Comments on: Food Inc: Worth Seeing, Even More Worth Believing

By: farm wife

farm wife — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:29:01 +0000

Chris makes an important point about the cost of being “certified OG”. It is outrageous.But another huge problem started when USDA got involved in the certification process. They failed to distinguish between small farms, that only market locally, and huge farms that sell interstate. They need two different certification processes. Those of us who are selling directly to the customer, should not have to undergo the overwhelming amount of documentation that the gigantic farms have to do. Sure, when you go to the grocery store, it helps to know that something is third party certified, it sets your mind at ease. But you don’t necessarily need that level of bueracracy at your local farm stand! I know first hand. I was certified for 14 yrs. and finally had the guts to quit the program. and if you research it , you will find that many other long time certified growers have quit also. We still follow the OG standard to the letter, we just don’t get certified. Our customers don’t care one bit, because they KNOW us. We are THEIR farmer!

By: Donna in Delaware

Donna in Delaware — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:26:24 +0000

My health food store is located not far from me. When I shop, the most that I spend weekly, is around $45.00 for the two of us. The most I’ve ever spent at one time was $75.00 and that was two Thanksgivings ago. My store lists all of their local suppliers on signs that they place on their produce and other things. What they charge per pound for fruits and vegetables, I usually end up with 2-3 apples, pears, oranges, etc. depending on size at between $1.69 and $2.49/lb I get nothing. What I have started doing in the last few months, is driving to the local orchards and farms where my store purchase their things and and get lots more for the money. I can get 7-9 oranges for $3.99-$5.00 or 18 fresh peaches for $4.89. These farms and orchards are between 5 and 25 miles from my home and for me is a hop, skip and jump. Vegetables are the same and eggs, honey, fresh squeezed juices. The Farmer’s market that sell Amish goods are just as convenient. You get the message. If any of you have this situation, maybe you should do the same, if you can. You get a lot more bang for your buck.

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:07:39 +0000

Amanda, I don’t know where you do your shopping, but around here most generic junk OR healthier foods are much less expensive than buying organic. For the most part, I think that’s how we’ve become such an over-weight, unhealthy nation. Junk food, fast food is cheap. And as far as that pound of peaches? I’d be throwing my money away if I bought all fresh, organic veggies and fruits. I’d be the only one eating them and unless I want to eat the same thing everyday, and who does, the food would go bad too soon. It’s a really tough situation we’re all in and while I try to do my best to buy smart foods for myself, money does come into play.

I do remember hearing that part of the problem with regulating our organic farms is that there aren’t enough federal regulators to go around. Supposedly, yes, they do need to spend a good amount of time on each farm to do their assessments and, unfortunately, they are short staffed. And I’m sure money is a HUGE part of that.

By: Donna in Delaware

Donna in Delaware — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:40:55 +0000

To Foodie,

If you have health issues, also check before you start taking any herbal products in conjuction with prescription meds. You may get a drug interaction that you had no knowledge of. Be careful with foods also. You can get drug-food interactions. I am not trying to scare you, just to make you aware and to keep you safe. I am retired from pharmacy and you will be surprised at what people don’t know about drug/food/herbal combinations and interactions, and what they are not told by suppliers and others who sell these products. They are forever extolling the virtures of what their products can do for your health, but not what how to use them properly.

By: Donna in Delaware

Donna in Delaware — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:19:53 +0000

To FOODIE IN ZIONVILLE,

Yes, be careful of eating too much soy. It can have the opposite effect of what you are trying to accomplish with your health and eating habits. If you have a thyroid problem, be careful. If you are menopausal, only eat a certain amount weekly or monthly. Check with your health care provider to make sure that you are not over-doing it. We can get carried away with things when we are trying to do what is right, going full speed ahead without doing our homework. Always check first before doing something extreme, especially if you have a health problem. One thing can sometimes affect another when you are unaware.

By: Donna in Delaware

Donna in Delaware — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:06:50 +0000

Amanda’s point is well taken. But, I think that is for feeding 1 person only. That doesn’t help much when you have 2 to 4 or more children that you also want to feed 3 times a day.

Chris is right. Why does the government or a body like the government to certify these products as “organic” have to charge so much to the grower? It’s obscene! What to they have to do that requires them to take so much money? Are there lab tests involved, if so, then how many? Do they have to stay on the farm overnight or for days to see how the farmer raise and grow things, how they deal with insects, diseases? They should be ashamed of themselves and I suppose they just like taking and taking from the little guys.

I just found out from an Dr. Weil post that there is a problem now with government certification of “organic products”. It seems that there are some shady characters slipping things into foods labeled organic, thats coming from sources that doesn’t grow or raise or bake organically. You can’t trust anything or anyone anymore to do what is right.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:01:12 +0000

Feeding ourselves when we have little money is definitely an issue, and I certainly don’t want to downplay the food security issues we have in this country. But why doesn’t anyone talk about the cost of junk food?

A bag of generic chips cost, what, $2.00? You could get a pound of organic peaches for that. Or a nice bunch of organic broccoli. Or a pound or organic pasta. Or two cans of organic beans. And Doritos or other brand-name chips can cost over $4. You could get a whole bag of organic apples or organic potatoes or organic onions for that!

Let’s be honest. If you cut out junk food and put that money toward “buying up” to some organic items, it’s not that unreasonable.

Yes, it is expensive to eat the “standard American diet” completely organically. But, if we’re willing to make some changes (less meat, more veg, rarely junk or candy) it’s probably pretty comparable.
OH! You’re my new favorite blogger fyi

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:52:31 +0000

Let’s be honest. If you cut out junk food and put that money toward “buying up” to some organic items, it’s not that unreasonable.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:36:55 +0000

One way to lower the cost of organic foods is for the organic food regulators to lower the cost for being “certified organic.” I personally frequented a local farmer who prefers to grow his crops organically, but he is not “certified organic” so he can’t label his products as such for sale off the premises. He can’t afford the $3000 fee the inspectors charge to certify that he is indeed an organic grower. Such outrageous fees squeeze out the small farmers and favor large commercial growers. Organic may be healthier, but the organic food industry is just as slanted against the small business owner and small farmer as any other industry.

By: Steph

Steph — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:10:11 +0000

Thank you, Donna. I try to buy organic foods, but being that I don’t really cook and am one of those who are on a budget, it’s really tough. I recently went on an organic foods shopping spree and ended up spending over $150! Normally, when I only buy a few organic products I spend about $80. Craziness.

Sad to say, but I’ve actually been putting off seeing Food Inc. I’m afraid of what it will do to me. I have a hard time with the guilt, with the knowledge of what I’m doing to my body and to the environment. Which is why sometimes I end up being late on paying my bills so I can buy more organic foods at the market. Not right, I know, but it’s a choice I’ve made in order to be able to live with myself. I was a vegetarian for years but then was hospitalized with a pretty serious genetic heart condition. I was hooked back on the meats while in the hospital. I’ve thought about getting back to it, but I’m just one of those people who LOVES food; bad food. It really has to be a commitment, I know. I struggle with it constantly.

Maria, you’ve pushed me to do the right thing and go see Food Inc. If I end up not being able to sleep, you’ll be the first one I call