with it (plain chocolate).

[Beagle8U]

"It is fun to watch the Crows attack their wounded comrade, but as far as a deterrent, hasn't worked. The allure of a plump cherry is too great."

You have to hang them upside down by their feet with a string or wire. Their wings will hang out to the sides and the others will leave the area.

If you think its an old wives tail, thats fine, but perhaps you shouldn't have had old wives hang them wrong?

[onja]

Well, my dog loved getting his Cocoa Puffs from the Bunny. All natural. :) (Droppings... bad joke)

[diamond6]

Have you tried raw milk. I hear there are some real nutritional benefits.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

You have to be part of a co-op for them to sell it to you in most places.

It is good and the nutritional value is higher but unless you are dealing with a farmer you can trust (or growing your own) there is a certain risk. I would not give it to very young children, the elderly or anyone who has a weak immune system. 99% of the time you are safe but the 1% can be a doozy.

That is why I push slow pasteurized. It is also higher in nutritional value not to mention just plain better but without the added risk

[Beagle8U]

"High quality decaf whole bean organically grown single region coffee is available is good."

The caffeine in coffee beans is in the outer oils, to decaffeinate it they use a chemical degreaser, much like those used in factories for degreasing parts.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Some do. This is decaffeinated with the swiss water method.

[dalereed]

"Why is organic food garbage????"

Raised with "crap" for fertilizer instead of doing a soil annalysis and adding the proper chemicals for each crop plus the lack of pesticides is plain stupid.

I grew up with buggy produce and there isn't any excuse for it.

Bring back DDT, I love the smell and taste of it, I used to spray the back yard every day before dinner.

[Beagle8U]

I don't trust any decaff, I just try to drink a little less...lol

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Read up on it. Only water is used so it is as safe as anything you will find.

I love coffee, the taste, the smell, the little gurgle the pot makes. It's role as a caffeine delivery system was really always secondary to me, I just want coffee.

[A. Pole]

I don't trust any decaff, I just try to drink a little less...lol

I am very sensitive to caffeine. If I drink coffee afternoon or later I cannot sleep. Strange thing the same result is if I drink decaf! Must be some stuff left in, maybe something else than caffeine?

[Beagle8U]

I know that some use water, but most don't for decaff.

Most using just water call it low- caffeine.

[dalereed]

I want mine raised with chemical fertalizer and pesticides and won't eat or buy any grown with no soil annalysis and pesticides to kill the bugs.