College life: pizza, beer, coffee, snack foods, and the dependency on the microwave. Looking for food that is healthier instead of being loaded with calories, sugar, and fat? Springing into looking fit for summer? Instead of going to regular grocery stores and stocking up on conventional food and products, why not try a local food co-op? Its organic and locally produced foods are a good place to start when looking for something nutritious and tasty.
Most people have misconceptions and stereotypes about organic foods and products. Too expensive, not worth the money, and not having any benefits are just some of the misconceptions that people have about organic foods and products.
While prices of organic and locally produced foods tend to be a little more expensive, only usually a dollar more than conventional type foods, the benefits and quality of organic food outweigh the price difference. The difference in price is because of a greater labor input, organic food is limited compared to demand, and crops are relatively small. Environmental enrichment and protection, high standards for animal welfare, and avoidance of health risks due to pesticides also contribute to the higher price for organic foods.
Many people do not know the benefits of organic and locally produced food that a local food co-op offers. Growing organically allows local farmers to decrease the dependency on nonrenewable resources, conserve energy, improve biodiversity, and help minimize the greenhouse effect and global warming.
“Health, social, and environmental benefits are some benefits to buying organic foods,” said Carol Spurling, Moscow Food Co-op’s outreach and ownership coordinator. “Pesticides and herbicides are poisons; their use destroys the viability of the soil, they cause cancer, they cause other health and environmental problems such as global warming. If all agriculture worldwide became diversified organic agriculture instead of monocultural industrial agriculture, it would greatly reduce global warming and provide and a decrease in unemployment. Rural communities would be revitalized all over the world, small scale farming would become a viable way to make a living, and farmers' dependence on expensive toxic chemicals completely eliminated.”
A local food co-op offers many organic and locally produced products as well as community events and programs that people can utilize. Many of the services provide students with the ability to eat healthier and consume produce that has more nutritional benefits and a higher quality. Organic foods might be slightly more expensive but the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
“Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in,” said
Carol Spurling. “We eat three times a day at least so the food choices we make can really add up to significant change. I'm not saying that chain grocery stores are bad. I think that Co-ops are an alternative kind of business - democratically organized and locally-owned - that can reflect your values. Shopping for organic and sustainably-grown food at a Co-op is a way of being an activist for environmental and social justice every day. Not everybody has the means to buy only organic foods but if you start changing over one particular item that you consume often, such as milk, yogurt, eggs, apples, or even ramen noodles or coffee, to organic, that is a great start. Sometimes it won't even hurt your pocketbook at all.”
When comparing chicken nuggets that were organically made to regular conventional chicken nuggets; the organic product is healthier. The conventional chicken nuggets contain 320 calories, 20 grams of fat, 60mg of cholesterol, and 15 grams of carbohydrates. The organically made chicken nuggets contain 180 calories, 10 grams of fat, zero cholesterol, and five grams of carbohydrates. Comparing both of these products, the organic chicken nuggets have cut half the amount of calories, fat, and carbohydrates that the conventional chicken nuggets contain. Although chicken nuggets are not the healthiest pick when choosing a healthy alternative, purchasing an organic product is healthier and nutritionally beneficial.
Changing from conventional to organically made products just one product at a time, can help maintain a healthy and beneficial way of life. So instead of going to your regular grocery store, stop by a local food co-op and see what healthy benefits they have to offer you.
For more information about local food co-ops in your area please go to http://www.localharvest.org/ or http://www.coopdirectory.org/
While prices of organic and locally produced foods tend to be a little more expensive, only usually a dollar more than conventional type foods, the benefits and quality of organic food outweigh the price difference. The difference in price is because of a greater labor input, organic food is limited compared to demand, and crops are relatively small. Environmental enrichment and protection, high standards for animal welfare, and avoidance of health risks due to pesticides also contribute to the higher price for organic foods.
Many people do not know the benefits of organic and locally produced food that a local food co-op offers. Growing organically allows local farmers to decrease the dependency on nonrenewable resources, conserve energy, improve biodiversity, and help minimize the greenhouse effect and global warming.
“Health, social, and environmental benefits are some benefits to buying organic foods,” said Carol Spurling, Moscow Food Co-op’s outreach and ownership coordinator. “Pesticides and herbicides are poisons; their use destroys the viability of the soil, they cause cancer, they cause other health and environmental problems such as global warming. If all agriculture worldwide became diversified organic agriculture instead of monocultural industrial agriculture, it would greatly reduce global warming and provide and a decrease in unemployment. Rural communities would be revitalized all over the world, small scale farming would become a viable way to make a living, and farmers' dependence on expensive toxic chemicals completely eliminated.”
A local food co-op offers many organic and locally produced products as well as community events and programs that people can utilize. Many of the services provide students with the ability to eat healthier and consume produce that has more nutritional benefits and a higher quality. Organic foods might be slightly more expensive but the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
“Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in,” said
Carol Spurling. “We eat three times a day at least so the food choices we make can really add up to significant change. I'm not saying that chain grocery stores are bad. I think that Co-ops are an alternative kind of business - democratically organized and locally-owned - that can reflect your values. Shopping for organic and sustainably-grown food at a Co-op is a way of being an activist for environmental and social justice every day. Not everybody has the means to buy only organic foods but if you start changing over one particular item that you consume often, such as milk, yogurt, eggs, apples, or even ramen noodles or coffee, to organic, that is a great start. Sometimes it won't even hurt your pocketbook at all.”
When comparing chicken nuggets that were organically made to regular conventional chicken nuggets; the organic product is healthier. The conventional chicken nuggets contain 320 calories, 20 grams of fat, 60mg of cholesterol, and 15 grams of carbohydrates. The organically made chicken nuggets contain 180 calories, 10 grams of fat, zero cholesterol, and five grams of carbohydrates. Comparing both of these products, the organic chicken nuggets have cut half the amount of calories, fat, and carbohydrates that the conventional chicken nuggets contain. Although chicken nuggets are not the healthiest pick when choosing a healthy alternative, purchasing an organic product is healthier and nutritionally beneficial.
Changing from conventional to organically made products just one product at a time, can help maintain a healthy and beneficial way of life. So instead of going to your regular grocery store, stop by a local food co-op and see what healthy benefits they have to offer you.
For more information about local food co-ops in your area please go to http://www.localharvest.org/ or http://www.coopdirectory.org/
I agree that organic food can have a huge impact on nutritional health, the environment, and the economy. Especially, when it is bought from a local grower. But a lot of people do not know about the benefits of buying organic, how do you inform people who hold the misconceptions you mentioned?
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this? http://www.prisonplanet.com/bill-to-ban-organic-farming.html
ReplyDeleteI like your breakdown that shows the difference between organic chicken nuggets and regular! SO interesting! I would love to see the correlation between curvy models and organic food if there is one?