Time Magazine article

[emily_in_nc]

This reminds me of the other sensationalized article recently stating that organic produce is no more nutritious than non-organic produce. although that's 'debatable'- even if it were true and they were both equally 'nutritious' in terms of having the same nutrients- they are conveniently forgetting about the fact that organic produce is HEALTHIER to eat because it is not coated with pesticide residue.

That bugged the h*ll out of me too, Lisa! I don't eat organic produce b/c it's more "nutritious". I eat it because it's not grown with possibly harmful pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or fungicides; and to support small, local farms and small-scale growers who are some of the best stewards of our environment around. Not to mention that organic produce often tastes better because it's often not picked as early to be processed and shipped cross-country and has more time to ripen naturally in the field or on the vine.

[Trek420]

..... I don't eat organic produce b/c it's more "nutritious". I eat it because it's not grown with possibly harmful pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or fungicides

Bingo. Traditional fertilizers are made from patrol based products. One way to reduce dependance on oil is to eat organic. More important it gets that &^% out of our air, water, water table .... and on and in the bodies of the men and women who grow and pick our food. Think how dangerous it is for them.

and to support small, local farms and small-scale growers who are some of the best stewards of our environment around.

There are "traditional farms" and even huge uber-mega agribusiness style farms that are excellent land stewards. There are small local farms that are not so good at that though most are better.

To make matters more complicated organic farmers are not necessarily small, though most are relatively smaller. And "traditional" non-organic farms not necessarily big or far away.

Whew. But the thing is small organic farms still don't have the kind of clout and money to fund studies like that article. Again, they do have us.

What's great about farmer's markets for those of us who have 'em is you may meet the farmer or at least someone who works for them.

If you've got questions about how they grow their stuff you can ask.

organic produce often tastes better because it's often not picked as early to be processed and shipped cross-country and has more time to ripen naturally in the field or on the vine.

The farmers in Chile, Italy and China are fine, they do a great job And if you're reading this in Italy, Chile or China you may feel the same about buying "local to me" Sonoma wine or goat cheeses.

But why use all that energy to fly or ship produce when we grow it here?

And .... by buying local wherever in the world you are you preserve rural agricultural regions that are GREAT to ride in