Organic foods

[RandyForRubio]

1) You're insane if you think organic farmers aren't using some type of pesticides.

2) The people most at risk for chemical damage are the people applying the chemicals, not the people eating them. Still, wash your foods.

3) The taste difference between organic and synthetic has more to do with when they're harvested than how they're grown. Most commercial crops are harvested earlier to prevent bruising when shipping and for preservation, and they don't get the natural sugars the plant gives when they ripen.

4) The safety difference between chemicals we use now, and chemicals we used 30-40 years ago is immense. My dad used to dip his hands in a vat of mercury to treat certain crops, we don't do stuff like that anymore. The safety guidelines are much more stringent. Honestly, if people are getting sick applying herbicides, it's because they're not following the safety rules.

 

[RandyForRubio]

In regards to OP, practically nothing grown is actually organic.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

On the occasion when I know a certain organic product is better tasting, I'll buy it. But most of the time, I don't see the point. Like a street vendor at 2100S 1300E sells these "local organic" white peaches that are to die for. I buy them every chance I get. But I live next to a Sprouts, and I can't really tell the difference between most of their organic and non-organic food. They sometimes have these tiny organic tomatoes that I love, but most of the time it doesn't make a difference.

I live right around the corner from that street vendor. I've never had one of their white peaches (never even heard of them) but I'm going to get one now. I'm sure they'll pack up for the season soon.

 

[Gameface]

There is also a heavy tax on cigarettes to make up for the negative externality that cigarettes cause.

I'm pretty sure California just approved a big increase on said cigarette tax.

BTW, the point I was making was that we encounter many harmful things in our daily life that we more or less survive. Smoking is obviously harmful, yet many smokers live to an old age and die from something completely unconnected to smoking.

Are pesticides harmful? Sure, some of them certainly are and others might be. Is that a reason to decrease crop yields dramatically and in so doing raise the cost of food and leave shortages of food that result in many more deaths and a decrease in quality of life much more significant than the harm pesticides have done?

Obviously, we should strive to use pesticides in the least harmful way possible, and use pesticides that lend themselves to safe use, or even better, ones that are not harmful at all.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

BTW, the point I was making was that we encounter many harmful things in our daily life that we more or less survive. Smoking is obviously harmful, yet many smokers live to an old age and die from something completely unconnected to smoking.

Are pesticides harmful? Sure, some of them certainly are and others might be. Is that a reason to decrease crop yields dramatically and in so doing raise the cost of food and leave shortages of food that result in many more deaths and a decrease in quality of life much more significant than the harm pesticides have done?

Obviously, we should strive to use pesticides in the least harmful way possible, and use pesticides that lend themselves to safe use, or even better, ones that are not harmful at all.

tldr

 

[Gameface]

tldr

Wasn't really for you anyway

 

[RandyForRubio]

Sad thing is that we have crops that require less pesticides, but farmers can't/wont grow thrm because the market won't support GMO foods. Morons that don't know anything about what they eat anyways. People that buy organic crack me up though, my favorite however are the ones that buy gmo free bread.

 

[Gameface]

Sad thing is that we have crops that require less pesticides, but farmers can't/wont grow thrm because the market won't support GMO foods. Morons that don't know anything about what they eat anyways. People that buy organic crack me up though, my favorite however are the ones that buy gmo free bread.

I guess I don't quite get the joke, as far as what makes GMO free bread even more ridiculous than your typical GMO free type food?

 

[Miggs]

Sad thing is that we have crops that require less pesticides, but farmers can't/wont grow thrm because the market won't support GMO foods. Morons that don't know anything about what they eat anyways. People that buy organic crack me up though, my favorite however are the ones that buy gmo free bread.

Please expand on your organic comment. I'd love to know what you mean.

 

[RandyForRubio]

I guess I don't quite get the joke, as far as what makes GMO free bread even more ridiculous than your typical GMO free type food?

GMO wheat isn't even allowed to be grown in the United states. Everything is GMO free wheat, it's just clever marketing targeting wealthy idiots.

 

[Gameface]

GMO wheat isn't even allowed to be grown in the United states. Everything is GMO free wheat, it's just clever marketing targeting wealthy idiots.

Ahh, kind of like how Red Vines advertises on their package that it is a fat free food. I mean, not really the same, but pretty close to the same kind of stupid.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

One time I bought organic carrots by mistake. Was pretty mad cause those MF'ers cost like 5$ compared to the 1$ bag of carrots I usually get.

 

[RandyForRubio]

Please expand on your organic comment. I'd love to know what you mean.

The benefits are negligible compared to anything else, certainly no health benefits, they're certainly not any better for the soil (I would argue organic farming mines more nutrients from the soil than conventional farming), and it's more expensive. At the end of the day, are you even sure its an organic product?

The problem with organic is that it's very hard to get a quality weed and disease free seed without conventional methods, and they're not changing the standards on what a product needs to be certified seed...so if an organic grower can't find any organic seed (which is the normal), they're allowed to purchase conventional seed and market it as organic. If the original product isn't organic, then the final product can't be either. So you're spending more because organic farming is incredibly inefficient, all because you think it's better for you due to clever marketing. It's all a scam, imo. The chances of us feeding a growing worl population without conventional techniques are nilch. Nada. Zero.

 

[RandyForRubio]

Ahh, kind of like how Red Vines advertises on their package that it is a fat free food. I mean, not really the same, but pretty close to the same kind of stupid.

Pretty much. But hey, good for them if they can sell a loaf of bread for $7.

 

[Miggs]

The benefits are negligible compared to anything else, certainly no health benefits, they're certainly not any better for the soil (I would argue organic farming mines more nutrients from the soil than conventional farming), and it's more expensive. At the end of the day, are you even sure its an organic product?

The problem with organic is that it's very hard to get a quality weed and disease free seed without conventional methods, and they're not changing the standards on what a product needs to be certified seed...so if an organic grower can't find any organic seed (which is the normal), they're allowed to purchase conventional seed and market it as organic. If the original product isn't organic, then the final product can't be either. So you're spending more because organic farming is incredibly inefficient, all because you think it's better for you due to clever marketing. It's all a scam, imo. The chances of us feeding a growing worl population without conventional techniques are nilch. Nada. Zero.

Thank you.

 

[♪alt13]

In regards to OP, practically nothing grown is actually organic.

Even if it is, it is only possible because all their neighbors are spraying pesticides.

 

[franklin]

(edit by jason)

 

[VINYLONE]

I'm pretty sure California just approved a big increase on said cigarette tax.

Not accurate. I just looked into this and found this:

https://www.breitbart.com/californi...h-for-2-increase-in-california-cigarette-tax/

 

[Deleted member 848]

The benefits are negligible compared to anything else, certainly no health benefits, they're certainly not any better for the soil (I would argue organic farming mines more nutrients from the soil than conventional farming), and it's more expensive. At the end of the day, are you even sure its an organic product?

The problem with organic is that it's very hard to get a quality weed and disease free seed without conventional methods, and they're not changing the standards on what a product needs to be certified seed...so if an organic grower can't find any organic seed (which is the normal), they're allowed to purchase conventional seed and market it as organic. If the original product isn't organic, then the final product can't be either. So you're spending more because organic farming is incredibly inefficient, all because you think it's better for you due to clever marketing. It's all a scam, imo. The chances of us feeding a growing worl population without conventional techniques are nilch. Nada. Zero.

If we're looking at the list of things that need to be addressed in order to solve 'world hunger' (as if this is the priority of any farmer), stopping organic farming would drop to the bottom of the list.

 

[Ron Mexico]

The benefits are negligible compared to anything else, certainly no health benefits, they're certainly not any better for the soil (I would argue organic farming mines more nutrients from the soil than conventional farming), and it's more expensive. At the end of the day, are you even sure its an organic product?

The problem with organic is that it's very hard to get a quality weed and disease free seed without conventional methods, and they're not changing the standards on what a product needs to be certified seed...so if an organic grower can't find any organic seed (which is the normal), they're allowed to purchase conventional seed and market it as organic. If the original product isn't organic, then the final product can't be either. So you're spending more because organic farming is incredibly inefficient, all because you think it's better for you due to clever marketing. It's all a scam, imo. The chances of us feeding a growing worl population without conventional techniques are nilch. Nada. Zero.

Fully agree that chances of you getting something organic from the store even if labeled are slim at best. As far as health concerns go I have read studies both ways and have no argument one way or another.

As far as the last statement goes about not being able to feed the world on organic food I would like to see more on this. All the studies coming out lately have shown that we can. From what I have read lately in studies is that organic farms are producing at around 97% efficiency compared to non organic farms now and their rates are more sustainable long term due to the land being harvest able for longer periods of time. Modern tech has helped the organic process quite a bit.

If it cost the same (as it should long term) and we knew it was actually organic and had a real process for ensuring that, then I am not sure why everyone wouldn't eat organic. Pesticides in small doses seem to have a low impact but long term they cant be good for your health, seems like unnecessary risk when we have the means to not use them now.

Not an expert on this at all just regurgitating what I have read lately.