Should I buy only health food store organic foods?

That’s a great question!

We think the answer is "yes", but that’s just an opinion from health food store enthusiasts!

Let’s look at what the dictionary says about organic:

Food raised without chemicals and processed without additives.

Under standards adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2000 and fully effective in 2002, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and antibiotics may not be used in raising organic foods, and the use of irradiation, biotechnology, and sewer-sludge fertilizer is also banned.

Food whose ingredients are at least 95% organic by weight may carry the "USDA ORGANIC" label; products containing only organic ingredients are labeled 100% organic

Well, one reason is that they are usually more expensive. At least for the short term until enough of us start buying organic foods in quantity, they will cost more to produce.

Another reason is availability. It used to be very difficult to find organically grown foods. And, it’s only recently that the USDA came up with a certification for organic foods. (Not that the USDA is necessarily the ultimate authority on what’s good for you! They are influenced by political pressures, a situation which is not always good for the consumer!).

Now most of the big grocery chains carry organic brands.

Do organic foods taste better?

Well we think so. Have you ever stopped by a farmers road side stand and bought his fresh home grown tomatoes? They actually taste like tomatoes and not the mushy cardboard taste that you get at the grocery store (which have been genetically engineered to look great and last longer on the shelves, but somewhere along the line they forgot about the flavor!).

And, you aren’t getting the chemical residues from pesticides, etc. That should be a good thing!

So, should you buy organically grown foods, whether from a health food store or elsewhere?

It’s your choice!

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