Organic Capitalism
There was an article on the BBC newswire that said an exhaustive study indicated that food that is labeled organic is no healthier for you than what ain’t. I realized that I was of two minds about the information. First was that the study was flawed – hey, it could have secretly been underwritten by the food chemical industry – and my second thought was it might just not have measured according to appropriate criteria.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate people growing my food as near to naturally as possible, especially without unnecessary chemicals. It’s more than fashionable, it’s noble. It respects the Earth and Mother Nature, if that doesn’t sound too high-fallutin’.
Who’s to say how much of the organic produce out there has been produced by caring, attentive growers and packers and transporters; by folks who truly treasure the Earth and what it provides? The "organic" label is used with considerable latitude and an ever-changing set of very loose rules. It’s been stretched kinda thin in places; it’s just a marketing slogan for some. (It’s like how some people call themselves Christian but don’t act like it.)
People who go to the farmers’ market that closes down the main street of Monterey every Tuesday at three are gonna usually be able to find significantly more delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables from certain small local organic farmers than they are ever gonna find on the shelves of a huge chain supermarket.
I certainly think that producers need to be honest about their products, and those who lie, or even skirt the edge of truth, should lose their customers to forthright competitors. But it is also up to the consuming public to do their job better, to patronize only those companies that treat their employees properly, respect the environment, and produce quality produce.
We pride ourselves on our capitalist system. It’s about time we did it right.
©2010 SetonnoteS
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