Organics at the supermarket?

Question

Should I support my local supermarket when buying organic/ethical produce so that there statistics prove that selling organic produce is the future and they will then support it and expand their range or should I support my local independent?

Answer 1

i think u should support your local farmers market because its them u r supporting and also organics doesnt really translate to entirely organic.  look at the labels and u shouls see that they r imported from other countries far away and it requires alot of fuel to ship those organics over.

Answer 2

Hello to all!

Well, you would think, organic is organic, right??

So, I think that's actually a really well thought out question!  But, besides looking at the "organic" factor, one would and if truly wants to make the difference or is worried about their carbon footprint "or" the carbon footprint of the items they buy, in this case, one would have to look at "where" these items come from "and" basically how far and long it took to get wherever it is they end up, whatever supermarket or  farmer's market.  

Like someone here stated, something can say organic and may be from all the way of California, Mexico, Chile, etc.  So, finding out where these products come from may be a good idea.  And to tell you the truth, I see a particular supermarket near me and other chains, always have these trucks riding on the road, almost "all" the time.  It hasn't mattered what city I've been in, whether in New Jersey, even New York, and perhaps part of Connecticutt, I always see these trucks on the highways, then on their merry way to their final destinations driving into the smaller roads.  I see these trucks full of smoke and smog, outside is dirty where the smoke blows and on the side, where it drifts to.  

I personally haven't asked these places, especially since I'm a beginner, and honestly, as of lately I haven't really been buying too much fruit/veggies.  Sort of restarting again, so I'll buy here and there from a very little market a block away from me.  Actually, talking about this, I want to thank you because you actually just made me think....now I'm curious where these people get their supply from, and yes, I've bought some organic from them, like these organic bananas, which honestly, I didn't know they were organic.  I didn't know til a few days later, it's funny too, because I was stunned at how good they tasted, and I told my bf, "wow, these bananas are really good!"  He also agreed, and then I told him, I found out they were organic. Perhaps that made a difference, because trust me, I've had other bananas, but for whatever reason, these tasted so good, nice and ripe, not mushy, mushed, but just simply tasting "extra" good, and that's not a joke.

In my opinion, perhaps "supporting" the local independent is a good idea.  They may be, well, more "local".  To make you feel better, how bout you ask them, just as you made me think now, to ask mine.  :)  

Also, I understand that little mini dilema of wanting to support both, and who to support, one who is a small independent business, like some of the mom and pops, ones who in some people's minds, aren't the type to take advantage of their co-workers (although, one never knows, cuz everyone, as we know, are not the same), "or" support the local supermarket, where the idea of buying there, is basically letting them know, "Hey, "WE" the people, "WE" the consumers of today, care and "want" "YOU" to make a change, because we demand it!"  I totally get both.  I would always say, it's upto whatever the person feels is best.  If you really want to commit, find out about both, that way, you can make a better educated decision on where you want to spend your money, where it's best.  Just remember all I said, it does depend.

I just feel that "perhaps" local independent may be better.  They "might" use less distance, hence, less gas, less carbon dioxide released, less pollution, less carbon footprint on those products.....not only that, but as I've mentioned that book before in the first question I've answered, there is a lot more.  In this case, it can be the difference of supporting an independent, who is sticking up for himself/herself, not giving in to the threats and monopolizing of boycotting their harvest, also using power, money, and threats once again, to have others not buy or help this independent, merely because he's not selling himself short, let alone that farmers already have to work d**n hard.  This book explains pretty well in detail how this happens with say, products of beef, chicken, and harvest.  This independent, as I see it, may be that courageous person who stands up, is standing up for their rights to not be pushed around by a suit or other, and won't settle, isn't settling for even waaaay less money that he's already getting.  Some non-independents, get paid less, it's legally immoral.  The greedy use threats to boycott, basically letting them know, "Hey, either take this, which we all know is robbery, and you can barely live off on, just struggle by from point to point, or take a chance on having your stuff not be bought by others because they may be too scared to, since I got more money, you don't, and I can afford to do that, but can you?"  The non-independents think about their families, I believe most are non-unionized, either their land may be bought, but in many circumstances, the animals they raise aren't their own, and all they do is raise and grow these things for the Fat Cats.  But again, it's a matter of investigation. This is somethings, people don't know about, but great people take the time to investigate all of the information in detail to get this to the public.  

And not for nothing, but to the person who says organic is a fraud and an even less than par item, do you know this for a fact? or opinion???  I've personally tried some organics, and have definitely noticed a big difference.  In all honesty, some people's tastebuds are quite different, depending on they're conditioned state of diet.  Example, people who eat a lot of "salty" or high in sodium, sugary, chemically and aritficial additives, and especially fat are "used" to this, so when something more natural, less artificial is consumed, or/and healthier in the sense of less salt, sugar, fat, will taste nothing, when it is actually reverse for those who's diet is made up of the latter will definitely taste the difference in those foods that many americans eat, greasy, super "salty", really sweet, and "fake" tasting.  Another example, people who eat a lot of meat, foods high in carbs, oily, and also including fake processed stuff, will feel empty when eating a "salad" (just a small example), and if one tends to make a sudden change from one diet to another (and I don't mean diet meaning eating less like most people associate the word diet for, but rather a diet of which the food one eat is mainly made of), will have a very upset, gurgly stomach/intestines, and then may either throw up or go the other way.  The same goes for people who's diet is mainly made up of the latter, veggies, fruits, etc (the more natural and healthier stuff) and do the opposite, eat fast foods, and other processed stuff, or greasier things, high in sodium, sugars, will definitely have an upset stomach, nausea, and sluggish feeling thereafter, if not within hours, then within the next day or so. This is a fact, it is physical reaction, it is scientific.  

Also, example, mushrooms are basically made from "fertilizer", and they are everywhere, in pizza, salads, in "jars", and "cans" for whatever else people use em for, in some pizza sauce, heck stuffed mushrooms in freezer boxes, OR restaurants, or chicken dishes, whether in freezer, fresh, from a jar, can, or made from a restaurant, is basically made the same, from fertilizer, yet people still eat all these.  

Just do a good wash if you're so concerned.  They may also have some safe and healthy special fruit and veggie wash in a local supermarket in the produce isle if you can't find it anywhere else.  

Also, to what someone else said, perhaps we wouldn't have a food shortage if the population hasn't boomed to the millions over a few hundred years.  Organic is not a bad thing.  On one note though, I believe scientists trying to make more food or find ways to make things bigger, like giving antibiotics to say, beef cattle, is not so great, nor is it great that they've tested this for veggies/fruits, using additional growth settings, supposedly the super fruit with an abnormal amount of vitamins (which too much can be harmful to you, I think I recall too much Vit. A can harm your kidney or something like that. As has been said b4, "too much of anything can be bad for you, all in moderation."), this isn't even including the chemical already on them, such as pesticides.  Inform yourselves before making judgements. You'll learn a lot.  One can't say, it's bad or it's good, without having sources, information, detail, to back up what you say.  Can't just say, because I said so, not that anyone here has said that, but in some other cases, people have, or "because it is", lol, that makes me laugh.  Anyways, Sorry to Asker, but I hope the first half of this answered your question? The other half was more informative to what negative things were said about organics, and I just felt that sometimes, it tends to sound like just an opinion, instead of fact, or not backed up.  Hope I haven't offended anyone.  Kindly, have a great nite to all!

Answer 3

local  market

Answer 4

My general thought is that it's better to keep your money in your community and your local independent is probably a better place to spend it.  Larger chains end up sending alot of their money up the chain to their Administrators.  Also your local independent is more likely to buy locally as well, which means that less gasoline is used to get the food to you in the first place.

Answer 5

No.  In addition to being overpriced, low quality and often disease-ridden, "organic" farming in most cases does more harm to the environment than modern agriculture.