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I have never been able to understand why organic food is almost twice the price, you'd think it would be cheaper without all the expensive additives!!!
My relatives own a small vegetable farm outside Washington DC, which used to be certified 'organic'. Now, they say, the time and effort required to be "certified" makes it no longer worth it, the certification, that is. They still farm the same way, only now they call it 'eco-ganic'.
Thanks for taking the time to tackle a confusing topic.
And I agree with Threegardeners - its hard to understand why "organic" food is so much more expensive, when fewer expensive chemicals are used to produce it.
I use no pesticides. Lady Bugs and Lace Wings cost money. Picking some pests off by hand takes alot of time. If I get a squash borer, I get down on me knees, split the vine, dig him out, cover the split spot and hope I don't lose all the fruit on that vine. Growing organically is much more labor intensive. The fertilizers( I use mostly my own compost), allowed pesticides, soil amendments, even the seed is much more expensive and we have to pay expensive shipping on many things that are not available locally. Certified organic growers and people who grow the same way without certification earn their $$. In many cases it is as important to buy locally. Go to your local farmers market and buy the veggies that don't look perfect. Good way to tell how the grower is gardening. Carrie is right. Certification is nearly impossible for small growers. Paperwork and documentation needs a secretary. Many large companies are complying with the letter of the regulation but sometimes not with the "spirit". Allowed substances should be used only as a last resort. Bet you guys didn't even know I had a soap box. I'm getting down now! Go meet a local farmer and ask them alot of questions. You'll be really glad you did!
I swear by organic. I eat organic food as much as possible and i have so much more energy, i think i look younger, and some health symptoms have disappeared. I hope more stores and local growers will provide these food gems.
