organic vs other stuff

[trance247]

I personally try to buy as much organic/natural produce as possible, but it tends to be pricey. My shopping trip takes me to 5 stores and I pick and choose to save some $$...what is the general consensus on items like poultry meat and organic fruits and veggies, are they really that better or?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Don't worry about "organic" stuff. Regular stuff will be fine as long as you prepare you properly. "Organic all natural" seems like something to make consumers feel they're special, and stories like Whole Foods thrive on it.

And 5 stores? Jeez, just go to one store, buy your stuff and save gas/$$/time.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Don't worry about "organic" stuff. Regular stuff will be fine as long as you prepare you properly. "Organic all natural" seems like something to make consumers feel they're special, and stories like Whole Foods thrive on it.

And 5 stores? Jeez, just go to one store, buy your stuff and save gas/$$/time.

Only reason to buy organic is to look down your nose at people who don't. Decide whether that matters to you more than your money and time, then go to an Albertson's and save some cash.

 

[Riverhound777]

Unless your looking at the ingredients to make sure so and so product is not in the food (such as vegans I know do), your just falling for a marketing gimmick.

 

[brikis98]

The only thing I explicitly by organic is milk. I drink massive amounts of the stuff and my gf's family convinced me the organic variety was significantly better for you. I didn't think much to do my own research, but I did find two things I liked: the taste was a bit better and the milk lasts a lot longer before expiring, which allows me to stock up on a few gallons and not go shopping as often. However, this thread reminded me to do my own thinking and I did some googling:

link 1
link 2
link 3

Sadly, most of the articles seem to indicate that the health benefits of organic vs. normal milk are questionable and that it may be mostly a marketing campaign. This page also ranks organic milk (not sure by what process, so take it with a grain of salt) and the ones available to me aren't too high up on that list. So, I may need to go back and figure out whether the (nearly) double cost is worth slightly better taste and a longer shelf life...

 

[conorvansmack]

My cousin is a dairy farmer and pointed out the difference in his unique farmer way. "That farm is an organic farm. They have about the same amount of land that we do, but they produce less and have a lot more weeds in their fields. Our cows are just as healthy as theirs."

Now I know we're not cows, but I'm like MegaVovaN. I don't really buy the whole "organic is better" argument. I understand the argument for buying locally grown produce and all (locavore - one who eats locally grown), but the logical capitalist in me is stronger than the heart-driven do-gooder in me. I can get the same fruits and veggies at my regular store for less.

I haven't done much research as far as BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone) and it effects on humans, so I won't mention any of the things that I've heard it can cause. In northern Illinois and Wisconsin there's a large dairy company called Oberweis. Some of my friends buy their milk and swear it tastes better. It's not organic and their skim milk looks thicker and healthier than regular skim.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Fresh, still warm milk tastes way better than any kind of bottled/shipped/chilled milk. Sadly, this luxury is only available on a private ranch with your own cows. That milk is REALLY fat, too

 

[TripleAAA]

I will buy most of my veggies/produce organic, but unfortunately thus far the USDA has done a pretty poor job of regulating the Organic industry. It's not all that difficult to get a product badged as organic and charge two to three times as much for it.

 

[Ticky]

Here's an interesting question: What the fvck is in-organic food? Organic means only that a substance has molecules composed primarily of carbon. There for, plastic is organic, oil is organic, and Kraft cheese substitute is organic. By an alternate, thought lame, definition, organic material is that associated with life. Where, exactly, would food come from that isn't produced by living organisms? If you're buying inorganic food, what is it made of, silicone?

 

[MegaVovaN]

It is called "organic food" because it is grown in a specific way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food

 

[conorvansmack]

Originally posted by: Ticky
Here's an interesting question: What the fvck is in-organic food? Organic means only that a substance has molecules composed primarily of carbon. There for, plastic is organic, oil is organic, and Kraft cheese substitute is organic. By an alternate, thought lame, definition, organic material is that associated with life. Where, exactly, would food come from that isn't produced by living organisms? If you're buying inorganic food, what is it made of, silicone?

I think inorganic refers to some of the compounds used as fertilizers and weed-killers. Those are probably not carbon-based.

 

[conorvansmack]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Fresh, still warm milk tastes way better than any kind of bottled/shipped/chilled milk. Sadly, this luxury is only available on a private ranch with your own cows. That milk is REALLY fat, too

It still grosses me out when they drink out of the bulk tank. That stuff was in the cow a few minutes ago! It lowers the temperature a bit, but it's still something I haven't developed the cajones for yet. I'm content to drive tractors through 8 inches of manure. When I do that, I feel like a man and smell like a man.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
It is called "organic food" because it is grown in a specific way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food

Yea, I think we know what it actually means....it's just a stupid term to sum up what it is. The food you're eating is still organic.

 

[dakels]

The biggest reason i will buy organic is for the taste and quality. Organic tends to usually taste better, be a bit cleaner in store, be a little fresher. And this is only in the areas it matters to taste. I bought some super organic orange the other day for $1.50 for 1 freakin small orange. All I wanted it for was to squeeze into a sauce I was making. Stuff like that I would never buy organic. It has a super thick oily skin protecting it from pesticides and oranges travel very well. But, tomatoes, milk, etc stuff that clearly tastes better to me. Sometimes if an organic product tastes a tiny bit better and only costs a tiny bit more I will buy it just to support organic farms.