Explain why "organic" is better?
Rae6503
Posts: 6,294 Member
How is food with bugs on it, fertilized with manure (this is what they use, right?), better than bug free food with some chemicals on it? What percentage of crops are lost to the bugs in organic farming? How are the crop yields of organically fertilized foods vs. chemically fertilized?
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It isn't poisonous. That seems self-explanatory.0
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It isn't poisonous. That seems self-explanatory.
So you are implying that non-organic IS poisonous? Got anything scientific to back that up?0 -
its not0
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It isn't poisonous. That seems self-explanatory.
So you are implying that non-organic IS poisonous? Got anything scientific to back that up?
Yea my brother dropped dead yesterday after eating a carrot he bought from walmart.0 -
It isn't poisonous. That seems self-explanatory.
Entire organic movement summed up right here. Baseless fear mongering.0 -
It isn't poisonous. That seems self-explanatory.
Entire organic movement summed up right here. Baseless fear mongering.
This. Its a good way to spend more money and be smug0 -
Well, I won't say that pesticides don't have any effect on us (not saying they do either - I don't really know). But, since I live on a farm and they spray at least twice a year, I won't be avoiding it anytime soon LOL.
But I do have issues with the crop yield of organic. It is not sustainable to feed the world population (IMO). I don't see how it could be. There just isn't enough farm land to grow enough food organically for all the people of the world.0 -
What sort of Wizardry is this?0
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How is food with bugs on it, fertilized with manure (this is what they use, right?), better than bug free food with some chemicals on it? What percentage of crops are lost to the bugs in organic farming? How are the crop yields of organically fertilized foods vs. chemically fertilized?
The non-manure fertilized crops don't end up being recalled due to e-coli contamination : )
Did you know that there are actually chemicals that are permitted by the USDA for so-called organic crops?
I have issues with all of this chemical-phobia that organic proponents keep trying to whip up. There is nothing on planet earth that is not composed of "chemicals".0 -
I choose organic when I can for several reasons. I like knowing where my meat came from - the farm, the farmers, the feed, etc. and I find that with small organic farms there is more information than with a larger, commercial farming industry. I also like being able to know what the ingredients are in the products I buy without having to use a dictionary. I'm not staunch about my organic choices - price is a big concern - but I prefer them. In a completely horrible truth I also love Late July cookies, which are organic, and quite a lovely indulgence.0
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I'm certain organic is better for you, because you're not unnecessarily ingesting trace amounts of poinsonous chemical.
However, that is the least of your worries. Processed food is way worse for you than non-organic produce could ever hope to be.0 -
How is food with bugs on it, fertilized with manure (this is what they use, right?), better than bug free food with some chemicals on it? What percentage of crops are lost to the bugs in organic farming? How are the crop yields of organically fertilized foods vs. chemically fertilized?
The non-manure fertilized crops don't end up being recalled due to e-coli contamination : )
Did you know that there are actually chemicals that are permitted by the USDA for so-called organic crops?
I have issues with all of this chemical-phobia that organic proponents keep trying to whip up. There is nothing on planet earth that is not composed of "chemicals".
Completely agree.
Scared of chemicals on your food, but use shampoo, lotion, and deodorant? Hmmm...
From what I have learned so far in my nutrition classes at my uni, a lot of the "organic movement" is just marketing.0 -
I have issues with all of this chemical-phobia that organic proponents keep trying to whip up. There is nothing on planet earth that is not composed of "chemicals".
Holy crap someone said it before I did!
You are all made of chemicals. Every single thing you know is made of chemicals. So if they frighten you you are in serious trouble.0 -
when i think organic, i'm thinking eggs/milk/etc.. stuff that actually involves animals, though the USDA definition is below - this is what i think of "Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. "
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.0 -
I only buy organic aspartame. It's important.0
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when i think organic, i'm thinking eggs/milk/etc.. stuff that actually involves animals, though the USDA definition is below - this is what i think of "Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. "
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.
No antibiotics? What if they get an infection? The rancher just lets 300lbs of beef die?0 -
I only buy organic because its cheaper at the grocery store. I know thats not always the case, but it just so happens to be that way at Mariano's.0
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If "organic" was synonymous with "no genetic engineering" for crops, organic would be better.0
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No antibiotics? What if they get an infection? The rancher just lets 300lbs of beef die?
They don't give them routine, preemptive antibiotics. If an animal gets sick, they do treat them. But then they no longer qualify as "organic" or "antibiotic free" and are sold as conventional livestock.0 -
WIZARDRY!0
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Yes, the farming methods are quite different. Many of the chemical pesticides used in conventional farming do stay on the vegetable or fruit, and yes, much research has shown that quite a few of the pesticides used are known carcinogens. Some people like to avoid known carcinogens. I realize that we now live in a world where known carcinogens are everywhere, but I don’t see a problem in making attempt to avoid some of them, if you can.
The way the weeds are eliminated is different. With organic farming, farmers tend to rotate crops or just pull weeds to manage them. With conventional produce, they spray more pesticides, and rarely rotate the soil.
More on pesticides – they get into the soil and grasses that animals eat, and they most certainly get into the groundwater/drinking water. We’ve done tests. And this is not just affecting humans, it’s affecting animals. Many of the crops (soy and corn, usually) are also fed to the animals we eat and they also drink the water.
We can talk organically-fed vs. conventionally-fed animals too. There are huge differences. The main one being the feed and the use of hormones and antibiotics.
There is not enough research out there that shows organic produce is more nutritious than conventionally-grown produce, but there is some initial research out there (though I believe many of the methods used were not very sound). Hopefully more research will come out on this. I’m curious, anyway.
Many people who switch to organic produce think there is a difference in taste. Whether initially they can taste it or as they get used to it, they try conventionally-grown produce and find there is a difference in taste. The things that taste the most different to me are berries, bananas, and apples.
I buy organic when I can, because I can, and because I support the farmers and the farming methods used. I think there is plenty of evidence that it is better for the environment. Most of what I buy is also local. I do this because I want to support my community farmers. They make some damn good stuff. It's again, a taste difference. When I moved from CO to WA, a WA apple tasted different. It hadn't been on a truck for days before it got to the grocery store.
I hope you don’t think I’m being an alarmist or anything. I am just trying to explain the differences. I am not trying to force anyone to eat any differently than they do.0 -
It's not just about the bugs, although spraying bugs just creates an arms race where the bugs that survive the spray reproduce and each generation gets stronger, requiring stronger poison
(which is leftover from/based on chemical warfare, by the way, which is a bit disturbing to me)
and those poisons are bound to reach a level where they are directly toxic to humans from consumption (are they already toxic to the humans harvesting the crops? Probably.) What happens then?
Also, by NOT using manure and similar soil amendments, the plants keep draining the soil of nutrients
(you know, the vitamins which we eat our vegetables for)
and this causes erosion besides. Farmland is pretty much turning into dust.
Organic also means no genetic tinkering besides regular old plant sex. It may be harmless but nobody has bothered to check.
At any rate, American "organic" means pretty much jack sht since the food companies lobby for more and more poisons to be considered organic. To say nothing of the other business practices food companies such as Monsanto engage in, which is another post entirely.
I prefer to keep myself out of this destructive cycle... I'm working on my own garden. I'm basically tired of companies selling me things... period.0 -
when i think organic, i'm thinking eggs/milk/etc.. stuff that actually involves animals, though the USDA definition is below - this is what i think of "Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. "
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.
No antibiotics? What if they get an infection? The rancher just lets 300lbs of beef die?
i'm not a farmer, i don't know what they do (though generally infections aren't fatal, so i feel your question is a bit outrageous)0 -
I only buy organic because its cheaper at the grocery store. I know thats not always the case, but it just so happens to be that way at Mariano's.
This would probably be my only reason to buy it! Thats a good reason.
I also buy it if they don't have what I want in non-organic. Like baby yellow carrots and unsweetened coconut flakes at my Hyvee0 -
when i think organic, i'm thinking eggs/milk/etc.. stuff that actually involves animals, though the USDA definition is below - this is what i think of "Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. "
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.
No antibiotics? What if they get an infection? The rancher just lets 300lbs of beef die?
i'm not a farmer, i don't know what they do (though generally infections don't kill, so i feel your question is a bit outrageous)
You don't think a infection will kill a chicken or a cow?0 -
when i think organic, i'm thinking eggs/milk/etc.. stuff that actually involves animals, though the USDA definition is below - this is what i think of "Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. "
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.
No antibiotics? What if they get an infection? The rancher just lets 300lbs of beef die?
i'm not a farmer, i don't know what they do (though generally infections don't kill, so i feel your question is a bit outrageous)
You don't think a infection will kill a chicken or a cow?
"will" implies that it will definitely happen. i think an infection "can" kill a chicken or a cow0 -
I'm certain organic is better for you, because you're not unnecessarily ingesting trace amounts of poinsonous chemical.
However, that is the least of your worries. Processed food is way worse for you than non-organic produce could ever hope to be.
This...
Although I need to steer far away from processed
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How is food with bugs on it, fertilized with manure (this is what they use, right?), better than bug free food with some chemicals on it? What percentage of crops are lost to the bugs in organic farming? How are the crop yields of organically fertilized foods vs. chemically fertilized?
i actually get a little excited when i find bugs in my produce. it means there's competition for my food.0 -
It isn't poisonous. That seems self-explanatory.
So you are implying that non-organic IS poisonous? Got anything scientific to back that up?
Got any scientific evidence to back up your implied claim that bugs and manure are bad?0 -
i don't know that it's so much about the end product, for me, it's more about the process in general. crops that are heavily sprayed affect more than we can even imagine: bee colony collapse is a direct result of overspraying crops as part of the process and not as a last-resort tactic.
all of those chemicals drain right into watersheds and cities nearby corporate farms tend to have higher rates of chronic illness. the workers on these farms are exposed directly, so it's not really about *me* when i buy organic.
and i don't always buy organic for the sake of it. i try to buy as much as i can locally (CSA) and I grow a good portion of my own food. I use the grocery store as a last resort.0
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