Affording Organic: Can You Afford Not to?

[Guest guest]

Affording Organic: Can You Afford Not to?

 

By Carol Laliberte

 

 

 

Organic food, or food grown without the use of chemicals such as

pesticides, is in most cases more expensive than food grown with

pesticides and chemicals, or conventional food, as it is commonly

referred to.

So do you buy less food and go organic? Pick and choose

which organic foods you buy? Or ignore the current thinking on the

harmful effects of eating non-organic foods and buy conventionally?

 

There are really no easy answers but there are facts you should be

aware of and strategies to cut down on pesticide consumption and

danger, which can help you to both eat organic and remain on a

realistic budget.

 

 

The Poisoned Produce Problem

 

Infants and children are more vulnerable to the toxins in

conventionally grown foods than adults. Pound for pound, children

eat more fruits and vegetables than adults do.

 

Their bodies are also less able to filter out harmful substances,

and

they are still growing and developing. Baby's major organs are in

their

earliest days. Food choices you make today for your children today

can

greatly impact their well being far into the future.

 

Pesticides

contaminate ground water in 38 states in the U.S., polluting the

primary source of drinking water for more than half the U.S.

population.

 

Pesticides are poisons; their purpose is killing living

organisms. They are harmful for human consumption. The Environmental

Protection Agency estimates that 60percent of all herbicides,

90percent of all fungicides, and 30 percent of all insecticides are

carcinogenic. Pesticides annually poison one million people.

 

So if it's true that non-organic food is not as good for you as

organic food, why is organic food still so hard to find,

particularly in large chain supermarkets?

 

Organic food products

constitute less than 2percent of the total food industry, yet this

area is the fastest growing of that industry. Six in ten shoppers

say they buy organic foods or beverages at least sometimes when they

shop; others do not do so regularly because they can't find organic

foods in mainstream grocery stores.

 

Simon Harris, Organic Field

Coordinator of Organic Consumers Association says, " Milk is probably

the biggest seller of organic foods, because people are concerned

about bovine growth hormones, followed by infant formula and baby

food. " (www.purefood.org). Even with increased popularity of organic

foods, the United States is far behind Europe, where nearly all

supermarkets carry organic products and governments are subsidizing

the changeover from conventional farming to organic farming.

 

 

The Misinformation Problem

 

Skeptics of organic food say that organic farming can mean that

crops are exposed to e-coli bacteria and other risks from manure

used in organic farming, and therefore organic foods can be equally

as harmful as exposure to pesticides in foods.

 

Simon Harris responds

that, " Manure is strictly regulated for organic food, it cannot be

placed 120 days before a food product is harvested. Most manure is

composted and as a result the high temperatures kill the pathogens

and bacteria is incorporated into the soil before planting, however,

raw manure can be placed on food products in conventional farming. "

(www.purefood.)

 

 

The Affordability Problem

 

A national survey showed that 79percent of Americans are concerned

about the safety of the food they eat but more than 68percent do not

regularly buy organic products because of higher costs.

(www.fresnobee.com) It is true that organic produce does cost more,

but the price depends largely on the product. Sometimes the

difference between organic food and conventionally grown produce is

a matter of cents, other times it can be dollars. You may be

convinced that organic food is the best option for you and your

family. But the reality is that you have only a finite amount of

funds to apply towards food every week.

 

So is there anything you can do to afford organic? Absolutely!

 

 

Healthy Solutions

 

Breastfeed to protect your child from ingesting any unnecessary

chemicals that might be found in formula. You will also save money

by not having to buy formula. Once your child begins to eat solid

foods, you can make your own organic baby food or try one of the

popular store bought brands like Earth's Best. Infants' bodies are

especially vulnerable to toxins since their organs are not yet

mature. The potency of these chemicals for them is much greater than

it is for adults. If you use formula, use only organic whenever

possible.

 

Join a co-op or start a buying club.

 

Often, for a membership fee and a commitment of volunteer hours you

can

get organic food for less.

Co-ops are run by their members. Becoming a co-op member is also a

great way to meet like-minded people. Find one in your area at

 

http://www.prairienet.org/co-op/directory.

 

Become a shareholder in a Community Supported Agriculture (csa)

farm. My family visits " our farm " from early June through October

weekly to gather produce, pick crops, herbs, and flowers, and eat

the freshest food we have ever tasted. We pay an annual membership

fee for our family share, and a portion of that fee goes towards the

regional food bank in our area to help reduce hunger. Monthly

potluck suppers bring members together to share in the many

creations from our community harvest. Membership in a csa is about

much more than choosing organic produce; it is a wonderful

experience for young children to watch the changing seasons at a

farm and begin to understand and appreciate the cycles of life. My

four-year-old has an appreciation of the food that is on his plate,

because he has watched much of it growing at our farm.

 

 

Grow your own produce. You can grow your favorites even in a small

garden. You can order organic seeds from companies like The Cook's

Garden at 1-800-457-9703 and begin in containers or in a spot in

your yard. If you can't grow your own, some local farmer's markets

are becoming more environmentally conscious and growing organic

produce. For CSA's, local farms, and farmers markets in your area

check out www.localharvest.org.

 

Be picky.

 

There are times when I just can't find the produce I need

in organic form. So as a last resort, I only buy fruit and

vegetables that are known to have the lowest amounts of toxins. That

isn't a perfect solution but there have been times when that is my

only option.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the most

contaminated foods on the market are peaches, green

beans, Chilean grapes, Mexican cantaloupes, strawberries,

apricots and cherries, cucumbers, bell peppers,

peanuts, green beans, potatoes, winter squash,and wheat flour. The

wax

on the outside of apples, cucumbers and green peppers usually

contain fungicides so they should be peeled to remove these toxins.

 

This same study found that just one serving of winter squash would

expose most 5-year-olds to dangerous levels of pesticides. Just one

peach could put almost half of children the same age at risk of

poisoning. Eating these contaminated foods would cause flu-like

symptoms, and there are studies which link chronic exposure to brain

damage.

 

Watch out for juices as well, most of which are made with

apple juice as a base. If your children are not drinking organic

juice, then chances are the fruit in the juice has been tainted with

pesticides.

 

Minimize the risks whenever possible. Dr. Andrew Weil suggests you

wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly in soapy water.

Vinegar and water also works well to reduce pesticide residue. Peel

any fruits that can be peeled. Eat a variety of fruits and

vegetables. You should be aware, however, that none of these

practices have been proven to eliminate pesticide residue entirely.

 

Clip coupons and watch for sales. Even health food stores have

sales, so stock up on whatever you can. Go to the store with a meal

plan in mind so that you are not wasting the food that you buy.

Organic produce tends to spoil more rapidly, so keep that in mind

when planning your grocery list.

 

Recognize that you might be paying more to invest in the long term

for your family's good health. What can you give up in trade? Most

weeks, in my house, we opt for fewer treats and choose more

untainted fresh produce instead. At times, affording organic foods

means cutting back somewhere else in our budget.

 

I wouldn't knowingly give poison to my family. Likewise, I have made

a conscious choice to figure out a way to serve only organic foods

whenever possible. There are ways, with a bit of creative thinking

and with your family's involvement, that you too can afford organic

foods. Given the alternative, given all that is known about the

harmful contaminants used in conventional foods, do we really have a

choice?

 

--Carol is mother to Andrew, a college instructor, newspaper

columnist, freelance writer and consultant. She lives in Western

Massachusetts with her son, her husband, Phil, and their two fish,

Seaweed and Week Week. She has been a vegetarian for more years than

she can remember.

 

 

 

 

Vegetarian Baby & Child, P.O. Box 388, Trenton, TX 75490

www.vegetarianbaby.com