07-29-2009, 06:53 PM
The main reason I buy organic is for the stuff that is not in it, like pesticides and hormones.
Realistically, however, it is the game for the well-to-do. Organic food production is likely incapable to sustain human population needs and is therefore likely to remain an expensive niche. The impact of organic farming on environment is local and small, in line with the percentage of farming area devoted to the practice vs non-organic operations. If you are supporting organic growers in hopes that more food will be produced organically in the future, this is unlikely to succeed unless there is a big drop in population size/growth, even taking the profitability out of the equation.
Taste is primarily the function of when and where the produce was harvested. In addition, mass production has moved away from some of the more tasteful strains to those with higher yield (strawberries being one of the most obvious examples). You can grow flavorless strains organically or not, it will not change their taste.
Realistically, however, it is the game for the well-to-do. Organic food production is likely incapable to sustain human population needs and is therefore likely to remain an expensive niche. The impact of organic farming on environment is local and small, in line with the percentage of farming area devoted to the practice vs non-organic operations. If you are supporting organic growers in hopes that more food will be produced organically in the future, this is unlikely to succeed unless there is a big drop in population size/growth, even taking the profitability out of the equation.
Taste is primarily the function of when and where the produce was harvested. In addition, mass production has moved away from some of the more tasteful strains to those with higher yield (strawberries being one of the most obvious examples). You can grow flavorless strains organically or not, it will not change their taste.