Buying Organic!
If you're confused about when to go local, when you should go organic, and when it's all just baloney, you're not alone.
I hope this lens will help you figure out the best ways to add organic and bring farm-fresh food closer to your home.
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WHAT IS LOCALLY GROWN?
Locally grown means seasonal food from small farms. Some say it applies only to foods grown within a 100-mile radius; others stretch it to 250 miles.MUSTS: Seasonal fruits, seasonal vegetables, milk and dairy.
WHY? Local crops harvested at their peak of freshness and flavor offer superior nutrient density, and buying produce from local growers reduces the environmental impact and costs of transporting product.
MYTHS: Local food is not necessarily organically grown. However, there is truth to many local farmers' claims that they do not use pesticides.
WHY? They just can't advertise themselves as certified organic unless they've gone through the certification process, which is lengthy and expensive.
To Buy or Not to Buy Organic: What You Need to Know to Choose the Healthiest, Safest, Most Earth-Friendly Food
Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 12/21/2009)
Why Buy Local?
Big box stores like Wal-Mart are steamrolling their way into cities and towns throughout the country, pushing down wages and forcing small, local businesses to close because they can't compete with these mega-companies' predatory practices.
BUT WHAT CAN I DO?
But there's something we can do!
Let's vote with our dollars in favor of locally owned, independent businesses and against the negative impacts of chain stores and big box stores on our communities!
Why buy local? Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities than big box stores do;
Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services; Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.
Why Buy Local?
* Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities than big box stores do.
* Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services.
* Local businesses donate more money to nonprofits and are more accountable to their local communities.
* Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.
* Supporting local businesses is good for the environment, because it cuts down on fuel consumption. Buying locally produced goods reduces the need to ship goods from thousands of miles away and also cuts down on the distances shoppers travel.
BUT WHAT CAN I DO?
But there's something we can do!
Let's vote with our dollars in favor of locally owned, independent businesses and against the negative impacts of chain stores and big box stores on our communities!
Why buy local? Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities than big box stores do;
Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services; Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.
Why Buy Local?
* Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities than big box stores do.
* Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services.
* Local businesses donate more money to nonprofits and are more accountable to their local communities.
* Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.
* Supporting local businesses is good for the environment, because it cuts down on fuel consumption. Buying locally produced goods reduces the need to ship goods from thousands of miles away and also cuts down on the distances shoppers travel.
T-Shirts & Stuff on CafePress
You Can Make a Difference
Big box stores like Wal-Mart and the Gap are steamrolling their way into cities and towns throughout the country, pushing down wages and forcing small, local businesses to close because they can't compete with these mega-companies' predatory practices. But there's something we can do!
Let's send a message that we support our hometown businesses and oppose the negative impacts of chain stores and big box stores on our communities.
On November 18th, consumer groups around the country are joining "America Unchained," a national campaign sponsored by the American Independent Business Alliance, to encourage consumers to buy locally for the holidays - and all year round.
Join American Unchained or organize a Buy Local Day any day of the year in your own community.
Let's send a message that we support our hometown businesses and oppose the negative impacts of chain stores and big box stores on our communities.
On November 18th, consumer groups around the country are joining "America Unchained," a national campaign sponsored by the American Independent Business Alliance, to encourage consumers to buy locally for the holidays - and all year round.
Join American Unchained or organize a Buy Local Day any day of the year in your own community.
- American Unchained
- An Independent Business Alliance is a coalition of locally-owned independent businesses, citizens and community organizations united to support home town businesses in a community or geographic region. An IBA is a proven tool for helping maintain unique community character, ensuring continued opportunities for entrepreneurs, building local economic strength, and preventing the displacement of locally-owned businesses by chains. An IBA helps return decision-making ability over a community's future to the people who call it "home."
WHAT'S ORGANIC?
For plants, organic means grown on certified organic land without synthetic fertilizers or chemicals (like pesticides). Genetic modification and irradiation are also off-limits.
For animals, organic means access to the outdoors, only organic feed for at least a year, and no antibiotics or growth hormones.
MUSTS: Apples, cherries, grapes (especially if they're imported), nectarines, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, bell peppers, celery, potatoes, and spinach.
WHY? Because these fruits and veggies have been found to contain the most pesticide residue, even after being washed.
IF YOU WANT TO GO THE EXTRA MILE...also buy your beef, poultry, and dairy organic. Organic meats and dairy are much more expensive than nonorganic, but they'll also reduce your exposure to toxins.
MYTHS You don't need to worry about buying these organic: bananas, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, pineapple, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, onion, sweet peas, and seafood.
WHY? Because these fruits and veggies tend not to carry pesticide residue, and seafood has no USDA organic certification standards (so "organic seafood" doesn't mean much).
For animals, organic means access to the outdoors, only organic feed for at least a year, and no antibiotics or growth hormones.
MUSTS: Apples, cherries, grapes (especially if they're imported), nectarines, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, bell peppers, celery, potatoes, and spinach.
WHY? Because these fruits and veggies have been found to contain the most pesticide residue, even after being washed.
IF YOU WANT TO GO THE EXTRA MILE...also buy your beef, poultry, and dairy organic. Organic meats and dairy are much more expensive than nonorganic, but they'll also reduce your exposure to toxins.
MYTHS You don't need to worry about buying these organic: bananas, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, pineapple, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, onion, sweet peas, and seafood.
WHY? Because these fruits and veggies tend not to carry pesticide residue, and seafood has no USDA organic certification standards (so "organic seafood" doesn't mean much).
Organic Library
Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall
This book may change the way you think about eatin more...0 points
Is Your Food Good for You?
You are what you eat!
We've got to be our own health police.
"Big agriculture is the "new" venue for previous war suppliers. They have created a flawless product and mechanism for developing a market. The product will not germinate more than one year and requires herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizer. While the market is developed, diversity is destroyed and only that product is grown. The market is developed as part of the aid that we force on other countries - like legislature that is popular and that gets pork bills added to it. I have visited with people in ... that have lived through the change from growing food and collecting seed to buying seed, fertilizer, and the 'cides every year. They are poorer for it but conditions of the "aid" stipulate that there can be no competitors - they have no choice and no recourse."
~~anonymous
We've got to be our own health police.
"Big agriculture is the "new" venue for previous war suppliers. They have created a flawless product and mechanism for developing a market. The product will not germinate more than one year and requires herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizer. While the market is developed, diversity is destroyed and only that product is grown. The market is developed as part of the aid that we force on other countries - like legislature that is popular and that gets pork bills added to it. I have visited with people in ... that have lived through the change from growing food and collecting seed to buying seed, fertilizer, and the 'cides every year. They are poorer for it but conditions of the "aid" stipulate that there can be no competitors - they have no choice and no recourse."
~~anonymous
- Seed Sense: I See Vanished Vegetables (TreeHugger)
- Seed varieties vanishing!
- Mills McCartney wants to ban milk
- The wife of Sir Paul McCartney, the former Beatle, will call for milk to be dropped from the nation's diet.
- Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
- The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), formed in 1971, is the oldest and largest state organic organization in the country.
Why Buy Organic?
"These findings also confirm recent European research, which showed that organic tomatoes, peaches and processed apples all have higher nutritional quality than non-organic."
Peter Melchett, Soil Association
Peter Melchett, Soil Association
- BBC NEWS | Health | Organic food 'better' for heart
- Organic fruit and vegetables may be better for you than conventionally grown crops, US research suggests.
- All About Organics
- All About Organics: Research and action to promote organic food and agriculture
Organic Stuff on eBay
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Buying on a Budget
- 6 Surefire Ways to Buy Pesticide-Free Organics on a Budget - thedailygreen.com
- Eating safe and green doesn't have to cost you your weekly paycheck or that coveted soy silk kimono robe you've always wanted. Food Editor / Karen Berner Think eating organics will cost you more and you'll be unable to afford those cool bamboo jersey
Organic Moms
- Green Organic Baby Products - Ask An Organic Mom - Baby Formula
- Ask An Organic Mom / Alexandra Zissu
The Dirty Dozen List
Do Buy Produce On The Dirty Dozen List, Just Make Them Organic The "dirty dozen" are the most highly contaminated foods with pesticides and chemicals - even after washing and peeling.
If you feel as though their organic alternatives are cost prohibitive, switch out another item in your shopping list that might be of lesser priorty and can be bought when the organic fruit or vegetable is out of season.
This list includes:
If you feel as though their organic alternatives are cost prohibitive, switch out another item in your shopping list that might be of lesser priorty and can be bought when the organic fruit or vegetable is out of season.
This list includes:
- peaches
- apples
- sweet bell peppers
- celery
- nectarines
- strawberries
- cherries
- pears
- imported grapes
- spinach
- lettuce
- potatoes
More Antioxidants in Organic Tomatoes
by ruth on August 7th, 2007
Organic Cluster Tomato
While I do buy organic veggies and fruits, I don't make it a rule to buy only organic food. Often, the price tags make me double take, but for some stuff like tomatoes, bell peppers and bananas, I have the impression (it could be that I'm imagining it, or perhaps I'm comparing different varieties) that the organic sorts taste better.
It seems that there's one more reason to eat organic: it may be more nutritionally better than their conventionally-grown counterparts. In an article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, chemists discovered that organic tomatoes have a higher flavonoid content - 79% more quercetin and 97% more kaempferol. These flavonoids have high antioxidant properties and have various beneficial effects on health, due to their antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antioxidant activities.
While I do buy organic veggies and fruits, I don't make it a rule to buy only organic food. Often, the price tags make me double take, but for some stuff like tomatoes, bell peppers and bananas, I have the impression (it could be that I'm imagining it, or perhaps I'm comparing different varieties) that the organic sorts taste better.
It seems that there's one more reason to eat organic: it may be more nutritionally better than their conventionally-grown counterparts. In an article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, chemists discovered that organic tomatoes have a higher flavonoid content - 79% more quercetin and 97% more kaempferol. These flavonoids have high antioxidant properties and have various beneficial effects on health, due to their antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antioxidant activities.
- www.healthia.com
- Eating Fabulous
- BBC News
- Organic food 'better' for heart
Tomatoes contain compounds which are good for the heart
Organic fruit and vegetables may be better for you than conventionally grown crops, US research suggests.
Dr. Andrew Weil's Daily Tip
What%u2019s in your fridge?
Is your refrigerator teeming with less-than-healthy foods? If so, make a clean sweep and replace them with healthier, anti-inflammatory choices.
- Get rid of:
Whole or 2-percent dairy products, creamers with artificial additives or sugars, regular margarines or spreads that contain "partially hydrogenated oil," yogurt with added sugary fruit or artificial sweeteners, and American or processed cheeses, "cheese food" and cream cheese. - Replace with:
Organic, hormone-free skim or 1-percent milk, organic soy, almond, rice or oat beverages (look for organic soy products that do not contain the thickening agent carrageenan, and that are calcium-fortified), low-fat, organic yogurt (plain or a lower sugar vanilla - add your own organically grown fruit), and small amounts of natural, hard cheeses or varieties of soft cheese that are naturally lower in fat.
The Organic Baby
Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life by Linda Sivertsen, Tosh Sivertsen
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Living A Greener Life by Living A Greener Life Debbie Mest
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The Green Home: Hundreds of Practical Ideas for Eco-Friendly Living (Readers Digest)
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Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life by Ed Begley Jr.
FROM THE PIONEER OF ECO-CONSCIOUS LIVINGA committe more...0 points
It's Not Easy Being Green: One Family's Journey Towards Eco-Friendly Living by Dick Strawbridge
It's Not Easy Being Green follows Dick Strawbridge more...0 points
The Complete Book of Green Living: A Practical Guide to Eco-friendly Living by Sarah Callard, Diane Millis
With organic food sales growing at around 40 perce more...0 points
Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home by Renee Loux
We are what we eat, but we also are what we use to more...0 points
Buy local, organic, and fair made!
Organic vegetables - but at what cost?
Many compassionate consumers believe that buying organic food is the only way to go. The label "organic" means refuge from pesticides, chemicals and the damaging practices of the commercial food industry. High-quality, mouth-watering, nutrient-rich produce harvested fresh from the farm, right? We tend to assume organic food producers are all small farmers who combine ecologically sound farming practices with a political agenda to promote and develop local sustainable food systems.
Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) formed in 1998 after organic consumers criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed national regulations for organic certification of food. Today the OCA, a nonprofit public interest organization, strives for health, justice and sustainability, and takes on such crucial issues as food safety, industrial agriculture, corporate accountability and fair trade. The OCA has been able to rally hundreds of thousands of consumers to pressure the USDA and organic companies to preserve strict organic standards. Kymberlie Adams Matthews had a chance to talk with OCA founder and National Director, Ronnie Cummins about uniting forces to challenge industrial agriculture, corporate globalization, and inspiring consumers to "Buy local, organic, and fair made."
Read the interview here!
Many compassionate consumers believe that buying organic food is the only way to go. The label "organic" means refuge from pesticides, chemicals and the damaging practices of the commercial food industry. High-quality, mouth-watering, nutrient-rich produce harvested fresh from the farm, right? We tend to assume organic food producers are all small farmers who combine ecologically sound farming practices with a political agenda to promote and develop local sustainable food systems.
Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) formed in 1998 after organic consumers criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed national regulations for organic certification of food. Today the OCA, a nonprofit public interest organization, strives for health, justice and sustainability, and takes on such crucial issues as food safety, industrial agriculture, corporate accountability and fair trade. The OCA has been able to rally hundreds of thousands of consumers to pressure the USDA and organic companies to preserve strict organic standards. Kymberlie Adams Matthews had a chance to talk with OCA founder and National Director, Ronnie Cummins about uniting forces to challenge industrial agriculture, corporate globalization, and inspiring consumers to "Buy local, organic, and fair made."
Read the interview here!
- World Prout Assembly: The Rotten Side of Organics
- World Prout Assembly
Economy of the People, For the People and By the People!Put Economic Power in the Hands of the People!
Moralists of the world - unite! - deal.org | choix.org - A Positive Difference You Can Taste
- About Organic Foods
- Give Farmers the Business
- Why shop in a supermarket when you can buy freshly picked produce and baked goods at a nearby local farmer's market.
- Slow Food
- Slow Food. It's exactly what it says it is -- and a little more. It's taking the time to enjoy food -- a direct counter balance to the fast food culture, as we know it.
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Please post your comments, thoughts and ponderings here!
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- Pastiche Pastiche Jul 20, 2009 @ 11:03 am
- We buy organic and local at every opportunity, plus we raise wild berries and organic veggies in our back yard. Organic's been my way of life for 40 years!
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- Silver_Lotus Silver_Lotus May 29, 2008 @ 10:07 am
- 5 stars! This lens is a great companion to Your Green Guide, my lens about living a greener life. In fact, I've added it to my selective list of other green lenses on squidoo which is on that lens.
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Reply
- eccles1 eccles1 Feb 16, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
- Hey Pat!thanks so much
and you are right Organic is the answer!
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- Ms_Appleseed Ms_Appleseed Aug 8, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
- Thanks for all the information. I think this is a great way for traditional farmers to see potential for diversifying. Also ideas for new farming enterprises!
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Organic Bee Keeping
A Partial Solution to Colony Collapse Disorder
Few organic bee keepers have reported bee losses, which suggests that natural and organic bee keeping methods may be the solution. Natural Beekeeping by Ross Conrad is an excellent book, explaining both the roots of the current bee crisis and long-term solutions for healthy bee hives. Frog deformities blamed on farm and ranch runoff
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Horrific deformities in frogs are the result of a cascade of events that starts when nitrogen and phosphorus from farming and ranching bleed into lakes and ponds, researchers said on Monday.These nutrients from fertilizers and animal waste create dramatic changes in aquatic ecosystems that help a certain type of parasitic flatworm that inflicts these deformities on North American frogs, researchers said.
"You can get five or six extra limbs. You can get no hind limbs. You can get all kinds of really bizarre, sick and twisted ....
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