Zach LarkinsORGANIC FOOD
I just got finished watching a program that delved into the growth in market share of organic foods. It really is quite remarkable and I am not about to debate whether organics are healthier for you or not. In fact, it seems the jury is still out on that, with no conclusive proof one way or the other.
What piqued my interest is the cost of this stuff. I see it when I go grocery shopping and pass it by strictly due to price. Maybe it would be better if I did eat some of it, but I won't put out the money they are asking for it.
‘Regular' butter costs about $3.00, organic butter goes for $9.00. I am hedonistic enough to spend that other $6.00 on something I really want other than butter.
It seems the farmer does make that much more for following the rules of the organic crowd. He's still basically starving while the middlemen seem to have cottoned on to the idea that this ‘new, improved and possibly better for you' food can generate some big bucks for them.
Almost daily, I read in the paper about farmers going out of business because of rising fuel, energy, fertilizer, water and pesticide costs.
If you want to get on the organically grown bandwagon, you are not allowed to use insecticides, pesticides, growth hormones or chemical fertilizers. Shouldn't this bring down the cost to the farmer? I would think so. So where does the price difference come in? The food, whether plant or animal should sell for less than the ‘regularly' raised crop or herd.
I'll buy organics when the pricing comes down. Those of you who buy organics at these inflated prices, in my eyes, are being duped. You think you're doing something wonderful for your family and the environment, but all you're really doing is making a snake-oil salesman rich.
What piqued my interest is the cost of this stuff. I see it when I go grocery shopping and pass it by strictly due to price. Maybe it would be better if I did eat some of it, but I won't put out the money they are asking for it.
‘Regular' butter costs about $3.00, organic butter goes for $9.00. I am hedonistic enough to spend that other $6.00 on something I really want other than butter.
Almost daily, I read in the paper about farmers going out of business because of rising fuel, energy, fertilizer, water and pesticide costs.
If you want to get on the organically grown bandwagon, you are not allowed to use insecticides, pesticides, growth hormones or chemical fertilizers. Shouldn't this bring down the cost to the farmer? I would think so. So where does the price difference come in? The food, whether plant or animal should sell for less than the ‘regularly' raised crop or herd.
I'll buy organics when the pricing comes down. Those of you who buy organics at these inflated prices, in my eyes, are being duped. You think you're doing something wonderful for your family and the environment, but all you're really doing is making a snake-oil salesman rich.
Defending the indefensible
It seems that despite the slightly per unit higher returns from organic production the middle men have made their mark at retail level.
Farmer's markets are a nice mix of good accurate information about farming and take out the middle man.
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