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  • From: "MeLani" <mmaysen AT alltel.net>
  • To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Newspaper story re:Organic buying
  • Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 11:53:36 -0500


This article is from a Santa Rosa, California newspaper. By
the way, Santa Rosa also has a quite large and festive
Farmer's Market at the Old Courthouse Square, located
downtown. Besides the usual market fare, they offer live
street music, beverages, some ready-to-eat foods, and benches
to enjoy the experience. (do you hear that Gary J. and Roland
N. in Spfld?)
MeLani

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/local/news/13organic3_a10empirea.
html

PHILOSOPHY DRIVES BUYING OF MOST ORGANIC FOODS
October 13, 2002
By Tim Tesconi
The Press Democrat

Health concerns are the primary reason people buy organic
food. But scientists and dieticians say there is no evidence
that the trace levels of pesticides in nonorganic food cause
health problems.

"Scientifically there is no evidence that suggests organic
food is safer than conventionally grown food," said Dr. Carl
Winter, a toxicologist in the food science and technology
department at UC Davis.

"The most important thing is that people purchase fruits,
vegetables and grains and eat them. Consumers shouldn't be as
concerned about the origins of their produce as making it
available to their families in plentiful supplies," said
Winter, noting the power of antioxidants in produce to thwart
disease.

Nelda Mercer, a registered dietician and spokeswoman for the
American Dietetic Association, agrees there is no difference
in safety and nutrition between organic and nonorganic food.

"But does organic food taste better? Some people believe it
does. It's very much a personal preference. Personally, I like
to buy organic poultry because I like to think it has better
flavor and texture," Mercer said.

Practically, what new organic food and wine labels will do is
give consumers enough information to vote with their food
dollars when they go into the grocery store.

For many consumers, buying organic is as much philosophical as
practical. It's a way to support farmers who don't spray harsh
pesticides or operate factory farms where chickens are caged
or cows closely confined.

The new organic label will help people steer clear of
genetically engineered food if they believe it's wrong to
tamper with nature.

"What organics really offers consumers is a system of more
locally produced food. Organics supports farming systems that
pose less risk to farmworkers and the environment and
long-term sustainability of farmland," Winter said. "These are
important considerations but don't have an impact on food
safety."

Consumers determined to eat organically often pay twice as
much for some items. Last week in Santa Rosa, organic eggs
from Judy's Family Farm in Petaluma were $3.39 a dozen at
Whole Foods. That compares to $1.25 a dozen for nonorganic
eggs.

Organic carrots cost 89 cents a pound, 30 cents more a pound
that nonorganic carrots. Organic Granny Smith apples were
$1.99 a pound; across town, nonorganic Granny apples were 99
cents a pound.

Clover-Stornetta Farms sells organic and nonorganic milk.
Clover's organic milk is $2.99 a half-gallon, compared to
$1.59 for the company's conventionally produced milk.

Organic chicken at Whole Foods was $2.59 a pound. Regularly
raised chicken was $1.29 a pound at Safeway.

The high price of organic food is the primary obstacle to its
broader acceptance in the marketplace, according to a recently
published survey.

The research findings, released in August by ACNielsen, found
organic food buyers are extremely loyal to the category, while
nonbuyers have no interest in spending extra money on
pesticide-free products.

The study found that of the one-third of consumers who have
purchased organic food or beverages in the past six months, 85
percent plan to continue purchasing organics in the future.
But among nonbuyers, only 3 percent plan to buy organic
products in the next six months.

"I expect prices to decline as more mainstream manufacturers
broaden the array of organics available to consumers," said
Phil Lempert, food industry analyst with ACNielsen Consumer
PreView. "But manufacturers and retailers also have a
significant opportunity to increase sales by clearing up
consumer confusion and providing more education about the
benefits of organics."


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