It’s hard not to notice organics labels anywhere nowadays.
It used to be local food shop proudly displayed organics and it meant more than it does now. However, we can still by quality foods with a little know-how. After all, when even Wall-Mart has “organic” ice cream, the bottom line is that organic junk food is still just that, junk food.
When Whole Foods bought out Wild Oats, they were being probed by the Federal Trace Commission (FTC) because they were eliminating a healthy competition in an already expensive organic food market. It was said it would give Whole Foods unilateral market power resulting in higher prices and reduced quality, service and choice for consumers. You chose when you walk in a Whole Foods store that used to be Wild Oats. Is it true?
Unfortunately, large corporation turned organic food into a $16-billion business, with sales growing by 20% a year and the downside is that it becomes about maximizing profits. This can mean sacrificing ethics and quality, at a benefit for them and a higher price for consumers.
Finally buying local is often better than buying organic. You get fresher foods and didn’t use excess fuel to be transported long distances as with those big supermarkets. Also local farmer’s markets are somewhat less expensive since the rising fuel costs inevitably get passed down the line to the end consumer. At least I found it be to be here with our Long Beach ones.
Things to be careful with healthy big supermarkets: MSG and rBGH. Meats and Poultry accumulate toxins. Buy organic and grass-fed exclusively, especially the three months before they are slaughtered, as this is when they are typically given grains to fatten them up. For chickens, it would be important to make sure they are cage-free, or free-range, chickens.
Fresh produce buy local. It saves gas and pollution.
An additional concern that was recently raised by the Organic Consumer’s Association is that a whopping 50 percent of “natural” and “organic” products were found to be contaminated with 1,4 Dioxane – a petrochemical carcinogen. The results of their testing of 100 “organic” personal care products are listed on their website and worth checking out to make sure you’re actually getting what you think you’re paying for. And by the way, ORGANIC should be 100%. So products that are 50% are not, even 99%.
Some sources of interest:
Farmers’ Markets — www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets
A national listing of farmers’ markets.
Local Harvest — www.localharvest.org
Find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.
Eat Well Guide: Wholesome Food from Healthy Animals — www.eatwellguide.org
The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs from farms, stores, restaurants, inns, and hotels, and online outlets in the United States and Canada.
Chicago’s Green City Market — Chicago’s only sustainable market with the highest quality locally farmed products. May through October. (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSA’s)
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) — http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/
Weston A. Price Foundation — www.westonaprice.org
FoodRoutes — www.foodroutes.org
The FoodRoutes “Find Good Food” map can help you connect with local farmers to find the freshest, tastiest food possible. On their interactive map, you can find a listing for local farmers, CSA’s, and markets near you.
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) — www.buylocalfood.com
Grass-Fed Beef Ranchers
Panorama Meats – Black Angus and Red Angus — www.panoramameats.com
Country Natural Beef – Hereford and Angus — www.countrynaturalbeef.com
Tallgrass Beef — www.tallgrassbeef.com
Niman Ranch – A network of more than 600 independent farmers and ranchers, and probably the easiest to find locally — www.nimanranch.com
Pacific Village – Entirely grass-fed cattle since 2002 — www.newseasonsmarket.com
Source: Dr. Mercola
