I routinely get notices (eMails, messages) from misguided friends trying to convince me to eat organic. Even last night, the “virtues” of organic food came up- and were shot down easily.
Now, I admit that a few years ago Empire Chicken decided they would go free-range and organic. Mostly so the kosher food vendor could augment the potential market size for its products. And, one of my kosher meat vendors now sells free range (but not organic) beef.
But, seriously… why would I want to buy food that was fertilized by feces?
And, while most folks will tell you that organic farming uses less energy than conventional farming (mostly because of the energy requirement to produce fertilizer), that’s only true on a per-acre basis. Yes, organic farming requires less energy than that same farm when fertilizer is used. Except… the crop yields differ. (ATTRA no longer has this 2019 document available for download. This one is as close as it comes.) For winter wheat, broccoli, and leaks (and perhaps potatoes) organic has an advantage. But, for other crops (especially carrots), that’s not true.
If we only care about energy demand, then I might be forced to choose organic products. But, it we care about the vitamins and nutrients the products contain… (I am not even going to include the fact that fluorescent lights have on various items (like depleting the vitamin K and folate in spinach when the products are piled up in grocery stores for us to purchase.)
But, when folks aver that organic food is better for you… Consider that to be akin to a tweet from TheDonald. Because regarding the nutritional differences, there basically are none.
While there are many studies (most not performed with academic rigor), the most complete analysis was effected by Drs. Dangour, Dodhia, Hayder, Allen, Lock, and Uauy in Nutritional Quality of Organic Foods. As the diagram below shows.
So, if we want better food- choose the one that is cheaper. Since the nutrient/cost ratio is the best way to choose how to feed ourselves and our kids.
But, if we need to control our energy use (admittedly a virtuous concept), then organic is better… As long as those organic farms are closer to where we are. Otherwise, the energy required for transportation becomes a significant (and difference flattening- or, worse yet, negating) fact.
Facts are always more complex than they first appear to be. So you are right in saying that you just can’t decide to ‘eat organic ‘ and trust it’s the best choice. I would choose small local nonorganic farmer than organic farmers thousands of miles away. But there are other factors. I have bought delicious organic apples in the same store whose conventional apples were horrible. Was it because of being organic, or another reason? Same for strawberries. Made me wonder.
When it comes to fruits and vegetables, one of the salient factors is distance to market and how long the market ‘harbors’ its wares. I buy my veggies and fruits based upon where they are grown. Too many supermarkets get their stuff delivered to a central warehouse- and then distribute them to the stores. Often in non-refrigerated trucks. So, a Virginia apple (which is often preserved using a process perfected by our firm, in a warehouse lined with polyurethane foam and perfused with carbon dioxide, preserving the apple for months) is shipped to Maryland; divvied up among other stores and delivered in a standard trailer. That’s three days of storage gone. Then, shelved for two or three days before olne buys them. they won’t be so tasty- organic or otherwise. Same applies for other fruits and veggies.