One of the major reasons that I and many of my friends do not buy organic food exclusively is the cost. While I struggle with bourgeois decisions such as, “should I buy organic food or Stride Rite shoes” for many consumers, the financial decision is “ How can I get the most food for my money”.
That increasingly means buying the most processed, least healthy food available. A recent NY Times article notes that the most “calories dense” food, i.e., the most food for the money, is found in the snack aisle.
That increasingly means buying the most processed, least healthy food available. A recent NY Times article notes that the most “calories dense” food, i.e., the most food for the money, is found in the snack aisle.
Furthermore, it points out that, the real price of fruits and vegetables between 1985 and 2000 increased by nearly 40 percent while the real price of soft drinks (a k a liquid corn) declined by 23 percent. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/magazine/22wwlnlede.t.html
I don’t find that terribly surprising and we’re not even talking organics here. What I did find surprising was the author’s contention that this has quite a lot to do with the Farm bill that is slowly winding its way through Congress. In a nutshell, US Farm policy, which contrary to common opinion does NOT support the quaint family farm, of which there are few these days, but does support agribusiness in the form of huge corporate farms, is to blame. It supports agribusiness in such a way that certain crops, soy, corn, wheat and rice – which major food manufacturers combine to make highly processed, calorie rich/vitamin poor “food”, cost a lot less to grow than fresh fruits and vegetables.
I am not, in general, a basher of corporate America and big business. I worked for a major food manufacturer for several years. I worked for a number of Fortune 500 companies. I support corporate America every day in stores, online and on the road. I’d have to go live in a cage to avoid it. I do however; believe that corporate behavior, in many ways is influenced by government policies. Well Duh.
So, I am glad to see focus on the Farm Bill this year. Organic food producers have grown in size and influence driven by the grassroots consumer movement, to the point where they may have power this year. Major food manufacturers are offering organic versions of popular items. (Yes, I know that is because of the higher profit margin – I work in marketing, remember ?) As more and more high profile companies seek to influence the Farm Bill, to reduce the cost to produce organics, initially we’ll see higher profit margins…but shortly there after, we should see lower prices.
Then maybe we can all buy organic (or at least better quality food) !
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5 comments:
Maybe you know the answer, isn't the Farm Bill only reviewed every few years, not yearly. If that is correct than shouldn't we at least make an attempt to contact legislators about the issue before another 5 years pass.
I'm not half as concerned about organics as I am about the social divide produced by those who can afford fresh food and understand the value of it and those who can not. I was shocked to read the statistic about the increase in fresh food versus soda.
As always, thanks for pointing out articles in the NYT's that I find interesting. I really appreciate it.
My husband likes to point out that farm, nutrition and food stamp programs were designed to fill people with calories. Malnutrition and starvation were the worries in the Great Depression. Now, obesity should be the main concern of US farm, nutrition and food stamp programs. But the programs haven't kept pace with the changing times. Even the availability of healthy food versus calorie-laden food is a problem for the poor of America. It's a heck of a lot easier to find a McDonald's with a dollar menu in poor neighborhoods than it is to find grocery stores that carry fresh, appealing produce.
Nina,
That's correct- the Farm bill is reviewed only every few years. This article had some really interesting facts that help explain why we have high infant mortality (among other things) if the US as compared to other industrialized countries
Merseydotes- your husband is correct, as this article points out. It was a very interesting article that made me reconsider many things.
I've been reading through Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" recently. He writes extensively on the role of corn subsidies and other economic policies that have encouraged many of the current problems with food production, like the low cost of processed food that you mention.
It's pretty depressing to me that a can of soda costs far less than an organic apple. Something's very wrong with that. A big part of the equation is subsidized petroleum, which Pollan discusses also. This is an issue that is rooted in every part of modern life, from reductionist thinking on nutrition to the inability of the average working person to find time to cook any more.
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