Green | December 01, 2007 | Comment on this video (21)

Food: Organic vs. Local

Sandrachw
What does organic really mean? Organic food is one of the fastest growing industries in North America. Stores like Whole Foods are cashing in on our desire to eat Green. But aren't we forgetting the enormous transportation costs of shipping organic produce halfway around the world to our grocery stores? This pod examines the organic food industry and takes a look at an alternative: local.
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21 comments // Food: Organic vs. Local // Video

  • PlusMuchMore
  • TimothyFitzgeraldYoung
    • 0
      TimothyFitzgeraldYoung  

    • I’m a certified organic farmer and food processor as well as lifelong advocate of organic and local. My company buys “local at any cost.” However, the impact of agricultural chemicals are known and just as hazardous to the human and natural environment regardless of food miles traveled. If it’s not certified, there’s no assurance no matter how much you romanticize about “getting to know your farmer.” Please support and “get to know” local “certified” organic farmers.
      Timothy Fitzgerald Young
      President/Chef
      Food For Thought

    • 2 years ago
  • Jcazmusic
    • 0
      Jcazmusic  

    • Nice Pod. I am glad you point out some of the differences in terminology. It can be difficult to sort it all out sometimes... It's crazy that we have to become experts on marketing terminology to figure out if we are eating healthy.
      One other thing; one quickly realizes that you have to spend (a good bit) more money to eat food that is well developed and minimally processed.
      One simple thing I do- look at the ingredients and find the item that has the least amount of stuff in it. A simple example; some potato chips are sunflower oil and potatoes, the bag next to it might have 30 ingredients most of which I don't recognize. I apply this to everything. It's not the complete answer but a good step...

    • 3 years ago
  • absentbree
    • 0
      absentbree  

    • here is my problem with buying locally- I live somewhere where it is snowing for (seriously) 6+ months. while in the summer/fall months i am able to buy locally, during the winter/spring months it is near impossible because next to nothing grows..
      so what should i do?

    • 3 years ago
  • pigmonkey
  • JenIllescas
    • 0
      JenIllescas  

    • i agree..there is like this move ..an organic move..its like a trend..alot of people think they are eating organic but are they?..this is something i would love to learn more about! ..and i fully support local growers!

    • 3 years ago
  • jiacona
  • pyropalmtree
    • 0
      pyropalmtree  

    • I'm a really big supporter of organic farmers and try to only buy usda; but this pod has pointed out how usda organic is good but supporting local farmers is part of community.

    • 4 years ago
  • Ando_SB
    • 0
      Ando_SB  

    • Sandra,

      I really liked the flow of this pod. It even made me think twice about the pros/cons of buying local. However, I feel like it could have been more informative about the scientific differences between organic and conventional produce. It leaves me asking a few questions, like:

      What is really the difference between organic and conventional produce?

      What could happen if conventional produce keeps selling at the current rate?

      Illustrations/graphics might help to answer some of these questions.

      ~Ando

    • 4 years ago
  • VoyagerFilms
  • MrPleasant
  • Cinewalt
  • bstein
    • 0
      bstein  
    • Image

    • "But now comes a team of researchers from the University of California, Davis, who have started asking provocative questions about the carbon footprint of food. Those questions threaten to undermine some of the feel-good locavore story line, not to mention my weekend forays for produce. (A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact of human activities on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced.)

      While the research is not yet complete, Tom Tomich, director of the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, said the fact that something is local doesn’t necessarily mean that it is better, environmentally speaking."

      NY Times

    • 4 years ago
  • covelogibbs
    • 0
      covelogibbs  

    • Nice job Sandrachw. Well done pod, thank you.

      NailBunnyLuver, if you have to ship it all the better reason to make sure it is organic. Shipping by railway would ease the transportation impact, but we haven't invested enough in our infrastructure.;-(

      Using greentv's Ecospot technique, you might even be able to grow in LA, on the deck, or maybe rooftop?
      RIP South Central Farme:http://current.com/items/76421922_a_little_piece_of_land

      Here's what went Wrong with the Organic Spinach (beef and dairy farmers).

      http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/opinion/21planck.html
      Feed lot photo:http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2005/20050415_feedlot.jpg

      Who Owns What in the Organic food industry?
      2006:http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/images/OrganicSigJul07.png
      2005:http://consciousconsuming.pbwiki.com/f/organic-industry-jun-05.jpg

      Defend organic standards whenever you get the chance. Grow your own, Shop at a Farmers Market if you can. Subscription gardening!? There are lots of possibilities:-)

      Organic and Local

    • 4 years ago
  • lfm
  • NailBunnyLuver
    • 0
      NailBunnyLuver  

    • I like the logic behind this pod but in today's growing society it seems like a very romantic idea.
      The same produce that is grown in one area will not always grow in another, and masses of people cannot be expected to give up the food that they can easily buy at a grocery store in favor of helping the environment.
      Again, great idea but seemingly impossible.

    • 4 years ago
  • thejunkman
  • paulisthefuture
  • nonprophet
  • kimrich09
  • joshuaheller
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