The Organic Food Fad is officially dead

Federal Review ^ | Sunday, June 04, 2006

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The New York Times reports that Wal-Mart, the bane of all limousine liberals and aging hippies, has entered the "crunchy granola" market:

Beginning later this year, Wal-Mart plans to roll out a complete selection of organic foods — food certified by the U.S.D.A. to have been grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers — in its nearly 4,000 stores. Just as significant, the company says it will price all this organic food at an eye-poppingly tiny premium over its already-cheap conventional food: the organic Cocoa Puffs and Oreos will cost only 10 percent more than the conventional kind. Organic food will soon be available to the tens of millions of Americans who now cannot afford it — indeed, who have little or no idea what the term even means. Organic food, which represents merely 2.5 percent of America's half-trillion-dollar food economy, is about to go mainstream.

With organic food about to become as "mainstream" and "middle America" as Ford Explorers, Kraft singles and "American Idol," how long before the so-called "elites" find it no longer has the same "counterculture" appeal as Volvos, brie and NPR?

[dalereed]

I refust to buy or eat the garbage.

[A. Pole]

I doubt that people who buy REAL organic food will go to buy it at Wal-Mart or will trust the "certification" from U.S.D.A..

[Mr. Mojo]

It's akin what happened in mid/late 60s, when dressing like a beatnik became commonplace. That officially ended the beatnik generation. .....it just wasn't cool anymore.

[mtbopfuyn]

Better yet, grow your own.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Some fresh organic stuff such as strawberries and tomatoes tastes better .

Mostly because it is grown locally.

Organic processed food is mostly a rip-off.

[A. Pole]

It's akin what happened in mid/late 60s, when dressing like a beatnik became commonplace. That officially ended the beatnik generation. .....it just wasn't cool anymore.

Food is different. Once you taste real bread it is hard to eat Wonder Bread.

[steveo]

Many parts are edible.

[Mr. Mojo]

True, but you can eat whole wheat bread without it having to be "organic."

[NYCynic]

Organic food will soon be available to the tens of millions of Americans who now cannot afford it — indeed, who have little or no idea what the term even means.

Talk about condescending. But do I expect any less from the NYT?

[coconutt2000]

Organic foods are just as tasty as the regular stuff.

So I buy whatever is cheapest.

[Magic Fingers]

As one who is using diet as "complementary medicine" to fight cancer, eating organic food has nothing to do with being "elite".

[P-40]

I doubt that people who buy REAL organic food will go to buy it at Wal-Mart

That was my first thought also. Be like buying sushi at a Mexican grocery store.

[Kimmers]

Have you ever tried organic milk?

I guess I grew up with organic milk. My daddy was a dairy farmer.

I have always hated the taste of skim milk and then I tried organic skim and it tastes so much better and shelf life is longer.....go figure....

[toddlintown]

"I doubt that people who buy REAL organic food will go to buy it at Wal-Mart or will trust the "certification" from U.S.D.A."

Ironic, but true.

[Erik Latranyi]

I eat free-range poultry....I kill it in the wild (turkeys, pheasants, grouse, doves, etc)

[Incorrigible]

Yawn... Let me know when the Frankenfood nuts are finally subdued so I can buy irradiated food.

[ErnBatavia]

Well, real men don't drive them...

[Diego1618]

Once you taste real bread it is hard to eat Wonder Bread.

That's a big 10-4. Then there are those that still eat that crap....and tear off the crusts! Like eating dried paste.