Why should I buy organic?!?

I buy organic because

I want to support my local farmers / economy
I want vegetables I know are fresh and picked within a relatively close proximity to when I bought it without having it sit in the back of the grocery store in the freezer. (been back there, its gross)
I like how long the produce lasts when I buy organic (bought organic - local - grassfed milk and it lasted way beyond the expiration date, and I had no issues....same was with some veggies I bought that lasted double to triple the amount of time the generic store bought ones lasted)
I don't overbuy because of the price tag. I tend to shop more frequently and buy smaller amounts to guarantee I have fresh produce each time.

I buy organic eggs because (1) they're f@cking cool and (2) my friend owns a chicken farm and i get a really good price on them.

Because I want to support local farmers.
Because I want produce that's not covered in pesticides, preservatives, E-numbers, food colouring.
Because I don't want meat containing antibiotics and hormones.
Because I don't support GMOs.
Because the meat I buy comes from RSPCA approved premises.
Because it matters to me that the eggs I eat come from hens that have a decent life.
Because on the whole it's better produce.

Thanks!! All reasons I'll look into. Thanks for taking the time to reply

Just a disclaimer, I'm in the UK, so there may well be different rules to the US about which pesticides are permitted etc.

http://www.soilassociation.org/whatisorganic

For a long time my budget did not allow me to eat organic, nor was I educated enough about the topic to be interested in it. It started, for me, when I read an article in the New York Times by Michael Pollan about when he purchased his own cow to follow its' life span from birth to slaughter.

Anyway, I don't buy organic because I believe it has more nutrients. I buy it because I personally believe that all of the man-made chemicals, pesticides, and genetic modifications being made for/to our food is bad for me. I also don't want to feed this food to my children. I don't want my daughter to start her period when she is 8 because I've been feeding her cheese and milk full of hormones. I also think that meat and cheese that is full of growth hormones causes people to get fatter (because those same hormones are what made the animal fatter grow and gain weight faster).

Not only are you ingesting those pesticides and chemicals, they are also washing off into our groundwater. They are killing off beneficial components of our ecosystem (namely bees - and this is starting to become a major problem).

The animals that are raised in such close quarters are being fed and injected constantly with antibiotics which is causing strains of bacteria that are antibiotic resistant. 70% of the antibiotics used in the US are for agriculture. Eventually there is going to be a superbug that will kill a lot of people, and industrial farming will likely be the cause.

Basically, it comes down to whether you think food should be grown naturally, the way it has been for hundreds of years, or if you think it doesn't matter how your food is grown or where it comes from.

By the way, I don't know where you live, but there is a food co-op offered in some locations called Bountiful Baskets (www.bountifulbaskets.org) where you can get a big box full of organic produce every week for $25. It is a really good deal, and a fun way to try new produce you've never had before.

If you haven't done so, you should read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollin. He does a great job looking into conventional vs. organic vs. locally produced food sourcing.

Personally, I think buying local is a lot more important than buying organic, for a lot of reasons. One, you're reducing your carbon footprint since locally produced foods don't have to be trucked to hell and back between the farm and your plate. There aren't very many differences between Big Ag and Big Organic in that regard. Two, local agriculture is up against a lot of odds put there by Big Ag and the USDA, who have been misusing your tax dollars for decades. Local farmers won't survive without people actively seeking them out and buying from them. Three, locally produced produce is often much higher quality, and comes without the compromises that are necessary for storage and shipping in the Big Ag sphere. If you want a real tomato, for example, find one grown near your house - if you don't grow it yourself. It is really sad how many people out there have no idea how a tomato is supposed to taste.

I DO have a dog in that hunt as I am a grass-finished beef rancher, so you can take that with a grain of salt if you'd like. Personally, I'll take mine home grown, dry aged, and seasoned with fresh ground pepper, home-grown garlic and a pinch of kosher salt. YMMV.

Because you want to pay a lot of extra money to fit in with the rich neighbors who shop at Farm Fresh.

Honestly, I'd go organic if it was a reasonably priced option. However, the health benefits of eating organic do not outweigh the cost. Don't let green peace and your "everything causes cancer" conspiracy theorists tell you otherwise.

Just stay away from processed foods, and you will be fine.

I appreciate your post, and definitely agree about the processed foods.

I won't take any opinions on here to heart until I decide my own opinion through research. Sometimes its just nice to take some information here and there to see where other people stand. Plus there have been some links to some interesting articles/posts (some not super valid, but still appreciated).

Thanks for taking the time to weigh in

My pleasure. And you have the right idea: Do your research. But make sure you read full studies. Anything other than information straight from the source likely has an agenda, whether it is to sell magazines or support a political cause. They all cite research, but they only do it in bits and pieces that support their opinion. Go straight to the scientific and medical studies and read in context.

Also, realize that mice are not people.

Sorry for not posting specific links. I recommend JISSN and ISSN for all nutritional research.