Farmers turn their backs on 'organic crops' -

The Sunday Telegraph - UK ^ | August 24, 2003 | Fiona Govan

[SierraWasp]

"It's not easy bein' green."

No... but sometimes it's just plain misanthropic and ignorantly Luddite!!!

[SierraWasp]

"Nutty environmentalism is the creationism of the left."

Oh goody! You're describing the EnvironMental CommyooooNutty, right? (snort... snicker... grin)

[Freebird Forever]

How many know that "organic" produce typically have a lower nutritional value than produce farmed with the help of modern technology?

I'd be interested in reading the published, peer reviewed papers that will back up your comment.

Please cite your source.

[SierraWasp]

"One of our largest organic growers is now converting back."

Now see!!! To me, that qualifies as NEWS!!!

But will you see it in the Sacramento BEE? NOT!!!

But will you see it on any Sacramento TeeVee? NOT!!!

Yes, I understand that nothing qualifies as "news," unless it's sensational, bad for conservatives, or supports liberal gloom and doom over percieved perpetual social injustices, etc., etc., etc.!!! (gag)

[Balding_Eagle]

I eat organic from time to time. Usually, though, I stick to the healthy foods.

[Prodigal Son]

I've heard this before too. Can't recall where. It makes a certain amount of sense. The non-organic vegetables and fruit are "healthier", ie more robust. It makes sense that a more robust version of a cucumber would have more of the good stuff in it than its punier organic cousin.

[Freebird Forever]

I've heard this before too.

I've only seen a report of one real study and that was over 10 years ago.

Other then that, it's just been biased, unsubstantiated gibberish from both camps.

The non-organic vegetables and fruit are "healthier", ie more robust. It makes sense that a more robust version of a cucumber would have more of the good stuff in it than its punier organic cousin.

Speaking as a professional horticulturist, your statement doesn't convince me at all.

Show me the controls. Show me the soil tests. Show me the data from the field trials. Show me results of the mass spectrometry, gas chromatography or whatever was used to assay the vitamin, mineral, bioflaviniod, etc. content of each species of vegetable tested.

Until I have trustworthy science on which to base an informed opinion, this debate has all the significance of a trial lawyer stating that gore won in 2000.

[SierraWasp]

OH! I see you don't like non-science non-sense, either!!!

[SierraWasp]

OH! I see you don't like non-science non-sense, either!!!

[SierraWasp]

How come that happened???

[Freebird Forever]

non-science non-sense

If someone could secure funding from an impartial 3rd party and conduct a multi year study, this issue could be settled. Or at least, a solid foundation for further research could be laid. And they could earn a Ph.D. in the process.

Until then, caveat emptor.

[oyez]

Why break your back for low yelding organic crops when you can almost effortlessly produce a cornicopia of "Frankenfood"?

[Prodigal Son]

Show me the controls. Show me the...

Shoot I don't care about it that much ;-)

I pick the veggies that look good and if both an organic veg and a modern tech veg look the same, then I buy the cheaper one. Works for me.

[Freebird Forever]

Shoot I don't care about it that much

No substance, just chatter.

That's what I suspected.

[Prodigal Son]

LOL, whatever dude. I wasn't trying to argue with you. You're probably 100% right. It doesn't matter to me. I was just commenting that I had also heard that. Is that a crime in your book? You must be a right wonder to make small talk with. It's just vegetables man. I don't see myself ever getting worked up over tomatoes. Perhaps this is important for you I don't know.

That's what I suspected.

Well, I didn't suspect you were a butthole when I commented to you but I'll keep that in mind from now on.

Have a nice day.

[pepsionice]

The environmentalists that started all of this...simply never told the entire story. There is no added nutritional value from a natural farm setting. Most of the major towns in Germany today, where I live, have a natural food store. These shops make enough to survive...but the typical shopper is a environmentalist. The real public don't go to these shops because there is a higher cost to every product you buy...at least 10 percent, and sometimes up to 40 percent. What I really find amazing is that fruit and vegetable stands still exist during the summertime, where you can buy natural products without all of the pesticide and such...and they still do a brisk business with the public...without all of the advertising or upfront costs of the fancy environmentalists stores.

[Don Joe]

"There is no added nutritional value from a natural farm setting."

There's "organic", and then there's "farm".

We raise chickens. Our chickens taste an order of magnitude better than "factory" chickens. So much better that there is no comparison. Literally. It's fun watching the looks on guests' faces when they take their first taste, and then start raving about how amazing it is.

The difference?

I don't really know. We don't "do organic". We feed 'em sacks of feed, let 'em peck and scratch at the bugs, grass, and weeds, give 'em antibiotics when they're starting off (the horror, the horror!), and I'm sure we're nowhere near "efficient", but the fact remains that these birds are nothing like the dry, bland, tasteless "chicken" sold in stores.