<p>I buy organic because I’ve read the labels on the chemicals. I grow my own because I think a little sweat makes them taste better–and because that way I control what chemicals are used. I buy locally when I can because I want my community to thrive. </p>
<p>As for as local produce, though, I <em>can</em> definitely taste a difference between stuff that is local and stuff that comes from farther away. Time spent on trucks definitely changes the taste. I also try not to eat produce that isn’t in season.</p>
<p>Perhaps, too, it says that people like to have local agriculture not be squeezed out by the urban, industrial and mega-suburban influences which are engulfing us. It is nice to have a healthy amount of greenery about!</p>
So, clearly, those people drive a car that was assembled in the US. They also don’t fly (local vacations only). They don’t buy consumer electronics.</p>
<p>Generally, this is all false. They just like to pretend.</p>
Too bad buying local does nothing to stop the expansion of cities? I live near agriculture development. It’s quite industrial to its core. The highest yields for the cheapest prices.</p>
<p>I don’t know about this study. What organic foods were included? Does it include silly stuff like organic Mac and Cheese mix? Although I don’t dispute what they’re saying, I don’t take much from it either. </p>
<p>I DO buy organic and local when I can. There are certain foods I am very fussy about. Strawberries for example. They absorb lots of pesticides. Apples. Chicken…can’t stand the thought of antiobiotics and hormones in my meal. Milk, Yogurt and Cheese. Same Deal. Beef - I buy grass fed organic. when I eat it (which is rare). It tastes great and I eat a small amount. (Ask yourself…“what does what you eat eat”?)</p>
<p>It’s just common sense really. How can all those pesticides and additives be good for you? I look at the ingredient list of everything I buy. I like the stuff with less ingredients. And I want to be able to recognize most if not all of what is in a particular product. Have you looked at a standard bread label lately? Scary stuff.</p>
<p>Yeah, it takes time and extra $. But it’s worth it.</p>
<p>I’d like to see a study that considered those issues. I doubt there would be much more dangerous outcomes in standard supermarket foods vs organics. Scary names do not equal dangerous in food level quantities. Taste is another issue in some foods. Some mass produced foods have lost all taste–strawberries, tomatoes ,etc. Prime meat tastes better than choice.</p>
<p>I would like to see some studies too.
But bottom line, it seems to me that the standard American diet, filled with processed junk, doesn’t seem to be good for us. Obesity rates are high. Heart disease and diabetes are showing up earlier. Did you see Super Size Me? Less than one month of McDonalds food practically put the guy on his deathbed. And folks in places like Japan start getting sick when they pick up our diet. Something is clearly wrong here.
I know this is veering off topic. My point is that it’s not just about organic vs non organic. There’s plenty of organic junk food out there…the big food companies know this label sells (can’t wait for organic mountain dew to show up). </p>
<p>Eat real food. Avoid the processed junk that sits in the middle of the supermarket. We’ve become lazy here in America and eat junky and cheap convenience foods. And we’re paying for it.</p>
<p>There was an item on NPR not long ago about the trend toward growing corn for ethanol that was modified so that more corn would be produced and would not require as high temperatures as other corn to produce ethanol.
The big problem is not only the possibility of this corn wafting onto fields devoted to corn for human consumption, but also, because it is an industrial crop, it would not be subjected to FDA inspection and regulations. </p>
<p>That’s a shame for your area, Mr. Payne. In NJ, the biggest expansion area for farmers is in CSA’s, farm markets, local produce for restaurants, etc. Which is great, I think, and which I will do everything I can to support.</p>
<p>Because it’s possible to buy local foods. It’s not always possible to buy locally made televisions / furniture / cars because, well, not every town has a television factory / furniture factory / car factory. The economics of setting up factories are far different from the economics of setting up a small farm. Was that something you didn’t already know?</p>
<p>As for traveling – yes, ideally, those who are most concerned with the environment wouldn’t fly long distances for vacations and so forth (or they’d buy carbon offsets). However, just because you can’t do everything doesn’t mean you should do nothing.</p>
<p>Except that there’s little dispute over the fact that daily consumption of Big Macs and other fast food fare of its type has been proven to be dangerously detrimental to public health for many decades now. Are you honestly trying to argue that Big Macs are as healthy a food choice as any other?</p>
<p>yeah, yeah…I’m quite aware of the statistics on higher life expectancy. Actually the death rate from heart attacks and strokes is down significantly too. I guess that’s good news…until you consider that the actual disease rate is way up. And is hitting folks at much younger ages.
Stents, statins, surgery…yeah they all go a long way to keeping us alive longer.
But the statistics don’t lie. More folks are obese…lots more kids. More folks have chronic disease. Diet has a role. Inactivity has a role. Everyone is looking for the easy fix. Well, stop eating garbage and get off the couch! (At least the big mac guy walks 10 miles per day…that’s more than most people walk each month)</p>
That doesn’t make much sense. I would imagine that a car made 2000 miles from you is superior from a “buy local” standpoint than one made 6000 miles away. You seem to think that “buy local” means buy within 30 miles or something. A more logical definition would simply be, buy what’s made reasonably “close”. Close being dependent on the type of good, etc. Do you disagree?</p>
<p>
It’s quite easy to <em>not travel</em> (at least for vacations). You simply don’t buy the ticket.</p>
<p>Mr Payne, what’s with the chip on your shoulder? I can’t help but wonder why you would find it so irritating that someone chooses to buy vegetables grown locally. Where that person’s car was made hardly seems to enter into it.</p>
<p>Regarding large-scale, industrial farming, well, those aren’t the farms I buy my local produce from if I can help it. We have organic farmers in my state who are vetted by a community organization dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture. I’ve gotten to know some of them; they’re more like large-scale gardeners. It makes me feel good to buy from them. They’re responsible, industrious, and nice people, and I choose to reward that.</p>
<p>Tell us, Mr Payne, how do you promote those things that are important to you? I hope to learn that you are not just stirring the pot, but have ways that you think are better, and that you’ll share them with us.</p>
<p>Usually it is because they think that it has less harmful substances (pesticides that can’t be washed off, etc.</p>
<p>There are some foods I cannot eat at all unless they are organic & I expect that it is because of the pesticides which cause a reaction- luckily so far not life threatening, but uncomfortable enough that I feel it is worth the extra expense and time to find organic, which is not really an extra hassle at all in my area.</p>
<p>Root vegetables, seem to accumulate more toxins and fruit/veggies that are eaten with the skin ( berries etc), I make a point to buy organic.</p>
<p>From a hedonistic standpoint, as I find what foods affect my health, and I eat less as my calorie requirements go down, I want the food I do eat to be as delicious as possible.
A salad of local greens & goat cheese from a local producer is much more satisfying to me than a bag full of processed food.</p>
<p>I don’t know one person including myself who thinks organic foods are more nutritious. Most people choose organic to stay away from synthetic chemicals and genetic manipulation.</p>