How much organic food do you eat?

[hoodat]

Profit monsters are organic people that are profiting from hysteria with NO scientific data showing that roundup is still active or that GMO are causing genetic deformities.

Organic pushers can charge 2-3X more for same products.

I have no problems with people wanting/paying for organic, just get tired of unfounded claims.

Roundup is a systemic poison. It is present in every part of the plant; including the part you eat. Just because it doesn't kill GMO plants doesn't mean they don't take it up.

 

[seedcorn]

1). I never even suggested any Ag company doesn't do it for the profit. No profit, they don't do it. You think the organic organizations don't do it for the $$$$$? They can't get the 3-10X margins without scare tactics.
2). Your argument is you can't feed Roundup? Really. Table salt will also kill. Want to outlaw table salt? Too much manure kills plants and run off kills fish, want to outlaw manure?
3). No chemical whether non-organic or not should be sprayed without protection.

I could go on but I won't. I will defend your right to not buy commercial Ag products.

 

[hoodat]

Realizing the profits that can be made in organics the big ag companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Good news? Well not really. Instead of abiding by the organics rules in place they are doing the same end run they did with the FDA. They are placing their own shills on the Organics review board. The goal is clearly to increase the exceptions in their favor. Just a few years ago there were 17 products allowed to be sprayed on crops and still be able to call them organic. Today there are 259 and counting.
The USDA Organic label becomes more unreliable every day.

 

[Beekissed]

That's another reason I don't get too stuck on buying organic. I grow organic and eat that, but in the winter time when I want some salad things to eat, I just buy whatever is there and looks fresh. I don't really trust any foods grown commercially, whatever the label they put on them. One does the best they can in this world in which we live and the realities therein.

This winter I hope to grow some romaine lettuces and spinach through the winter in a tunnel, just to see if it can be done here and I can avoid even that much from the store and produce sections.

 

[bobm]

I know many farmers in commercial family farming in Cal. . Example : a friend owns `160 acres of Thomson's seedless grapes for raisins and manages another 1, 000 nearby acres of growers that have retired and their kids don't want to farm. He has to have the vinyards sprayed with fungicides. He follows all rules and regulations to the "T" and instructs his ag. workers as to all the rules and safety applications before every spraying. He then goes about his duties and when he drives by the work in progress , he sees the worker stop the tractor, the sprayer is still on, worker takes down his haz-mat suit to his ankles and proceeds to irrigate the ground with a yellow fluid. He then pulls up the suit, climbs aboard his rig and continues spraying. Farm manager stops his car, and calls out to the worker to come talk to him. The worker , instead of stoping his rig, leaves the sprayer nozles on and gets off and starts to walk to manager's car. The manager friend yells to worker to shut everything off. Worker then goes back to shut everything off. Friend is now furious at worker and fires him on the spot. Who gets blamed for chemical contamination, possible health issues from the yellow fluid on crops at the stores, possible health issues to the worker by fungicide, workamans' comp health issues at emergency hospital and increased premiums, hospital then has to contact all gaovernment agencies involved who then decends onto the vinyard with an army of inspectors . Not to mention bad press and bleeding heart environmentalists vociferous exclamations to scare the public of the dangers of chemicals followed by the benefits of buying only overpriced organic products that "they " produce or sell ?

 

[valley ranch]

Now if we can just get GMO labeling.

Then we will have the what we think the worst one a matter of choice.

 

[seedcorn]

@MoonShadows I agree with your points except #2. Mechanization costs more per acre whereas time/effort are non factors since help is on salary-family help paid same whether work 40 or 60 hours.
#5 slave labor and lack of chemical controls is why I don't eat imported fruit or vegetables knowingly.
Since they save their own seed, don't use commercial fertilizer, chemicals, and hand pick (so no waste) shouldn't that be a huge savings?

 

[seedcorn]

When you are talking about a $750,000 combine, you have to stretch the acres and years. That doesn't include any of the other equipment. It's reason a small farm can't afford expensive equipment.

Mechanization is more expensive per acre.

 

[Nyboy]

I am surrounded by small family farms, all of which have corn fields. Just the other day I was wondering how they made any money, after seeing corn 5 ears for a dollar at supermarket.

 

[so lucky]

Nyboy, probably those small family farms are still growing corn for eventual feedlot use, or for making a different product, like corn syrup or food additives. Not for consumption by people as fresh corn on the cob.