- Dec. 22, 2008
- The Great (Tomato) Debate
I was at the supermarket the other day and needed to buy some tomatoes. I was standing there, looking at the selection and noticed that the organic tomatoes were $1 more than the conventional tomatoes. Clearly, I had a few choices and a big decision to make: 1) Buy the conventional
2) Buy the organic
3) Skip the tomatoes altogether (they’re out of season)
4) Ask my neighbor if he would spare some of his abundance still ripening over our fence (a late season lot, yeah!)
The state of our economy has many people weighing in on the value of organic food and asking "is this worth it?” Buying foods that reduce our exposure to pesticides and have the potential for greater nutrition is so worth it.
Purchasing organic food is a long-term investment not only in our health, but also the health of the people and land that grows our food. Like most investments, you need to be in it for the long term to see payoff.
A recent LA Times article suggested that cutting out organic was a great way to cut down on the "household budget without seriously compromising the well-being of the family.'
What? Did I read that sentence correctly?
Some health professionals feel that “little” proof of harm is proof of safety. There are government determined levels for the amount of pesticides that can be in our food. We do have proof that even small exposure can affect our children’s development and the health of farm workers. But wait, a few things are wrong with claiming that any level of pesticide exposure is safe:
1) It doesn’t consider how the cocktail of chemicals may react in the body
2) Farm workers and farm neighbors are already at risk for excessive exposure
Back at the tomato stand, while the conventional tomatoes have short-term financial gains in my pocket today, we won’t know the true cost of this food until tomorrow.
I think I’ll go say hi to my neighbor. What choice will you make?
- Posted by:
- Tara, the RD
- Category:
- Food Matters
- Add A Comment
That makes total sense. I can never figure out why organic food costs more anyway. There is no costs for chemicals and processing, and all that junk.
Michael Beck
rawfoodistguide.com
Yes, I agree it can be tough to buy organic but I definitely also agree that it is a wiser decision to move away from pestiside laden foods and opt for the organic, especially when you consider the true costs of the foods that get subsidied from the government even though they don’t benifit our greater health.
Good article. I think many of us struggle with the same debate. It’s hard to pay such a premium for an organic label. I’ve been finding that local farmers market tend to be a little less expense, and I enjoy helping the local farming community. (Plus, it makes for a nice weekend outing.)
I have been struggling with this cheap or healthy debate recently, and ultimately chose healthy. I spend the extra 10 cents for organic beans and also intend to get my boss to let me grow vegetables in the beautiful giant office windowsills. Huzzah for container farming!
A solution to this issue could very well be to grow your own! Choose which “organic” veggies you use/cook with the most as well as the ones that are putting the largest “dent” in your shopping budget. Then start planting! The most common veggies are typically not very high maintenance and easily grown right at home. Start out small (to esure you are capable of course, ha ha) and then move forward from there. Another reason to start small would be from my own personal experience… I wasn’t quite aware of how “productive” tomotoe plants could actually be!!! Oopsy, I planted FIVE in my rather small beginner’s garden and to my surprise, produced more than enought to keep my entire street well stocked for the duration
Not that I was hearing any complaints! ~Nicki Irwin Houston, Texas
Just because your neighbor is growing them at home does not mean they are organic. Even home gardeners are likely to use pesticides. Perhaps you should inquire if that is a concern for you.
I can’t understand people who can spend money on cable tv and fancy cell phones but won’t spend a little extra for stuff they put into their bodies and effect their health. What could be more important to spend money on that what we put into our bodies? I’ll do without the cable tv and cell phones and spend a little extra for good health and buy organic when I can. This year I am going a step further and tripling the size of my garden.
I always felt that I was eating healthy for years. Until 2 years ago after having breast cancer, I realized that eating pesticede laden veggies and fruits were not healthy after all. In my research I found that the farmers/wineries use 35 different types of pesticides while growing grapes. It was shocking to me because I love grapes and red wine. I now try to buy organic of most everthing. Home grown doesn’t mean pesticide free either. So, I am very careful what I buy from my local farmers market. I know it’s expensive to buy organics (it’s not an easy/inexpensive process). But, the price we pay at the end is more costly. So, eat organics go healthy!
I love to buy organics, but as a college student who will have $75,000 to pay off starting next year… I honestly have no choice. It breaks my heart to have to buy conventional produce, but I really can’t afford the organics. I know it’s only a couple dollars more, but that adds up over the course of a year- especially when you’re dependent on your family to help you have enough money to even eat!!! Around me there’s also no good farm options, I’m too close to Boston for people to have nice little organic farms. And there’s not a lot of good farmer’s markets near my school in Boston either!
I can’t wait until the day I have my own house where I can grow my own organic produce. Until then (maybe 2-3 years from now?) the best I can do is eat as healthy as I can, and just hope that the non-organic foods don’t give me cancer or something. :( It’s hard to be a college student vegetarian craving organics.
I like buying organic. My pediatrician suggested to save money go for organics when you will or want to eat the peel: tomatoes, potatoes , apples, grapes, strawberries, lettuces etc. When you peel a fruit or vegetable most of the pesticiedes are located in the peel itself, so skip organic when buyig bananas, oranges, pineapples, onions etc. Wash fruit and vegetables really well, wipe off with a towel.
It is certainly true that home grown doesn’t necessarily mean pesticide free. Same goes for farmer’s markets. Just because it is sold at the market doesn’t mean it is grown against strict organic standards. The benefit of home grown and farmer’s markets is that you get to TALK to the FARMER! That is cool. Maybe their produce is not ceritified organic but their practices are better than the standards. You never know until you ask.Talking with person who grows the food can be very enligtening and help you to make the best choice for your body, the planet, and your wallet.
I hope you complained to the LA Times about the article.
If we don’t buy organic then eventually no one will grow & market organic. The pesticide-using growers large & small will be pleased at that. Sure, grow your own but support organic farmers too.
As a person with a digestive disease, it is very important to eat organic. Like everyone struggling to save pennies these days, I would rather spend the extra on organic and cut costs elsewhere.
It can be difficult but like Tara says it is a long term investment that will payoff in the end!
I just wanted to respond to Ally the student...you can grow your own produce now without owning your own home. Lots of people without yards grow things in large easy to make garden boxes. I’m not talking about window boxes but large (3’x4’) boxes that are balanced on sawhorses. Or just container gardens. Obviously you can’t grow watermelons or things of that size but shallow growing plants are fine, lettuces, radishes, herbs. Then you might have the cash to buy the organic versions of the things you can’t grow yourself!!
one problem. how do you know what is truly organic and what is LABELED organic, but isnt? you cant tell with everything. i have read an article, saying that “natural flavors” on a given label, can be the worst possible things in the world for you.. what’s a person really to do? i dont think that everything or anything is 100% organic or natural on our planet.