Is buying organic defeating the purpose if it is Cargill?

[schellie69]

I don't use chemicals on my vegetables but I am not organic why because of all the hoops farmers have to go through. I think that one poster is saying that if an organic farmer is next to a large commercial farm then there will be some gmo in his crops why because of cross pollination also the chemicals that some use are in the air and will travel and get every where so maybe part of a crop on the organic farm has chemicals on it. I am not against big AG pushing GMO crap on us. I I will buy from the farmer that is trying to grow and raise his meat and vegetables with out using GMO's or chemicals even if he is not certified organic. I wish I had more feed option here but I don't each person must do what they can with what they got.

 

[mamabahre]

I get that and I agree with him that yes that is how big agri does "organic" farming. Spray one field, the one directly next to it don't spray...not really organic, hence my point about LOCAL..

I am not judging anyone for what they do or don't do but I will not abide the spread of misinformation!

 

[Cindy in PA]

As far as cheating in the organic community, I believe it definitely happens. Organic has been ruined by the government taking over period & by big business seeing they can make more money doing it. I personally do not buy organic produce in the store that has been trucked all over the country. I buy local and yes sometimes I buy conventionally raised local. The nutrition part is a gray area, but food coming from a living soil should have better nutrition. The tests done on factory eggs compared to pastured eggs just look for the basic vitamins & such and not the CLA and other goodies. Things can be skewed many ways. I have never used chemicals on my garden in 27 years. My peppers are gorgeous every year & yet commercial peppers are supposed to be one of the most chemical laden veggies you can buy. Why is this? I would guess monoculture & basically cutting corners on the soil. If the soil is not healthy, the plant will be stressed. I know people believe that all soil is the same. I can compare the soil I use to the farm field next to it & see the difference. Nothing will grow on the farm field without a ton of fertilizer & herbicides each year. Just my observations. As far as Cargill goes, I would think it is a decent product or you would here about it. I have looked into it, but cannot find any info for it online. You would think they would promote it more. They sell it at Agway here, as Agway is now owned by Cargill.

 

[mamabahre]

WHAAAT, When did Cargill buy Agway??
Eh, that sounds typical though, all the little "organic" companies are being bought up by the biggies....
I can imagine your soil is gorgeous Cindy! You are right about it too. Monolithic type farming just utterly destroys the soil, no excuses it just destroys it. Small scale sustainable farming works hard to preserve the soil as a part of a functioning farm.

The bottom line is the word "organic" is not what it used to be and that is why many people opt local over "organic" these days because they are recognizing there can be a significant differences. Also there is a growing body of evidence suggestions that the body is best prepared to absorb nutrients grown locally because they subtly different in nutrient qualities than those shipped far away. What I mean is, if you live in Northern New England foods grown locally there have specific nutrient contents designed to optimize their effectiveness in your body as opposed to living in northern New England and eating the same veggie grown in Idaho...It is still pretty new research but it is fascinating.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Not trying to start an argument here, but as someone personally involved with "big agri" as you call it I don't think you are quite as well informed as you would like to believe and need to watch what "misinformation" you are spreading.

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
Not trying to start an argument here, but as someone personally involved with "big agri" as you call it I don't think you are quite as well informed as you would like to believe and need to watch what "misinformation" you are spreading.

someone involved with big agri would naturally dislike what I say... My BIL was a lobbyist for Monsanto, the conversations we have are alway very "interesting"..I imagine it is threatening to hear negative things about your industry but that certainly doesn't mean they aren't true. I haven't said anything here that I can't back up with facts and citations, most of them come from actual books though and I am typing most of this one armed while I nurse my daughter so I don't really have the time to grab books and cite everything.

 

[vmdanielsen]

mama-
I get organic blue seal layer pellets from my blue seal dealer called organic life. It is about $22 for 50#s. Maybe you store can order you some?
Ginny

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
hmm I'll check it out, my local feed store was like "well if you want to order a PALLET we'll do s special order..." you know for my 1,000 chickens in my backyard

 

[vmdanielsen]

A pallet? Wow, my dealer is much more accommodating....or maybe they just have more buyers of organic feed.

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
seriously, a pallet!! Who orders a pallet of anything?? I think he was trying to corner me into buying what he had there hehe... I left with a bale of shavings and he was still talking to me about the feed he had as I was getting in my truck.