The Organic Food Debate

The decision to consume organic foods is a hotly debated issue with strongly opined voices on either side. There's no denying though that the organic foods sector multi-billion dollar industry attracting larger players like Kroger and Safeway, and led by Austin, Texas based Whole Foods. Being a consumer of organic foods myself, I'll grant that my opinion may be slanted in one direction, but I'll do my best to set for the pros and cons of purchasing and consuming organic foods in an unbiased manner.

The argument in favor of consuming organic foods can be summed up by three major issues - taste, cost, and environmental sustainability. There are additional arguments that can be made, but most food choices boil down to whether or not it tastes good, is affordable within your budget, and is sustainable as a long term solution for you and your worldview. Just a few years ago it would have been necessary to include availability as a component in the decision of whether to live an organic lifestyle, but with the proliferation of not only Whole Foods, the inclusion of major grocery chains including organic options on their shelves, and scores of local farmers markets, it's become fairly easy to find an organic grocer in your area.

Taste is by far the point organic food proponents point to, but unfortunately this is a subjective attribute, and like all things that are derived from one persons opinion, quite emotional in nature. For any person that thinks that organic food tastes no different from conventionally produced food, I challenge you to eat a raw peach/tomato/carrot from an organic farmers market, organic grocer, or grown organically in your own backyard and compare it objectively with the same item that you purchase from the produce section of your local chain grocery store. Most people will state that there is no comparing the two based solely on taste. Blind taste tests could probably prove this theory correct, but you can easily find the truth on your own, and eat some delicious produce doing it.

Expense is certainly one topic where organic food critics can unite a large amount of support in their favor. Most of the time organic food is more expensive. But the consumer can take steps to help mitigate some of the expense, like buying food only when it's in season, checking prices in grocery store mailers, and buying from a local organic farmers market instead of a chain grocery store, but in the end it will still probably be more expensive. There is a price of healthy living though and this is part of it. In our capitalist society consumers can make changes by making dollars speak for them, sending the message "We will pay a higher price for organic fruits and vegetables."

The concept of environmental sustainability is another very subjective area. Are the long term effects of widespread use of chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides good or bad for the earth? How about the long term effects on your health of ingesting these cancer causing compounds? Various studies over the years from industry groups on both sides can produce evidence to support their scientific claims, and with each study you read you should research who funded the study? Who benefits the most from it? Is there an economic incentive to have results support a specific claim? Does this study make intuitive sense? Don't accept every "scientific" study as fact, do your own critical analysis.

There are a number of movements springing up in communities all over the world that support locally raised organic foods. Buy locally grown and organic foods, become what is known as a "locavore" - one who consumes locally grown foods. Consider joining your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, a cooperative produce subscription group. Start a garden in your backyard, patio, or in pots on your front porch. You can't get more locally grown than fruits and vegetables that come from your own back yard. Whatever steps you take know that you can do your part to support local organic farmers and make your voice heard.