If you walk into any supermarket today, a variety of foods await you. Traveling down the produce isle, several thoughts may occur to you. As you pick up an apple, one thought in particular runs through your mind: organic; or conventional? This debate has been going on for years; the choice to buy organically grown produce, or food grown in the conventional way. Today people are taking the game one step further, deliberating whether to buy locally. It’s a tough decision, one with many options and concerns to think about.
Today it seems to be a fad to buy organic produce because it is said to be healthier for you, and better for the environment. But organic is not always greener. I am reminded of a bumper sticker saying, “Don’t eat fossil fuels, buy local!” According to TIME Magazine, this is most often the case. While it’s true that some local farmers grow organic produce, a majority of what you buy in the store is not from around here. Products are primarily shipped from California, South America, or any other number of places where organic food can be grown abundantly, and at most times of the year. Not that there isn’t organic food locally, but if you go into the supermarket, chances are that what you find on the selves, wasn’t grown around here*, or can only be grown during certain seasons.
With the increase of fuel oil prices, we seem to be eating more and more fossil fuels. The number of people buying organic produce is up 17% from figures in 2000**. This is due in part from the idea that organically grown food is “greener” than locally grown produce. Or is it? According to a representative of Goold’s orchard, organically grown food, is not as environmentally friendly as we are led to believe. Organic growing is not as efficient as more conventional methods, due to the increased amount of land needed to grow said crops. You get half the produce for twice the price, as organic food can be upwards of 50% more expensive than orthodox produce***.
While some people would argue that the large shipments of produce are actually cheaper than small, locally driven produce^; the shipment is not the most expensive part of the problem, nor is it the biggest environmental concern. Although 11% of the greenhouse gasses caused by organic farming are from transportation, 83% are due to the agricultural practices*^.
The more pressing reason people seem to be buying organic is the health risk pesticides present, but this is an undocumented problem. Scientists have failed to prove that the low levels of pesticides actually cause cancer, and haven’t found any results from long-term exposure**. According to Goold’s Orchard, spraying too much is undesirable, as it is expensive, and could cause ”super mites”. That means that the mites, and other insects farmers are trying to keep from the crops could become resistant to the pesticides, causing more cost as farmers would have to invest in new pesticides. Spraying in little quantities also keeps down the cost of the product, as insecticides can be expensive, and would drive up the costs of goods, if used excessively.
Spray materials have to follow strict laws. All products come with a specific label, much like those found on medications, and can only be used by people who have a Spray Materials License. Each year these persons must go and have a refresher class, to make sure they know all the rules and regulations.
To me, it seems better to buy locally. Any way to reduce fossil fuel is a greener way to be. Buying locally also helps support our economy, and keeps jobs in our local area. I realize that local produce can be hard to come buy in the different seasons, but that is the time to eat different foods. Remember, a hundred years ago, people only ate strawberries, when it was strawberry season. We just might have to use some of their ideas to help us stay green today. The concern of vitamin deficiency is unprecedented. Many people already take supplements, or the like, everyday, and there are other possibilities, such as frozen, or canned foods. These are still nutritious and have the same benefits as fresh produce.
So the next time you walk into a supermarket, know your choices. Two red apples sit side by side, one local, one organic. Both apples look pretty good, and maybe the organic one appears to be “greener”, perhaps healthier, but think of the taste of that local apple, a taste that is sugary and sweet, not one of fossil fuel.
*(A side note: I realize that this is the World Wide Web, and that there is a chance you could be reading this, and you live in a place with abundant organic food locally, but where I live, that is not typically the case).
**http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595245-1,00.html
***http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/116/local
^http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/19/opinion/oew-grier-roberts19
*^http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/food-miles-production-costs-44042808?click=main_sr
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Better this is, as the argument shows better clarity. Still missing, is your definition of "organic", a term which is bandied about in the agri-economy and political worlds. It should also be remembered that engineering can produce a better product, or solve problems in methodoloy that can allow greater diversity in product. My soil is not the best, nor is my climate, but with intelligent choices, a favourable result can be obtained. DW
Post a Comment