If I ate on organic salad -- organic everything, all tasty, some heirlooms -- what would happen?

[KurtNYC]

Suppose I plunk down $9 at my local food co-op and get myself a salad of organic greens, organic heirloom tomatoes, organic celery, organic apples, organic non-GMO carrots, all topped off with free trade sustainably farmed olive oil and vinegar made from organic grapes.

Would you go out of your way to tell me how you think I got ripped off?

Would some hack at Stanford claim that he read my mind and, in spite of me telling him I wanted pesticide free food, what I really wanted or thought I was paying for was "more nutrition" and then gleefully put out a press release to say that I wasn't getting it?

Would you call me "elitist", "snobby," "upper middle class," "yuppie," or some other self-serving name ?

Would you run over and spray Round-Up on the salad because "it's all just chemicals, everything is chemicals, you can't eat anything that isn't chemicals"? (rinse and repeat)

What exactly is YOUR damage if I buy and eat organic food?

[unblock]

1. monsanto would go bankrupt! thousands lose their jobs and die of starvation! murderer!

now get off your elitist yuppie ass and cut my taxes!

[djean111]

2. Oh, hey - I once was told by a particularly bitter conservative

that testing water or anything else for arsenic was ridiculous and a business-strangling regulation.
Because arsenic is a naturally occurring substance.

Those minds are just wired completely differently; at least I hope so, because thinking that there is that much aware cynicism and capacity for harming anyone who is not "one of them" is revolting.

[hollysmom]

3. you would havea wonderful meal

we all deserve that.

edited for typo

[Marrah_G]

4. You would have a fantastic salad :)

For me, organic is about treating our planet well, valuing local farmers and about really enjoying quality tasting foods without chemicals. Since I have a very limited budget, some of the vegetables come from my own garden. I've learned to can and to cook. I am not completely organic, but I do as much as I can.

The food tastes better and I eat less of it because it is satisfying.

Dairy is the part that is most expensive for me, but I eat far to much of it so I have also been cutting that back. There is a HUGE difference in taste.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. If you eat large quantities of organic food, you will surely die.

Of course, you will surely die if you don't eat large quantities of organic food as well.

And most likely sooner.

Personally, I'm all for home-grown/free-range/organic food.

The larger issue in all this for me is how science has been perverted, how large economic players can buy results. I have had sufficient scientific raining to realize just how easy it can be to produce deceptive research via selection of outcome variables, selection of samples, etc. I first became aware of this sort of thing with the tobacco companies, of course, but it is pervasive in our culture. Science masquerades as having a single agenda--truth--but indeed science is a mistress to the mighty, serving the needs of those who pay her.

[DCKit]

8. Eventually. It could feel like forever, though. nt

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Like I used to say about Vietnam--

You can live forever here because each day is an eternity.

[get the red out]

6. Stop!!!! Now

You just made me hungry and it's not lunch time yet.

Your argument is why I haven't even bothered to read any of this "study" hoopla. There's a new study done just about every week trying to control our habits in some way. Fine. I try to buy as much organic food as I can afford to avoid some chemicals. My point of view is the same as yours, so why should people have to be defensive about it?

I recall probably a decade ago hearing Michael Reagan on the radio railing against organic food, just deploring his listeners to never buy it. I have to say I've been tainted against that tactic ever since. In my mind it's just right wing "leakage" into everybody's business.

[HopeHoops]

7. Watermelons will grow out of your ears. Or broccoli - I forget which.

Our garden is strictly organic. It's cheaper, easier, and you can eat the veggies right off of the plant while you're weeding or harvesting. Chemicals aren't useful in food gardens. Not one bit.

[MuseRider]

12. Apple trees.

I have it on good authority it is apple trees that will grow out of your ears.

[HopeHoops]

16. That too.

[Aerows]

22. Cucumbers

Once cukes start growing, you usually end up with more than you know what to do with!

[MuseRider]

9. Organic, non GMO, locavore vegetarian here

in Kansas.

I don't even have the time to tell you what that is like, much like what you described with a constant, "Sugar, are you sure you don't want a nice steak with that salad?" Followed by, "Vegetarian huh? Aren't your shoes leather?" I don't even bother trying to explain the difference between vegetarian and vegan. It just does not help. Still, if I have to eat out (rarely and only if there is no way to get home for hours or with family who never go anywhere with vegetarian food) I just spend part of my time picking the chicken, fish or bacon off everything vegetarian I am served because, "Vegetarians eat those things don't they? NO meat, none ever? Not even chicken?"

Go on with your "elitist" "snobby" "upper middle class" "yuppie" self and be healthy.

Interesting, I never thought to ask, "Please hold the Round-Up."

[renie408]

11. I am so lost. I have NO idea where you are going with this. n/t

[ksoze]

13. Same here. Maybe the mushrooms?

[KurtNYC]

15. there was a mini tempest last week when Stanford put out a

bogus study which said that 'organic is not more nutritious than produce with pesticides.' No one thought it was but somehow this study became a vehicle for people to tell each other what to eat (yet again).

[petronius]

14. I would post about eating a 48 oz steak and drinking a gallon of Coke, just

to punish you for attempting to control me.


(Also, are you gonna finish that? 'Cause I'm kinda hungry...)

[KurtNYC]

17. as long as you drink the Coke 16 ounces at a time

Mayor Bloomberg will not have you pepper sprayed.

[Cleita]

18. There is no damage of course.

However, a lot of what is passed as organic, just isn't. That is the small truth there and you could be ripped off. If you can try to buy local food like at farmers' markets you will get healthier and perhaps organic greens. That being said, I think anyone deriding those who aspire to better and locally grown food works for Monsanto or any of the big Agri-farms.

I fortunately live in an agricultural area, so I know which farms are family owned and which are big Agri. I can be choosy. Also, since I live near an agricultural college, I can buy produce the student produce and it is mostly organic and fairly inexpensive.

[HappyMe]

19. No damage.

I really don't care what people eat or drink.

[KurtNYC]

20. It was delicious btw.

[Aerows]

21. I'd say

That you would end up with an extremely tasty salad, and if you would share some with me, I would appreciate it

[cynatnite]

23. I would have to restrain my husband from wanting to dump ranch dressing all over it. n/t

[rhett o rick]

24. And real bacon bits. nm