Off topic again: Buyer Beware Organic vs. Non-organic Produce

This project was interesting in many ways.  We had an in-depth look at what it means for produce to be organic and how that affects us as consumers.  Some people think "organic" is just for hippies and that its impacts don't affect the rest of us conventional folk.  What we found was not a lot of evidence on how eating organic can affect our health, but we did find a lot about how it affects our environment.

When farmers grow organically, they are letting the soil replenish its nutrients in a natural and sustainable way.  This means that it can be ongoing.  Using pesticides and fertilizers is a quick fix.  Not to mention, the lack of evidence aside, I don't like the idea of consuming all that crap when I eat an apple.

My family and I get our fruit and vegetables delivered by a company called Fresh Option Organic Delivery or F.O.O.D. and I feel good about supporting organic farmers and about not putting all those chemicals into my body.

We also learned that there are strict regulations on the labelling of organic produce.  A company is not allowed to put the organic seal on their product if that product does not meet certain standards.  According to John Hollinger, an Organic Agriculture Specialist from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) farmers must be using organic practices for three years before they can be considered organic by the Government of Manitoba.

One thing we noticed in our research was the attitudes of people.  We did a taste test at school using organic and non-organic apples and we asked people which they liked better and whether or not they bought organic produce regularly.  Only about 50% of people were able to tell which apple was organic and which was not and most people who responded that they bought organic regularly weren't able to say what organic meant or why they thought it was better.

It seems like organic has a certain stigma attached to it and it tends to imply brand superiority.  With that said though, it is a helpful, not a harmful brand and regardless of the reasoning, people buying organic produce is a good thing.