Noted: When Organic Food Gets Nasty

Great post!

I am a firm believer in eating local and organic foods, but I don't want to alienate anyone from joining my causes by being super judgemental and offputting. All you can do is make knowledge available to someone and hope they find their way themselves. Besides, after they educate themselves, why would anyone WANT to eat GMOs?

Wonderful article! Sometimes there is a perceived attitude in regards to those who buy organic and those that do not. Unfortunately, there have been times that I've found myself feeling a bit too high and mighty when my cart was loaded up with tofu and other organic products--it just feels good to look down and see all those delicious goodies in recycled packages.

I've noticed this behavior too. I don't do organic due to the cost but I do cook from scratch, and have had friends disparage this, saying things like "oh these cheap supermarket strawberries." At least I'm not eating Crisco with a spoon!

This is a wonderful post on such an important subject! The attitude of some healthy/organic eaters out there isn't often discussed, but I think all of us, as human beings, sometimes can't resist the power/superiority that doing good gives us over others. It's an insidious aspect of our humanity but one that we can, fortunately, fix easily by refusing to judge others or let our egos get out of control. Thank you for this insightful post!

I try to buy organic and sustainable foods because it is good for the world and my health. However, whenever I find myself feeling too high and mighty, some Doritos always seem to help me dial it down a notch.

Your last question in the article is a great one to think about. Besides selling my crocheted items on Etsy, I also work part time as a nurse. In my nursing career I see many people who continue to make poor choices when it comes to healthy eating which can sometimes lead to diagnoses like high blood pressure and diabetes. I'm not always sure if it's due to lack of education or that healthy food is higher in price or is it lack of convenience? One very small solution I think is to be a good role model of healthy eating for your children and other people around you. For myself, I just know that when I eat healthy food I feel better, and when I feel better I am more productive. More productivity leads to an even better feeling about my day :)

...Self-righteousness can happen anywhere about anything. The thing about healthy choices are that they are CHOICES and we have plenty of them. Just because something costs more, does not make the purchaser a snob. It's the attitude of the purchaser that makes the person a snob or not. Why not look at the big picture? I do pay more for organic food, but I'm banking on the notion that I'm helping the environment of this fragile planet and I'll be paying a whole lot less for medical costs in the future by not ingesting unwanted chemicals. I'm pretty sure that doesn't make me a snob, just a concerned life form on a really cool planet.

I guess it is like anything else in life. I am just glad to eat anything that isn't too fattening or sugary. I don't really keep an eye on if I am eating organic or not. I do love this quote: led a study that revealed the jerk-like tendencies of organic eaters.

Good marketers know that to sell a product well, you can't just sell a product,n you have to sell a certain mindset, aesthetic, lifestyle,,, and in the case of organic food- values. You can really see this when you walk into Whole Foods and get greeted with packaging that says Harmless Harvest Coconut Water. We are should be practicing values more so than merely consuming them, or else buying organic just becomes another form of consumerism.

This is an attitude I've also observed in other areas, especially religion and politics. Being snobby about eating organic food feels the same (to me) as being snobby about being Christian or belonging to a certain political party - as if any of those things makes you a better person. The beautiful stuff comes when we live our lives the best way we know how, and encourage others to do the same, without judgment. :)

Tired of hearing long diatribes about the benefits of organic foods.

That is a very good question. This topic makes me angry and depressed more than snobby. As long as people spend their money on GMO and pesticide foods the price of organic will never go down. Basically everyone will have to boycott the system to make it go away so organic food can be available to everyone at a fair price. I do not really care about snobby behavior, I care about sustaining the environment. The honey bees are disappearing because of GMOs and pesticides, if we do not have bees to pollinate the crops then basically will not have any food in the future. Bees are the most important workers in the ecosystem.

Some "bio" products such as yoghurt tend to be much more cheaper than most organic products. Most of the time our cart in the supermarket tends to have 1 product out of 10 to have the "organic" label. We try to produce our own vegetables in our apartment in a biological manner, it's fun AND cheap.

This is such a hot button topic and I totally agree. I find it very hard to balance my wish to share what I know about our food supply with people I care about, while not making them feel stupid or inferior. I am a whole-hearted supporter of eating organic, locally grown foods for a wide number of reasons...not the least of which is simple protest to greedy corporations who control our food supply. Every time I purchase local, organic food, I feel like I'm snubbing my nose at greed. Even if I didn't care about the environment, animals, people or my health, I would still want to push back and fight this corrupt system. Everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food, but it appears that it will be up to consumers to drive that change. I truly believe that it's a supply and demand issue. Every dollar I spend on organic and not on conventional food is a vote. If enough people are able to "vote" like this, the supply will have to go up and prices will have to come down....eventually making it attainable for everyone. So, to food snobs out there...stop it. You're not helping the situation. And, to people who think they can't afford organic or feel that the issue is too big to tackle...please try. Even baby steps make a difference. Anyone can afford *something* organic. Go meatless one day a week and use the money you would have spent on meat to buy an organic fruit or vegetable. Skip the McDonald's drive-through and buy a package of organic pasta and tomato sauce...you'll have dinner on the table in less time than it takes to drive to fast food (and you might save some gas.) Vote with your dollars because actions speak louder than words. Stepping off my soap box now...LOL. Good luck everyone!

"”There’s a line of research showing that when people can pat themselves on the back for their moral behavior, they can become self-righteous,” says psychological sciences professor Kendall Eskine, "......Well, this is not New News. This attitude is rampant with the wealthy and wanna-be-wealthy and they believe is true, that poor people are "inferior" because they "don't" and "won't" work as hard as the rich people do.......I am so damn happy to see Organic food more widely available, and I am very happy to see the obesity epidemic in mainstream conversation, and those two occurrences are linked. Good ! but come on people, could we not be mean to each other, and help each other eat better??

It's funny I've never perpetrated organic snobbery,nor been the victim, however.....MULTIPLE times I have been made fun of and argued with by conventional foodists because I eat as much organic as possible. I find myself in a situation where I feel it's ridiculous to defend myself on what I eat especially when the argument is chemicals vs no chemicals. I personally don't argue or tout my beliefs to people, and in no way would look down on some one buying a bag of Doritos. Besides, I'm usually too busy and rushed in the grocery store to be evaluating the contents of other people's carts. I do understand and agree that it organic costs are ridiculously high. And because of that I definitely end up buying the conventional item sometimes because organic is often too pricey. In the end I don't think any stranger or acquaintance regardless of their diet preferences should scrutinize the other. There are just too many more important issues to think about. ;)

Interesting post. I'm thinking about it.

Agreed Stephanie! Once one educates themselves in the unethical practices of many mass producers of food (i.e. what our cells and organs will be regenerating themselves from), it can be hard to go back to just eating anything. Though I don't treat people differently based on what they eat, or what they choose to buy, I can see a difference in the personalities and behaviors of people who eat crap on a consistent basis. I've lived with a few of them and they don't seem like very healthy people (of body or mind). I won't ever ram knowledge down the throats of the uneducated, but I do care about the health of my friends and will encourage them to take a more active role in their own health and well-being.

So many organics are such a rip off... like avocados or "free range chickens"

Excellent topic to discuss! This matter is close to my heart as an organic eater. I would love to see organic foods more accessible to everyone. Sadly it seems that it's human nature to judge others and attempt to feel superior on any and every front. 'Tis too bad, but all the more reason to smile at others no matter what is in their shopping cart, what is on their personage, or where they are. Instead of glaring, perhaps those staunch organic-buyers should buy others some organic chocolate and go about their merry way. That would be a nice article to see! :-)

To Susan Faye from another concerned life form: I love that you said this! "I'm pretty sure that doesn't make me a snob, just a concerned life form on a really cool planet."

Great article! Thank you! I feel justified now. Because I've always felt a little put-down around some vegans/vegetarians I know. Now I feel like it wasn't just in my head... I would love to eat a mostly organic plant-based diet for my family and I...but our monthly food budget is $400...so figure that one out. lol. It is a higher priority for us to have a stay-at-home parent. Maybe one day was can have our cake and eat it organically too. lol. I was once trying some vegan dishes and I commented on how 1 item was too salty and the other item wasn't salty enough but that the combination was terrific. The "snobby" lady told me that I thought it wasn't salty enough because I eat salty food (I had McDonalds that day-lol) and my taste buds are acclimated to that. I know where she's coming from with that comment; but she obviously didn't hear what I said. She had also intended the two dishes to go together b/c one was so salty...I was basically agreeing with a comment she had made earlier...she didn't get it.

Great post ~ a product of the early 60s the subject is close to heart for me as well. I grew up in a health food household for the sake of economics and my mother was a hippie. I was getting angry in the 80's and 90s while my favorite farmers market prices were rising steadily I was getting run over by double strollers and hit with whopping adorning baskets and thrown a little to much attitude. A little older now I'm not as mad, I'm over it its all a generational thing and its good to eat good no matter who you are. I just ask ~ practice what the bumper sticker reads.

Though I think it's great to eat local and sustainable whenever possible, and will sometimes buy organic if the prices are comparable, this whole organic living craze is ridiculous. Get off your high horses, people. Things are not often so cut and dry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhBKtjDtTVk

This is a funny perspective. I consider myself a green eater and have a lot of interest in peoples diets and such. Just yesterday, a gluten free colleague of mine gave me some granola labeled "gluten free". So I asked her "are oats naturally gluten free?" and she had no idea. It makes me think that a lot of people buy what the package says but are ignorant of the underlying substance of their healthy diets.

"Rather than judging food habits and forming antagonistic or exclusive mindsets, we should be asking the most important question: how do we create a system where affordable, healthy choices are readily available to everyone?" YES!!!!!! :)

"Eskine surmises that when people engage in something they think is morally good, they feel entitled to be judgmental of others." ....hmmmmmmm - listen, I do my best to buy local/organic/free range but I always keep in mind that food and food preference isn't a RELIGION, it's food!

This reminds me of the distaste most people have for vegetarians. When people find out that I am a vegetarian, I am met with strange looks, rude comments, and jokes. It seems unfair, since I don't really have much against meat eaters. I am fine with meat eaters, people eat meat. What's strange is that when I decide to deviate from the norm of eating meat, especially somewhere like America, I am the one who gets treated strangely, despite me having done nothing to anyone. I don't go around thinking I'm better than omnivores. The omnivores shouldn't go around thinking they are better than me though. Food choices are for individuals, and people should respect the choices of others. Not everyone can afford organic produce, some people are more concerned with feeding their family in the most cost-effective way possible. Just because we have choices doesn't mean that every choice we make has to be based on morals. Choices can be based off what is right to each person. For me, it is right to buy non-organic. But when the farmer's market comes around each summer, I'm first in line for the produce and you can bet I'll be back every week, because it is a decent price in comparison to the grocery store and if I can support local farmers I will. I also think it is interesting how the laws about organic food can be broken so easily. Something that says it is organic may not be, just because it is USDA certified does not mean it is for sure organic, and people need to realize this. Anyway, good post and sorry for the ramble.

Joel Salatin, the self-described "lunatic farmer" from Virginia, says that people have asked him how in the world they are supposed to be expected to pay three times as much for organic sweet corn in January. And he asks them why they are trying to buy organic sweet corn in January! Eating seasonally is a big part of the solution to this -- buy up bags of corn in September, when it's cheap and abundant and people are happy to get rid of it at the farmers market, blanch it and freeze it. Voila -- you have your cheap, organic sweet corn in January. I'd say if we all tried to do just that little bit more of the work involved in feeding ourselves, we'd all eat better. No snobby attitude required.

WOW, people who actually care about the planet and their health are really ... snobs WWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Great post! And you really nailed it with your call to action - stop judging other's food choices and focus on making local, organic, pesticide free food more accessible to those who can't afford it.

My husband and I run a very small scale organic farm, where all of the work is done by hand. We too feel judged by others who want to know why our prices are higher compared to our larger-scale organic farm counterparts. We find ourselves faced with the task of explaining that all organics are not created equal, and work done by hand will carry a higher price, something that those of us here on Etsy understand well.

This video is pretty hilarious, Organic taste tests: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zqe4ZV9LDs

I haven't experienced this myself, but I understand the problem. What I've noticed, however, is that the "organic-eaters" often choose the organic option regardless of where it comes from. I always try to buy food that has been grown or reared as close to where I live as possible. I feel that the obsession with eating organic produce has made otherwise intelligent and healthy people miss an important point; that whatever we eat should not cause the world unnecessary harm, and buying organic apples from Chile when you live in the UK is just plain silly.

Interesting article. I agree. I have noticed that, especially with specialty food stores in my area, you can always spot those certain individuals that are die hard organic eaters that the cost means nothing to them and they look down on you for finding an issue for paying triple on an item. I wish I could afford to buy more organic items but with food costs going up each day, just being able to purchase regular is enough of an issue. My husband and I love summer because we try to grow as much organic produce as we can fit in our garden.

I solely eat organic and sustainable foods, but that is my preference. I don't judge others who don't eat the same food that I eat, just like I don't judge what lifestyle others choose to live. I eat organic because it makes my body feel better (don't know if it is psychological though, lol), not because others do it or not. I believe when people get all righteous over their diet and/or healthy lifestyle, it makes them look like idiots. If you want to convince someone to eat organic, you are not going to do so by picking them apart and acting all snobby. I just let people be... We all have a right to make our own choices without others judging.

Interesting! Doesn't make you a snob, only smart. What with the new study about fire retardants in peanut butter, etc.

Francine, I'm afraid you missed the point of the article. It's not a bad thing to care about what you put in your body - it's a bad thing to become a snob about it. Some people can care and not be snobs, and others can't. The author of the article is asking us to all just get along. Peace, Harmony and the pursuit of happiness right? Also - it would be awesome if organic was cheaper, but I'd rather pay more and know it is actually organic, than have it be cheap and iffy. It would also be awesome if big business couldn't find cheatery ways around the laws to add "natural" or "organic" labels on things. I love buying local and Farmer's Markets are great...but I'm probably still going to buy Oreo's the next time I feel like chocolate and cream cookies ;)

I've always been a snob, regardless of what I eat! I prefer Italian shoes, French champagne, and English marmalade. Does that make me a snob, or just a person of good taste?

My day job is working for an organic farm that does a CSA (community supported agriculture) program, where we deliver organic fruits and veggies to peoples homes, offices and schools through out California. For organics it is 10%-20% off grocery store prices, plus it is fresher than most things for the market & guaranteed to be fresh or your $ back. How cool is that?! I talk to people all day who want to eat more organic but the price is the main thing holding them back. Finding local CSA's and growing your own along with buying local & direct, because you are cutting the cost of the middle man. These are all options that can save you $$. Plus you save on health care costs by eating better. Freshness has a value too, because you don't through as much away or have to go to the market as often. California residents if you want to check out my farms website, it is www.farmfreshtoyou.com, plug in your zip to see when we deliver to your area. My Promo Code is 8054. If you want to try it out it will get you a 20% discount off your first box of organic fruit and veggies delivered to your house. There are ways to go all organic and have it be affordable. I wish you all success in finding what works best for you and your family. Namaste! FYI - There are different levels of organic as well at the grocery stores anything with a sticker or a label, you want to look for # codes that start with a 9, because that is the number that indicates that it is not genetically modified. Also many Etsyians are selling organic heirloom seeds at great prices. I bought my mom tons of seeds for her garden for christmas & my husband sprouting seeds as a gift too, the gift that keeps on giving.

VOTE ORGANIC<< Otherwise Monsanto WINS!! Yes Monsanto GMO , get it ? It's in about 90% of everything..so like I said forget the snob thing ...a waste of time! AND VOTE ORGANIC! The only way to know it's ORGANIC is to grow it yourself...ORGANICALLY!!

I totally agree. There are certain products that I refuse to use because the people who use it are so snobby about it that I find it insufferable to be around them. I believe in organic foods but I also believe that for it to be tenable to your average American, you've got to have a bigger market demand...and for that to happen you cant' be antagonizing people. You end up accomplishing exactly the opposite of what you hope to happen.

We eat almost exclusively organic, but we are lucky in a lot of ways. We live where there are literally at least a hundred local farms to purchase from and there is a Farmer's market every day of the week as well as a produce stand attached to one of the local hardware stores. That being said, my parents live in the desert and everything from conventional produce to fresh organic fruits and veggies are expensive. They do what they can by shopping at local businesses, but a lot of the organic produce offered in the area has started to turn by the time it makes it to market. This lifestyle exists on a continuum with no perfectly right or wrong answers. I think the best thing to do is educate people and allow them to make their own choices. You aren't going to agree with a lot of them, because they aren't your choices to make.

I agree that there needs to be a better way to buy organic. I love the idea of organic, and that we all should be healthier as well. I also have seen the people who buy organic are way obsessed about it and that everything, and everyone else is evil. Everyone that I know that buys organic are really snobs about it. I think that it is not something that we should be saying is the better way to eat, but that it should be the way to eat. We should't have to say something is organic vs not organic. We should be able to create healthier foods, the natural way, all the time.

What's that in your back yard? Grass. Good luck eating that and have fun complaining about the cost of food. Love the shirt!

I think as long as food is experienced as just another individual consumer choice, it will be subject to all the forms of snobbery and exclusion that attend any other act of modern consumption. But when food -- real food, heathy food -- is enjoyed in relationship with people and places that are well-loved, it becomes an entirely different thing. Having a garden, knowing farmers, cooking together, and putting up food is the opposite of elitism. It's a kind of extended family with connections to the seasons and the soil. Sometimes "buying" isn't even involved. It's more like "living."

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I live on a farm where my family grows all of the meat I consume. My parents started raising grass fed beef cows when I was a baby because I am very allergic to wheat and they wanted to make sure I wouldn't come into contact with wheat through the feed the animals were eating. We don't eat non-organic produce because we just don't like the idea of food with poisons sprayed on it. Even if Monsanto says that pesticides aren't toxic to humans, you can never be too careful. After all, these are the people who invented Agent Orange. I don't eat organic because of some vague idea of being green and saving the planet. I eat organic because I care about eating food that is safe and healthy for me.

I've been buying organic for over a year now and have been canning, dehydrating and storing my own foods. I have a garden, and no longer purchase anything I can make myself, like jams, salsa, bread, sauce, soups etc. I am guilty of checking out other people's carts in the grocery store but not in search of organic foods. I have worked really hard to clean up my family's diet and no longer buy convenient, frozen or chemical laced "food." I especially don't like to see overweight children walking with mom and a shopping cart full of chicken nuggets, cupcakes, cookies and sugar filled cereal. I am more concerned about the garbage corporations are making us believe is food and not so much about organic or not organic. I would love sometimes to talk to some of these moms about health and nutrition right there in the candy and chip aisle but of course I wouldn't ever! I truthfully would much rather see a basket full of fresh vegetables and fruits (organic in a perfect world) but any in place of soda, chips and junk food. If only parents knew how nitrates, corn syrup and processed foods affected the overall health and well-being of their children. How exactly can we expect children to want to run and play outside when the "food" they are eating isn't providing them with the nourishment and energy required to do so? I've probably said too much but its really time for folks to wake up and demand that corporations start telling the truth about what they are expecting us to eat.

When people are excited about something they've learned, resources they've discovered, a new skill or belief, they tend to talk about it. I wonder if some of what is perceived as snobbery is often just an enthusiastic person sharing their ideas.

I love when I can taste the difference in my organic CSA supplied goodies. But our distributor reminds us that some of our farmers are growing organically, yet the cost of being "certified" makes it not worth it, so they maintain a level of pesticide free, etc. and stay in the game without the label.

I agree with pogoshop, I think a lot of it is the "born again" attitude of people who are just discovering healthy eating. Something that's been a long-term part of the way you live your life no longer gives you the feeling that you need to preach about it, but something newly discovered just makes you want to convert everyone else! And I must admit, there is a certain snobby health food shop near where I live that I'm seriously tempted to walk around eating a Big Mac, just to see the looks on their faces! LOL

So sad that natural food from the earth costs more money than something genetically mortified in a lab. There is something seriously wrong with the food industry. Wish we could go back and simplify it all.

This is a great point, people can get judgimental about these things because the issues behind these choices are very important to them, but still one must be realistic and understand that some people don't have the means, time or simply have too many other things going on in their lives to put so much effort, and money into what they buy to eat. And demonizing any food that isn't bio/organic/whatever can become a bit of a snobbish attitude...I'm guessing a non organic salad is still better than a big mac for your health (but a big mac is oh so much tastier). In Italy the "bio" section in the supermarket, which has organic food, costs more than the regular section, but if you go to markets (where I'm guessing, but I'm not 100% sure, that food is organic) fruit and vegetables cost much less. Every city has tons of markets going on every week and lots of people go there to save money, so that should be a good thing!

I am on the line with organics. I buy organic if I can find it, but I also buy the unhealthy comfort foods too. At home I grow my own veggies so I know they're organic...but I do it for more than that. I have to agree with Francesca, a non organic salad is better than a Big Mac. My delimma is when the organic apples are shipped from New Zealand and the non organics are from Michigan....I know which are better for me but which are better for the planet?? And come on, are people really better than everyone else if they eat that apple from New Zealand? There is the potential to be snobbish about so many things and I think it's sad that people have to be that way....

I understand the need to educate the world about buying organic, and I think it can be done without making others feel like they are being looked down upon. I do get tired of those who make the rest of us feel inferior because we don't follow their advice. I see so many preachy blog posts that put down people who don't follow their ideas. For many of us, the cost and/or availibity is a huge issue. Our little grocery does not carry many items in the first place, let alone organic anything. And to get to a place that does requires quite a drive. Where's the sense in that? And in this tough enconomy many people simply don't have the money to put any food on their table, let alone buy organic. They are trying to make it one day at a time. My husband just lost his job this week due to heavy cutbacks as a result of this crappy economy (who says it's turning around?), and you can bet we'll be watching every penny in order to feed our family.

Great article!

Penn and Teller have an episode of Bullsh*t that talk about 'organic' food. Definitely worth watching considering some of these comments are not understanding the big picture and continue to act like they are on moral high ground. Eating "organic" apples isn't any healthier than eating unorganic apples. Some people think that if you eat unorganic food you just fill up on doritos and ice cream. Stop perpetuating that notion people.

When I turned 50 last year, I decided it was time to start laying off the homemade desserts and cheese and go back to heathy eating habits. As a state government employee, I can't afford all organic choices, but when I can, I do. And now that the farmer's markets are open again, I can buy fresh, local and organic. I must admit, though, that when I go into a Whole Foods, I feel out of place. I feel like there are people giving me the stink-eye because it's obvious that I do most of my grocery shopping at Kroger. And calling it "Whole Paycheck" certainly has some validity. Kind of off topic, there was an interesting blog on the Huffington Post yesterday about how much cheaper it is to eat McDonald's, Doritos and Cokes than it is to eat healthy foods, organic or not, and how agribusiness lobbyists have made sure that government subsidies are geared more toward commercial food production. Less than 1% of government monies go to subsidize fruit and vegetable production, while over 60% goes to the meat and dairy industries. And small organic farms? Forget about it! I wish I could buy all organic, all local, but I can't. But I wouldn't give anyone the stink-eye if I did.

Organic food for me means eating/living 'just' like I lived when I was a young child and it was absolutely normal to eat untreated food. I realised around 5 years ago that I'd like to take more responsibility for my health, even in smallish steps. For me it is most important what I eat, so the money goes there first. I started to cook much more sensitive with good ingredients and nevertheless: Waiting for the healthier prices, too. Thanks !!

I find the entire experience of eating enjoyable. Shopping for the ingredients is one of my favorite parts. I love to wander around different co-ops, farmers markets, bakeries, and grocery stores. I can honestly say I have never felt judged by the contents of my grocery basket. I get excited about the contents of my big beautiful basket, and can't wait to take it home and make something delicious to eat! I'm sad people feel entitled to pass judgement on others for their choices.

I think most people who are on the eat local/organic bandwagon rail against the modern big agricultural corporations, the hidden and addictive ingredients, the lack of affordable choices - not against the people who can't or don't make the same choices they do. I might like what's in my cart better than your cart - obviously, that's why I picked it. But I would never, ever consider anyone else's food my business and don't know anyone else who would either. Maybe I just haven't met these food judges, but I strongly suspect some of the criticism is imagined.

I try to eat healthy since we have so many choices in our country. I sometimes wonder whether some starving people in Africa care whether it's organic or not! Count our blessings, being snobby or not!

I'd say being snobby has more to do with the person than the object of snobbery. If it's not food, it'll be something else. I do have a great deal of admiration for those people who express their passion for healthy, responsibly farmed food by helping educate others and make that kind of food more broadly available to other people.

Good point, Julia.

There is an incredible power in growing one's own food.

Lots of people who eat only organic food have ugly personalities. It doesn't make you better than anyone else, especially when those of us in poorer neighborhoods are disadvantaged socioeconomically and doing the best we can to feed our families.

I've noticed in these comments there is a tendency to equate organic with healthier and non-organic with junk food. Organic just means it doesn't have pesticides. It doesn't mean what you're eating has more vitamins, minerals or fiber. And non-organic doesn't automatically equate to fast food, or as HeatherLynnWhite says "doritos and ice cream". And if your organic apples are coming from New Zealand (to the US) I'd say they have probably lost some nutrients along the way. And eating vegan or organic or sustainable does not mean you won't be obese, any more than not eating organic means you will be. And even when I lived in the city, it was a bit of a drive for me to go to a "healthy food" store, and how good is that for the planet?

Hi too all! BrownIrisCreations, indeed eating vegan means more healthy eating! T counsel you to read THE CHINA STUDY by C. Campbell!

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Funny, but when I buy organic at the farmers market or a roadside stand, there's no creeping fear of negative judgement!

There is NO justification that pesticides harm the regular consumer. It's laughable that people do not educate themselves and listen to celebrities instead for their "scientific information". Read the Dr. Joe Schwarcz article on "Pests or Pesticides" and you will understand in a nut shell how the whole subject of pesticide "contamination" has paranoid people - big time. General quote from the article: "According to Ames and other experts, the body doesn’t handle natural pesticides differently from synthetic ones, so there seems to be little justification for all the hand-wringing over remnants of synthetic pesticides in our food supply, usually measured in parts per trillion. Take a football field, pile it with sand to a height of some eighteen feet, mix in one single grain of red sand, and search for it. You’ll be searching for 1 ppt!" This is not to say that the farmers who are in much more in contact with pesticides aren't doing themselves some damage. Read the article for better perspective and saver your selves from putting up twice and in some cases 3x the cash on "Organic" foods - Particularly if you can't afford it. http://www.artsandopinion.com/2007_v6_n2/schwarcz-6.htm

PESTS OR PESTICIDES? by Dr. JOE SCHWARCZ Dr. Joe Schwarcz is Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. He hosts The Dr. Joe Show on Montreal's CJAD and has appeared hundreds of times on The Discovery Channel, CTV, CBC, TV Ontario and Global Television. Dr. Schwarcz also writes a newspaper column entitled The Right Chemistry and has authored four best sellers, Radar, Hula Hoops and Playful Pigs, The Genie in the Bottle, That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles, and Dr. Joe and What You Didn’t Know. _______________ Pesticides are nasty chemicals. They have to be. You don’t beat off the myriad insects, weeds and fungi which look upon our food supply as their food supply with sweet smells and pleasant tastes. You do it by poisoning them. Hopefully, without poisoning ourselves. Pesticides were born out of necessity. The cultivation of crops has always been characterized by a relentless battle against pests, a battle which required farmers to take up chemical arms. Thousands of years ago the Sumerians learned to dust crops with elemental sulphur and the ancient Romans drove insects from their orchards by burning coal tar. The discovery of the toxicity of lead and arsenic compounds led to the extensive use of lead arsenate in agriculture, without much concern for its effects on human health. After all, producing enough food to feed the growing population was the prime goal. Nicotine, pyrethrum and rotenone extracted respectively from tobacco, chrysanthemum and derris plants joined the chemical stockpile by the 19th century. Malathion and chlorpyrifos, typical organophosphates, were born out of research into poison gases during WW II, and the rapid advances in chemistry in the post-war era introduced synthetic pesticides such as DDT, benzene hexachloride and dieldrin. Insects shuddered, fungi floundered, weeds wilted and agricultural yields boomed. And at least in the developed world, worries about lack of food began to be replaced by concerns about pesticides. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring alerted us to the possible effects of pesticides on biodiversity, and we heard the faint rumblings of epidemiological studies linking occupational pesticide exposure to health problems. Analytical chemists, armed with their gas chromatographs and mass spectrometers, heightened our fears by revealing that it was not only farmers or agro-chemical producers who were exposed to pesticides, we all were! Residues of these chemicals were found on virtually everything we ate. Apples, for one, were tainted with Alar, a plant growth regulator sprayed on trees to prevent the fruit from falling prematurely. This chemical had cruised under the public radar until 1989 when the popular TV program 60 Minutes lowered the boom by introducing a segment on Alar with a picture of an apple bedecked with the classic skull and crossbones as a reporter enlightened us about the “fact” that “the most potent cancer-causing agent in our food supply is a substance sprayed on apples.” People responded by flushing apple juice down the drain and removing apples from children’s lunch boxes. But the fact is that the “fact” that Alar was the most potent carcinogen in our food supply was not a fact. True, one of the breakdown products of Alar, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine, did induce tumours when fed to mice in huge doses, an effect that regulators were well aware of when approving Alar for commercial use. The carcinogenicity study was questionable, they maintained, and irrelevant as a model for human exposure. Whether or not Alar ever posed a risk is still debated, but there is no doubt that it placed the issue of pesticide residues in food on the front burner. Toxicologists, agronomists, physicians and environmentalists all waded in with their opinions, along with hordes of emotionally-charged consumers who were clearly out of their depth in such a complex discussion. Bruce Ames of the University of California, one of the most respected biochemists in the world, was quick to point out that we are exposed to all sorts of toxins, both synthetic and natural, on a continuous basis and that more than 99.9% by weight of pesticides in the average diet are naturally occurring compounds that plants produce to defend themselves against insects and fungi. Potatoes, for example, synthesize solanine and chaconine, compounds which like some synthetic pesticides inhibit the activity of cholinesterase, a crucial enzyme. But we don’t shun potatoes because they harbour these natural pesticides. According to Ames and other experts, the body doesn’t handle natural pesticides differently from synthetic ones, so there seems to be little justification for all the hand-wringing over remnants of synthetic pesticides in our food supply, usually measured in parts per trillion. Take a football field, pile it with sand to a height of some eighteen feet, mix in one single grain of red sand, and search for it. You’ll be searching for 1 ppt! Of course, some will argue that there is nothing we can do about the natural toxins, and their presence does not justify a cavalier use of synthetic pesticides. True, but our use of pesticides is anything but cavalier. Regulatory agencies demand rigorous studies before a pesticide is approved. This involves determining the maximum dose that causes no effect in a test animal and dividing it by a safety factor of at least 100 for human exposure. Furthermore, when the risk of pesticide residues is assessed, the supposition is that the food contains 100% of all legal residues and that people eat these foods for seventy years. That sounds comforting, especially when we learn that more than 70% of fruits and vegetables have no detectable pesticide residues and only about 1% of the time is the legal limit exceeded, a limit that already has a hundred-fold safety factor built-in. Of course, produce should still be washed, although more for removal of bacteria than pesticides. A 30 second rinse significantly reduces both water soluble and insoluble pesticides. Undoubtedly debates about the validity of using animal models to determine human carcinogenicity, about whether or not there is a threshold effect for carcinogens, and about the possibility of trace residues of pesticides which may be harmless individually but not when they team up, will continue. So will the use of pesticides. By the year 2030, ten billion people will be coming to dinner. But without the sensible use of pesticides they will be going home hungry. Would a pesticide-free world be better? For people who have to handle pesticides occupationally, and for the environment, yes. For the consumer, no. Yields would be significantly reduced, and in light of the overwhelming evidence of the ability of fruits and vegetables to protect against cancer, public health would be compromised.

I think in the UK many people choose not to buy fresh fruit and vegetables at all anyway and even getting them to eat healthy in the first place is a challenge! I think a lot of it is down to education getting people to understand more about food and what they put in their mouths.

In the midst of our mayor trying to gain control over sugary drinks, this an interesting debate. I am sure some here may have already mentioned the politics of organic food cannot be oversimplified. I live in an area of Brooklyn where organic is only now beginning to show up more readily at the supermarket. If we allow it this becomes just another tool of the divisive. Food is one of the few things that can bring people together...it's important that we don't rob ourselves of that also.

This is the most intriguing post ever. I have definitely noticed behavior portrayed by organic foodies as judmental and prudish. Dare I say, fundamentalist? Weird how the left may be swinging right on some issues pertaining to 'absolutes.' As an organic farmer myself, I try to portray a 'live and let live' philosophy. I actually have faced criticism because of choosing a more sustainable way of life, as many people are convenience driven. Also, to mainstream middle-aged America ,growing your own food and talking about sustainable living smacks of hippiedom. So what? Not everyone will believe that something you are passionate about is important. If anything is truly a pursuit you feel called to, you cannot be asking permission or running around getting support all the time. Live it, and love it.

Thankyou Kathrine, BrownIris, and HeatherLynnWhite for talking some sense. Organics and "superfoods" are not making you a super human pillar of health. Eating healthy whether organic or not is obviously good for you, this is not a new idea. Unless you grow your own food, the differences between organic and non-organic farming aren't all that huge. It's all 'food from the earth', where else do you think it's coming from? Do you really think all the non-organic food at the grocery store grown in a lab? I believe buying local is much more important than buying organic. It just makes sense.

Also, I might be on my own with this one, but it irks me when I see people in my town driving their big SUVs down to the community garden. Maybe it's just where I live and the rarity of such gardens, but half the people who use the garden are driving from the suburbs a few times a week to water a small patch of herbs. Not so effective. And these are the same people touting their organic lifestyles and love for the planet. There's nothing wrong with trying your best to be healthy and good to the environment, but try to look at the bigger picture and not just get high on your own ego.

Yulia says Hi too all! BrownIrisCreations, indeed eating vegan means more healthy eating! T counsel you to read THE CHINA STUDY by C. Campbell! This is exactly my point! I didn't say eating vegan wasn't healthier. I said eating organic isn't necessarily healthier. You seem to be equating organic with vegan, which is what I noticed in a lot of comments-like the two terms mean the same thing and are interchangeable. (In fact, I do believe that vegan eating is probably healthier, I just don't think it's a guarantee of eating well, nor do I believe it's a guarantee from becoming obese).

Great article and lots of interesting comments - this is a really important topic as there are many things we can live without but food is not one of these. It's unfortunate that some feel they can judge the choices of others or - as it often is with food prices - the lack of choice that others have. If we all make educated choices according to our best knowledge and capability then surely everyone will be better off. That said, there are many myths surrounding food and the labels and categories they are given. Figuring out what really is healthier for people and planet is not easy with contradictory campaigns and messages being thrown about, not to mention the emotional attachments and values we all attribute to various foods, agricultural traditions and practices and cooking styles. Awareness and education are key, I think, and if it were possible, simplification. For some good food-related reads I thoroughly recommend BOTTOMFEEDER by Taras Grescoe, and ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE by Barbara Kingsolver

Every since I was little, my family has been growing all their own fruit and vegetables to not only save money but to also have a fun family bonding experience that could teach the kids about vegetation, patience, how things grow, how to take care of them and also the meaning of hard work and it's tasty rewards.

Great post....thought provoking. both "sides" have great points!

First of all, in a perfect world, there would be no "higher" prices for organic, because organic would be the norm. We wouldn't have to worry about pesticides, gmos... etc. etc. But we do :( I personally have a lot of food (and rx) allergies, so avoiding anything unnecessary, for me, could make all the difference in the world... I hate that organics are so much more expensive than grocery store produce. But I make room in our budget for ridiculous grocery bills - because getting a bad tomato, with some chemical on it that I can't handle, could mean me in the hospital... or use of an epi pen - and no one likes those! :P I appreciate the hard, hands-on approach used with organics - and I am willing to pay for it. To know where my food is from and how it is handled and processed (for the most part, I can do this with organics) is very worth it.. Right now, I have a back yard full of fruits and vegetables, and if I am not on them, almost 7 days a week in some form, they are not doing as well as they could be... and it shows. I can't imagine having a full farm of organics... I know it is hard work. Our grocery bill (mostly because of me) is one of the largest bills we have every month :( ..and we are NOT snobby, OR rich. We do not drive big SUVs... We work really hard for our money (like most of us do) and try to spend it wisely. Most ppl can not afford organics - and that needs to change. But I think it is sad that we associate them (organics) with people who have wealth; because I can tell you, it's not that way - not for me, and a lot of ppl in my situation - its about health... ...and is an attempt to avoid a bigger hospital bill ;] Any ways... GREAT GREAT article! Ty!

I love growing my own veggies! Fresher, better, and really local. If being healthier and more conscious makes me a snob....so be it. I have had to make many compromises due to costs, but eating simpler is better.

LOL..my neighbors and I were just talking about running into someone you know at the grocery store and being embarrassed at what is in your basket that you don't want them to see.

I love my container garden! ..just sayin'..

Great post. In the past, I always did my best to purchase organic whenever I could, for both health and environmental reasons. After having my daughter just about a year ago, I find it to be a constant struggle. I quit my day job to stay at home with her, and so we have been living off of one income.I have begun to ease up on the items I buy organic for myself and my husband, and concentrate on providing an all organic diet for my daughter, since her body is smaller and so much more fragile than ours. I always found it sad that you are sometimes forced to chose between buying organic, healthy items, and buying more cost effective items - your health shouldn't have to be that kind of choice.

This article is right on! I can't believe how arrogant many of my fellow healthy eaters are in that they can't understand why anyone wouldn't eat organic. Of course all of them have the money to eat right- it is expensive and I have found that not everyone enjoys a lecture on why I eat the way I do. Butt out, eat your greens and keep it to your self!

Great article and it's a shame that people can be soo judgmental! It seems that people are really struggling to afford to eat organic. It is possible to eat organic cheaply and on a budget... I live very frugally. Tho I've eaten pretty much organic for years but totally on a budget!!! It doesn;t have to be expensive. There are occasional times when I have to make a sacrifice and eat non-organic. But between the reduced section and an ever growing vege patch (which is now pretty big!) I eat pretty well... A freezer helps too, so I can freeze what I find in the cheap section... Although, I feel the judgement because my basket;s full of reduced things!!! I've recently found out that there are certain times that the supermarket reduce their items a second time and I just happened to be there regularly at that time!!! I've inspired loads of people to grow their own as well as buy organic when they can. Apparently, you can save loads from just having a few pots of mixed salad on a windowsill (depending how much salad you eat!) Teach by example and it will be without self-righteousness. If people can see that your fit, healthy and happy then you must be doing something right and then they're usually willing to listen! ;-) I'm very lucky to live near Glastonbury in the UK and there are a large collective of like-minded people here. We have a food co-operative where local people help to sell organic products with only a small mark up and fresh produce from local growers. It's only open one evening and one day a week, so I can't always get there but it's a great idea and really works for the community. It's worth getting groups of people together to buy wholesale if possible and buy in bulk together. I'm not sure what the organic market is like in the US and Europe but it's actually sooo expensive to register as an organic producer and a lot of food is organic just not registered as such. I've found a lot of food in the supermarkets that is in the non-organic section, is from the same country as in the organic section and looks exactly the same!! A lettuce is 70% water and it can't tell the difference between water and chemicals!! So certain things I just DONT buy if they're not organic, I'd rather go without!!

It's a fine line, easy to tip over to the "judgmental" side. I have found myself in this act, and have become very aware of my "snobbery". I try really hard not to judge.

I really liked this article. My family and I try to eat as organically as possible. As far as snobbery goes we usually get it (if it happens) from the cashiers at health stores, because we are on food stamps. We keep costs down by buying organic veggies/fruits, eating meat only once a month(if we even do that), buy grains in bulk and pretty much making everything else we would normally buy processed. But not everybody has that luxury of time. One time saver for us is making yogurt in a crockpot, making a big batch of no knead bread (pulling of small loaves throughout the week to bake for 20 min for meals) and freezing/dehydrating fruits/veggies when they go on sale. I've learned from WIC classes in my area that many people just didn't grow up eating lots fuits/vegetables so they continue to eat how they were taught. But most people really do want to eat better, its easy to get turned off by what you think of as "rich" people food. When Whole Foods accepts food stamps but doesn't place the usually snap sticker on the door like other grocers, it seems like they are just perpetuating that snobby stereotype.

I just had to say, THANK YOU to Lidia for sharing your comment on food stamps and buying healthy foods! I love to hear how your are using this fortunate resource we as Americans have available...and buying your family great food. Those snobby cashiers should be praising you, not turning their noses up at you! This is a topic that gets under my skin...being at the checkout line and seeing a shopper's cart overflowing with junk food...not one fresh fruit or veggie in sight ...then paying for it all on their food stamp card. Our hard earned tax dollars paying for someone to eat crap! It gets me so worked up because my family has gone through tight times before... and we were never able to qualify for food stamps. Mostly because we own a home and we are a married couple...debt to income ratio . Tight times in the past have resulted in all our money going to pay the mortgage and utilities. Whatever money is left over primarily goes to food. I put so much thought into meal planning, and eating the best we can with what we can afford. I attribute most of my healthy eating habits to being broke in the past! I was forced to get creative with what we had around. Growing veggies, buying bulk, making food from scratch...it wasn't always fun and games living this way. It was more we couldn't afford to buy it...so we made it! I wish more people were put in this position as if they had no other choice. The free junk food shopping spree's need to stop.