Are organics elitist & other O questions

There’s a very interesting piece up at the SF Gate, in which nutrition and public policy expert Marion Nestle dives into readers’ questions about organic foods. Some of the questions are easy going – i.e. what are organics exactly while others take a harder look at the more obscure organic topics, such as are organics elitist and why the flip organics are so costly.

I agreed with most of the Q&A style piece and found it really educational. I especially liked Nestle’s take on the cost of organics in which she noted, “don’t blame organic producers for the high prices. Until the latest farm bill, which has a small provision for promotion of organic agriculture, organic farmers received not one break from the federal government. In contrast, the producers of corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton continue to get $20 billion or so a year in farm subsidies.” That’s interesting, and something I for one will be researching more, because I was under the impression that organic farmers were at least getting a little something. She then urged readers to look to encouraging government if we want organics at an affordable cost, saying, “Let’s work to remove the corruption from election campaign contributions. If Congress were less beholden to corporations, we might be able to create a system that paid farmers and farm workers decently and sold organic foods at prices that everyone could afford.” A statement I actually do agree with.

All in all a fine read about organics, without fluff. Read the whole piece: Certified Organic’ may not be 100%.

[image via stock.xchng]