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what is organic? — Brooklynian

what is organic?

quijibo
quijibo
edited November -1 in Park Slope
just came back from the supermarket and everything's turned organic
all the labels have different seals endorsing as to their organic goodness
--is there an organic certification seal that's better than the others?

Comments

  • pitu
    pitu
    o the tragedy begins . . . now that conventional groceries and big box megamarts are embracing Organics, what's an eater to do?
    Remember that FRESH is as important as Organic.

    I got Earthbound Organic romaine lettuce hearts at my Associated. The lettuce tasted like nothing pleasant, 'cause it was old or stored poorly. It was Sunday and I was lazy, so no good lettuce for me and my Grammy watching mates!
    Which doesn't exactly answer your question, but gets to the heart of the Good Food problem.

    Oregon used to be a recognized leader in organics certification, but in general organics certification is so screwy that plenty of excellent farmers don't bother.
    Go to the Greenmarket to buy direct from farmers (as opposed to produce trucked through Hunts Point) or join the Coop (farmer direct or high turnover of Hunts Point gear) or get to work on your coldframe window box and grow your own.
    FRESH is as important as Organic.
  • quijibo
    quijibo
    well... what about oatmeal and stuff
    even commercial pet food's organic now...
  • cbukster
    cbukster

    Subject: Organic Labeling

    FYI the below link to an article about the recent changes in labeling organic products.

    http://www.statepress.com/issues/2007/02/08/style/699648

    I'd like to highlight an interesting comment from this article, "...according to the USDA Web site, there are three different levels of organic labeling: 100 percent organic, organic and made with organic ingredients. This kind of labeling can mislead consumers who don't realize what the different levels mean..."
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    Organic means "overpriced rotten food without expiration date labels" at Key Food on 7th Avenue.
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    pitu wrote:
    FRESH is as important as Organic.
    pitu, would you rather eat;
    a) an organic strawberry that is 2 weeks old, or...
    b) a fresh picked strawberry that has been sprayed with pesticide?
  • pitu
    pitu
    Anonymous wrote: [quote=pitu]
    FRESH is as important as Organic.
    pitu, would you rather eat;
    a) an organic strawberry that is 2 weeks old, or...
    b) a fresh picked strawberry that has been sprayed with pesticide?

    Perhaps I wouldn't eat the strawberry at all, dear guest.
    I pretty much don't buy fruit out of season.

    But if I had to choose, I'd probably have to smell them first
    :D
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    not that anyone asked, but i'd eat the strawberry i could afford.

    i'd love to buy all organic everything, but if i did that i'd be able to buy one box of cereal, a quart of milk and maybe a head of lettuce every week. my hope is that the huge trend toward organic by the awful "big box" stores will drive prices down. till then, i won't spend six dollars for two cukes. and if i die, well, at least it won't be from malnutrition.
  • cbukster
    cbukster

    Subject: Organic

    We joined a cooperative farm out east on the Island; for a few hours every other week, we can feed a family of 5 and still have left over vegetables. My favorite, though, are the beets - particularly the beet greens. Most supermarkets throw away the greens! And if you ask a local grocer if he's got any in the back, they'll usually wrap them up and give them to you for free. We steam them like Swiss Chard, then add some olive oil. Oh my!
    The coop is completely organic and kid friendly (kids can pick potatoes just as effectively as adults - and no, we don't need a separate topic about child labor, but I digress.
    Having farming in my blood, (my great grandfather & grandmother were tenant farmers in Brooklyn in the late 1800's and my grandfather was born in the farmhouse), I instinctively knew what was "good" for eating and what wasn't; sometimes it was the look & feel; other times, the smell. But nothing gets wasted on a farm - anything deemed unfit to eat was used for compost.
    We like Trader Joe's in the off season.
    cbukster
  • quijibo
    quijibo
    does the co-op farm have a url?
  • cbukster
    cbukster

    Subject: Organic

    quijibo,
    Yes, the link to their site is below. Let me know if you have any comments/questions.

    http://members.aol.com/sophiagardens/home/
  • pitu
    pitu
    BP, just to clarify, my objection with the big box stores and organics is that they drive the standards and the quality down. There's been a ton written about it, so I won't bog you down here. Greenwashing is the code word...

    Q, there's a CSA that drops off at the community garden at Union and 4th Ave
    http://www.parkslopecsa.org/
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