In an op-ed piece in the New York Times, The Organic Fable, author Roger Cohen cites recent research by Stanford University concluding that after four decades of examining the nutritional levels of standard commercial fruits and vegetables vs. their counterpart organic varieties, the organics are no more nutritious overall.
Cohen goes on to rail the branding of organic products as more elitist hyperbole than actual substance. Although later in the piece he extols the actual good-for-the-earth aspects of organic farming, he quickly adds that GMO (genetically-engineered) foods are necessary to feed the world's population and he would rather see more people fed than spend the time and money tending to smaller-yielding, healthier soil, less-chemical laden choices.
While I share the author's disgust for the commercialism and
over-generalization of organics as always better, I don't agree with
his bottom line. The market that once belonged to the original organic companies like Eden and Organic Valley is now being bought up by
multinational profit-driven, not health-driven, corporations who
want in on the popularity/marketplace of organics. However they
share none of the soul or philosophy. And that is what is killing the truth of WHY
organic is better. As well, the USDA, since implementing national organic certification, has dumbed down the standards
of what it really means to be organic.
A good article to explain this turning of the tide can be found here: http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/sc/0701/sc0701-organic-owners.html
The one thing organics don't have that standard commercial foods do
have are CHEMICALS. So, if you want to make sure you get your daily
dose of chemicals you can't pronounce, buy commercial. If you want good-for-the-earth WORMS, buy organic!
I'll take my worms with the dressing on the side please!
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