Organic foods. Better or scam?

I don't think there will be a definitive answer for many years.

I think for the most part it is BS.

Getting fresh stuff from farmers markets and such is a better strategy than depending on who labels their stuff organic and what definition is used.

Organics don't have any greater nutrient density. Many of the "organic" means used for pest control can be pretty nasty, too. Not everyone is choosing organic because of health--plenty of ppl are avoiding conventionally grown produce because of the unintended environmental impact on certain species (like bees). It's more of an ecological position than a personal health choice.

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It's more of an ecological position than a personal health choice.

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It's more of a cultural decision to convince oneself and other people that you're benefiting both your health and the environment. Just go to any Whole Foods and listen to people try and rationalize spending more money on "organic" products.

A lot of times the organic stuff will look better/fresher than the regular produce. So I'll buy it. I'm not convinced its better for you though.

There is probably no way of knowing.

I do know that obtaining a "Certified Organic" stamp on a product label is a HUGE moneymaking scheme for the certifying agencies. I'm talking thousands of dollars each year cost, which - Will be added to the cost of the product.

If organic is cow dung fertilizer and non-organic is nitrogen based fertilizer with micro elements, then one needs to understand that the plant takes on nutrients at the molecular level and must break down the cow dung, compost, whatever into the same compounds as in the nitrogen based fertilizer before it can use it. I do know that chemical fertilizers are a very efficient way to deliver nutrients to a plant (think lower overall cost to a hungry world).

Pesticides are different. what I can tell you is that EPA evaluates all pesticides. We may not agree with EPA, but they are competent scientists, maybe more competent - maybe less competent than the "organic only - no pesticide" lobby.

At our house, we grow vegetables and try to not use pesticides in our garden. I can see no measurable difference in them from what I buy at the farmer's market, which may or may not be sprayed. I do see that most of teh time, I can buy them as cheap or cheaper at the grocery store, where Anti-pesticide folks tell me they are most likely loaded down with bug killers.

When all is said and done, you must die of something. It is too much of a strain on the coroner if they can't assign a cause of death on the certificate. As far as I am concerned, they can put, "Cooked Vegetables from Piggley Wiggley" on my cert.

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I agree, but damn the produce, seafood, and meat at Whole Foods always looks way nicer than crap coming out of Walmart, etc.

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That's why I go with a happy medium of Rouses or Fresh Market. You're right Walmart's produce is awful.

Also, I don't know if you've eaten organic bananas but they usually taste off to me .. just not a good flavor. Much prefer one labeled not as such.

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chicken is one thing that I eat a lot of that I don't mind paying a little more for to get organic or steroid free.

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ditto. eggs as well .. I always by large brown free range.

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I can live with the idea of a little non-harmful pesticide for some reason.

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Same here. There's actually a lot of non-harmful things they don't allow farmers to use that is hurting America's farmers .. production could run better and cheaper but environmentalists go fricking nuts at the mention of chemicals or pesticides.

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It's the thought of eating shite that keeps food edible on a store shelf for years that gets me.

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I'm not huge on reading labels nor do I buy a lot of boxed/bagged/canned/frozen items, but I stay away from stuff with HFCS or anything that has a ridiculous sodium level because of the amount of preservatives.

agreed in principle, but some local farms' meats are hella expensive. Two Run Farms is big among Nola restaurants and grocers but man it can get high.