Wausa Daily Herald, Yeoh Tze Ruey
Published December 2, 2008
Buying organic is becoming the norm for many people as consumers are giving more thought into their daily food purchases.
An administrative worker at Trader Joe's, who preferred to remain anonymous, attributed the rise of organic consumption to better education about diet and nutrition.
“People are becoming more educated eaters because they are more aware of what happens before food gets to their lips,” he said.
The tipping point towards the this organic revolution, if it is a revolution, may be that many more people are learning more about the hormones that are often injected into animals.
Amanda Sauer, marketing and community relations specialist at Whole Foods Market observed recently that more consumers are buying organic milk and cheeses despite higher prices,
“Americans are heavy consumers of dairy products and the truth about hormones found in animal products is enough to sway people towards organic versions,” she said. These hormones have a detriment impact on mental health especially for children.
Concerns about health are not the only reason that consumers are buying more organic food. For some people, ethical considerations weigh heavily.
Megan Sallomi, a long-time consumer of organic food, says the trend toward organic food is a huge step toward protecting the environment and supporting animal rights.
“What is most important to me is food that was grown in humane ways and that was friendly to the environment,” she said.
Humanely grown food refers primarily to animal products - cage-free/free-range vegetarian eggs, organic dairy products where no hormones were used and the animals were treated fairly.
Organic does not always mean local. It may be more beneficial to consume a locally produced apple than an organic one that was flown halfway across the world. Many grocery stores are making sure that more local, seasonal products are featured instead of importing produce from other states.
“When you buy local, it is like going back to the roots of food production where our ancestors eat what grew out of their gardens,” Sauer said.
The abundance of local, organic items are a delight to people who enjoy cooking as it tends to contain a more natural and flavorful profile that really stands out in a dish.
“You can tell the difference especially in fruits and vegetables such as spinach and berries,” Sallomi said. “The intense sweetness of organic produce makes it a worthwhile investment.”
Despite the ailing economy, the sales of organic food remained steady. In fact, it might even have sparked consumer interest as people are cooking more at home and experimenting with new ingredients. “People are not faltering in the consumption of organic food,” Sauer said. “Consumers may choose to limit other lifestyle choices but they are still firm on the organic front.”
Organic foods are actually less expensive than they are touted to be especially when quality is concerned. Consumers who are wary of organic prices can opt to consume certain foods without overspending.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tabulated a list of high pesticide content produce and it named the “Dirty Dozen” to guide consumers. The list consists of peaches, bell peppers, celery, pears, apples, berries, spinach, cherries, lettuce, potatoes, and grapes.
It is hard to determine how “organic” a product is given the seemingly lax USDA regulations today. Nonetheless, organic consumption is still a household necessity for many as consumers are making purchase decisions based on brand value.
“Anytime a movement becomes commercialized or mainstream, its standards are bound to go a little downhill as we have seen with organic food, but I do think that it is a step in the right direction,” Sallomi said.
