There has been much debate over whether it is worth it to purchase organic foods. In
In Whole Foods stores, there are banners that list “Reasons To Buy Organic.” THe first reason is to save energy- the text next to it explains how organic farmers, who use natural fertilizers like manure and compost, avoid the energy waste involved in the manufacture of synthetic fertilizers. On the other hand,the fossil fuels expended getting organic food from places such as Chile, as Whole Foods does, far surpass any energy that would be used to transport from somewhere in America.
Another heading on the Whole Foods banner says “Help the Small Farmer.” “Buying organic,” it states, “supports the small, family farmers that make up a large percentage of organic food producers.”There is evidence that these organic farms are more sustainable and environmentally sound. However, a widespread misconception in this country is that organic means small family farmer. There are many small, family-run organic farmers, but their share of the organic crop in this country, and of the produce sold at Whole Foods, is extremely small.
Maloney argues that while “these profiles may be heartwarming, they also artfully mislead customers about what they’re paying premium prices for.”
Recently, Wal-Mart has begun a major program to expand into organic foods. The article suggests that oddly, Wal-Mart (with it’s “More for Less” modo) might do far more to democratize the nation’s food supply than Whole Foods. “The organic-food movement is in danger of exacerbating the growing gap between rich and poor in this country by contributing to a two-tiered national food supply, with healthy food for the rich.”
But, do the positives of organic food outweigh the negatives? Here are some environmental benefits I found on Wikipedia:
- Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides or herbicides into the environment – some of which have the potential to harm local wildlife.
- Organic farms are better than conventional farms at sustaining diverse ecosystems. That is, populations of plants and insects, as well as animals.
- When calculated either per unit area or per unit of yield: Organic farms use less energy and produce less waste – waste such as packaging materials for chemicals.
On top of these, there are tons of benefits for producers and customers.In my mind, people buy organic foods because it’s good for them- most probably don’t think about the environmental benefits, or according to Maloney, environmental consequences. Organic food is grown without the use of conventional pesticides and artificial fertilizers, which is proven to be better for you. Sales within the U.S. have grown 17 to 20 percent for the past few years. In a country where health and nutrition is such a growing concern, I’d like to see the organic food movement become bigger- at least people are thinking about their health.
http://www.slate.com/id/2138176/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_foods#_note-4
