Do You Eat Organic?

[AndreaDM]

I don't make a point to, I do if it's on sale AND looks better than the non-organic product. I do however usually buy organic bananas, they aren't much more expensive, and call me crazy, but I do think they taste sweeter. They don't last as long for sure, so a lot of them end up in smoothies as I can't stand bananas with brown spots.

We buy most of our meat from local farmers though.

 

[Colleen27]

Feed grain in Alberta is mostly barley mixed with silage pellets; corn is apparently used in other regions where the growing season is longer and it's more readily available. The only times I've ever had corn-fed beef is in the States. Compared to animals that are mostly grass and silage fed, corn-finished meat is a weird, purplish colour and has an unpleasant mushy texture (not tender as we know it - just really untoned somehow).

That might be the raising rather than the feed. We buy meats from our local 4H auction every year, and I've noticed a texture difference with both the beef and the pork. Most 4Hers use pretty conventional feeding methods but they raise a small number of animals that get a lot more freedom of movement than mass-produced meat animals do, and I really think the difference is muscle tone rather than what they're fed.

 

[robinb]

I buy probably 25% organic. I prefer it but I'll also eat non-organic too.

 

[alizesmom]

No. I’ve been around long enough to know that what is considered good for you changes all the time.

 

[amberpi]

Something that was just pointed out to me; if I can to buy tinned vegetables, they are always organic. It's incredibly rare though...my husband and I had never done it before in fact.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't make a point to do so, I do when it is convenient. One thing I do always try to buy is organic fresh carrots...they just taste better...likely more to do with the climate and weather where the organic ones are grown as opposed to the non-organic ones. Soil and weather make a difference, as well what fertilizers are used...and this is especially true for root vegetables, like carrots.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

LOL!
As a "red blooded 'Merican" ya make me laugh even though I completely disagree w/ ya .

I don't buy organic, and I'm only kidding with the "Archie Bunker" attitude about it.

Back in the late 60's and 70's, however, many people thought there was something seriously wrong with those who bought organic or "natural" foods. They were dismissed and ridiculed as "health food nuts." Processed and chemically-laden food were GOOD for you. Who wants some Tang?

 

[bcla]

I live in an area where "organic" is generally encouraged, but I won't go out of my way. My prime concern is freshness, taste, and value. There is zero evidence that "organic" is healthier or more nutritious. If it's really good quality produce, then I will buy it even if it's at a premium price. I will get high quality "local" (or as local as possible) produce. My favorite strawberries are from a local organic grower called High Ground Organics in the Salinas Valley. My favorite blueberries are from a conventional grower called Serres Ranch in Mendocino County. I enjoy them for their quality and taste, but where I don't really care other than I know I'm getting a quality product.

I think what really works well isn't a label that says it's "organic" or "conventional" but rather knowing about where your produce and meat comes from. That's not always possible but I do like that I have local sellers that can identify where items came from.

 

[AustinTink]

I buy organic milk and some meat. We have Central Market in Austin that is like Whole Foods (also originated in Austin) but much cheaper. So, I buy the Central Market brand organic frozen fruit and veggies. I know fresh is best, but I am horrible at meal planning, so frozen is essential for me.

 

[mousefan73]

I find it interesting how many comment they won‘t buy organic as it often looks bad compared to normal produce. This makes me sad as we are being programmed by the food „industry“ to find certain things acceptable or not.

Do you not notice those perfect HUGE strawberries ( the ones you think ooh perfect for dipping in chocolate) actually taste most times like nothing. My experience the small, funny looking one have the best taste. Why are the curvey, twisted cucumbers not the onr we buy? Are the perfect elongated ones better in taste?

Sure if organic looks half spoiled ( which I have never seen) I would also buy non. I just think our perception of what good produce is off thanks to the food industry. .

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

There are some organic things I prefer such as bananas, berries, and lettuce (I just think they taste better). Most of the time I don't care.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I find it interesting how many comment they won‘t buy organic as it often looks bad compared to normal produce. This makes me sad as we are being programmed by the food „industry“ to find certain things acceptable or not.

Do you not notice those perfect HUGE strawberries ( the ones you think ooh perfect for dipping in chocolate) actually taste most times like nothing. My experience the small, funny looking one have the best taste. Why are the curvey, twisted cucumbers not the onr we buy? Are the perfect elongated ones better in taste?

Sure if organic looks half spoiled ( which I have never seen) I would also buy non. I just think our perception of what good produce is off thanks to the food industry. .

YES! I always say how good the produce LOOKS at Price Chopper, but it tastes like nothing I actually prefer the produce at this little Hispanic grocery because it is so fresh and ripe. The produce there actually TASTES like it should.

 

[Chuck S]

I buy organic milk and some meat. We have Central Market in Austin that is like Whole Foods (also originated in Austin) but much cheaper. So, I buy the Central Market brand organic frozen fruit and veggies. I know fresh is best, but I am horrible at meal planning, so frozen is essential for me.

Central Market is awesome. I wish I didn't have to drive into downtown San Antonio to shop there. But a lot of Central Market products are trickling into regular HEBs.

 

[Hikergirl]

I find it interesting how many comment they won‘t buy organic as it often looks bad compared to normal produce. This makes me sad as we are being programmed by the food „industry“ to find certain things acceptable or not.

Do you not notice those perfect HUGE strawberries ( the ones you think ooh perfect for dipping in chocolate) actually taste most times like nothing. My experience the small, funny looking one have the best taste. Why are the curvey, twisted cucumbers not the onr we buy? Are the perfect elongated ones better in taste?

Sure if organic looks half spoiled ( which I have never seen) I would also buy non. I just think our perception of what good produce is off thanks to the food industry. .

"Looks better" for me is looking like it isn't almost spoiled. I grew up eating imperfect produce (my grandparents grew 90% of what we ate) so I have no problem buying stuff that looks misshapen, or small or whatever.
I don't go out of my way to seek organic, but if it looks better then I will buy it, but in most cases it looks the same. I specifically try to buy local in season produce, that is more important to me.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I Try to whenever possible.

 

[bcla]

Try to whenever possible.

Not always possible. However, a lot of farmers market stands seem to have samples available. At one of my local produce sellers I've asked the employees about what's good. At that time it was avocados I was asking about. He took out a knife, cut into an avocado tried it and gave me the other half. I don't expect that kind of service all the time, but sometimes there's nothing better than having a sample.

 

[bcla]

Do you not notice those perfect HUGE strawberries ( the ones you think ooh perfect for dipping in chocolate) actually taste most times like nothing. My experience the small, funny looking one have the best taste. Why are the curvey, twisted cucumbers not the onr we buy? Are the perfect elongated ones better in taste?

The thing about strawberries is that you can often tell just by smelling them. If it's really good then it will have that strong strawberry smell to it. The other thing I remember is looking at it being cut, where it should be mostly deep red inside rather than red near the surface and almost all white on the inside.

The best I've ever had were from an organic grower, but that was secondary to how good they were. Other than that, the second best I ever had was from the now defunct store Fresh & Easy. They had a system where they labeled the date/location that certain produce were packaged. It was picked extremely ripe and packed the day before I bought them in Oxnard, CA.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I prefer grass fed because beef cattle get sick eating corn. Hence, why they are fed drugs. Cows are not meant to eat corn. They get fat a hell of lot faster, which is why they are fed corn. And, they can eat it in a feed lot setting. But, it's not because it's "good" for the cows. And, of course the big steak houses use corn fed. It's because the meat is fattier....which given most people's preference, makes it "better" (we Americans seem to love our fat). I think cows should be fed what they are meant to eat. I don't think we should make them sick just because we have a fat preference. I eat meat. Not a vegetarian. But, I do think it's wrong to subject animals to unnecessary abuse.

Corn does not make cattle sick. The feedlot does.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Not always possible. However, a lot of farmers market stands seem to have samples available. At one of my local produce sellers I've asked the employees about what's good. At that time it was avocados I was asking about. He took out a knife, cut into an avocado tried it and gave me the other half. I don't expect that kind of service all the time, but sometimes there's nothing better than having a sample.

Sorry I meant I try to whenever possible. But I agree it's not always easy. But I do try and am very conscious of what I purchase.

 

[amberpi]

YES! I always say how good the produce LOOKS at Price Chopper, but it tastes like nothing I actually prefer the produce at this little Hispanic grocery because it is so fresh and ripe. The produce there actually TASTES like it should.

Like the tomatoes that will looks so delicious and they don't even smell like a tomato and when you cut them up, they're all white and dry inside?

I think, as with most things, it's about doing what works for your family, and moderation. I try to eat local and with little processed foods, but that doesn't mean that the occasional fast food, delivery, and processed mac and cheese doesn't happen in our family. I figure it's the same with most folks.