Mar 31 2009
Why I Still Eat Organic*
*Or why I love The Common Market in Frederick, MD.
Like most people, Michael and I are looking for ways to cut costs. We called our current cable company and ended up getting a reduced rate for the same services when we said we wanted to cut services. We’re trying to stop eating out entirely, a concept which is dying hard, so far. We’re limiting our entertainment spending.
So far, though, we haven’t touched the grocery budget. It’s not like we’re not debating it. But I love my organic food, and especially the co-op where we shop. Here are my reasons for eating organic.
1. Pure pretension. I’m pretentious. I want to shop at a little co-op where cute little indie kids work and where I can get cheese with vegetarian rennet. I want to shop at a place that isn’t a chain, a place that is rarely crowded, a place where quality matters and price is sacrificed.
2. The produce looks better. I get more excited about eating my veggies when they look pretty. The selection of produce is limited (they frequently run out of bananas, for example) but that’s a good thing, to me. It means they try to stock in season and produce isn’t sitting on the shelf forever. The produce I get is fresh, in season, and lasts longer. Besides – they stock three kinds of kale. THREE! I don’t even like Kale and that excites me.
3. Vegan/Vegetarian food. Oh hi, want a vegan frozen dinner? Want non-dairy milk that isn’t soy or rice? Want a pre-made vegan potato salad? Since we cook mostly vegan at home, all of those things are important to us.
4. Eco-friendly cleaning products. Bigger selection, better prices.
5. To support friendly business practices. Organic costs more because it’s not as popular yet. I’m willing to support it until I’m no longer financially able because I believe in it, so to speak. I think it helps the environment, I think it’s healthier for me, I think it’s responsible. I can get local produce year-round at the co-op, and they aim to help the local community in other ways, as well. All of that matters.
The big thing for me is the co-op business model. We didn’t shop at Whole Foods when we lived in the Annapolis area, and I wouldn’t start if we moved back. Organic produce is neat and all, but its actual value beyond aesthetics is somewhat debatable. What you can’t debate is that shopping at a non-profit co-op is a fine way to stick it to the man.
We trust our co-op (The Common Market) to engage in ethical trade practices with farmers, who are local whenever practical. We also trust them to carry pre-packaged items made by companies that treat their employees well and that, quite frankly, aren’t owned by some evil conglomerate. In a country where a lack of diversity in most consumer businesses prevents you from “voting with your dollar,” this is one area where I can seize some tiny amount of control.
Now that I think about it, I can come up with one advantage of organic produce. It keeps me from doing business, however indirectly, with Monsanto.
“We” did shop at Whole Foods – I picked up some stuff I couldn’t find other places (soy yogurt, soy cheese, veganaise, crazy grains like amaranth) before we discovered David’s Natural Market.
I agree with you – organic is less important than say, a farmer’s market or co-op style of doing business. I’m interested primarily in quality, and supporting local farmers, less interested in what organic means.
Due to how the USDA hands out organic certs, it costs the farms/companies a LOT of money JUST to get certified. Even if they are fully compliant with organic requirements, it makes it difficult for small companies/farms (how do we stay in business if we have to pay the USDA all of this money?). So organic does not necessarily mean jack… not to mention that as Michael said, there are some limits to the actual benefits of organic produce (depending on the item).
The co-op, on the other hand, is very cool. I’ve been going to the co-op here (PCC) when I can (I’m pretty far from it now).
A couple of articles on the organic thing —
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/weekinreview/22bittman.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=bittman%20organic&st=cse
http://www.bullrunfarm.com/certify.html
> “We” did shop at Whole Foods
Yeah, I know. I’m just saying that it wasn’t our primary grocery store, whereas The Common Market is. We briefly flirted with David’s but they were unjustifiably expensive and the produce wasn’t anything like what the co-op has.
I think all of the points you made are great endorsements of shopping at a co-op, but I don’t think they’re necessarily good reasons to eat organic when they’ll have Organic Cheez Whiz before much longer.
Speaking of which, we need to buy more Cheez Whiz. I needed something to go with my Cheetos last night.
I should retitle this entry why I love The Common Market, really.
I know about the small companies/farms things. I’ve talked to plenty of farmers who’ve said as much: they use organic growing practices but can’t afford to get certified. But what that comes down to is being able to talk to people about the food you’re eating/buying. Something you can do at a farmers market, with a csa or at a co-op (or local farm or orchard), but not at a chain grocery.
I have never bought cheez whiz, Michael. That’s all on you.
I used to do kosher certification at factories, I was under the impression that nearly all places use vegan rennett but I could be wrong. You can have quite nice veggies if you grow thwm yourself, the high prices are from reduced yield and the trashing .
OH CRAP IT WAS THE RANCH DRESSING FROM SIX MONTHS AGO