Ooops- organic labelled food "magically" tastes better

PrettyPaisley · #21 04/12/11, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinknal

I don't believe you can. I DO believe that you can taste freshness though, and if your source has fresher organic than conventional you will taste the difference.

I can taste a difference in fresh as well as frozen. Maybe the frozen is less fresh? Both come to the house in the same condition.

Joshie · #22 04/12/11, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenista

I agree!! Organic carrots are fantastic!
You cut into them and juice actually runs out.

Don't you think this would be a freshness issue and not a pesticide issue?

JJFarmer · #23 04/12/11, 12:00 PM

It's no different than putting a popular name brand on something compared to the generic version.

The whole idea is organic is suppose to be healthier as in less chemicals used. Same with "grass fed", "free range", etc. Though to be grass fed the animal is only required to be on pasture 200 days or some number like that where they can still spend a 1/3 or so of their life being grain fed and still be called grass-fed. Farmers around here can sell organic exempt if they don't make over a certain amount.

I think a lot of those labels are abused instead of giving people what they think they're getting.

sticky_burr · #24 04/12/11, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippygirl

Personally, I've often wondered just how much food labeled organic is "actually" organic. Seriously, short of testing it, how would the average consumer tell the difference?

I know there is some sort of certification involved to be able to claim something is organic, but I have to wonder, KWIM?

you gotta trust the government is looking out for you and that most "organic" is from the same big companies that have been sending out the other stuff for decades, you just gotta trust their intentions and honesty .. so after you swallow all that swallow their "organic" food

oregon woodsmok · #25 04/12/11, 12:55 PM

Fine with me if people want to pay more for organic and free range. That means a higher price for me when I am selling.

I also don't see any problem with people who hope to reduce their chemical intake. pesticides don't scare me, but hey, if you don't want them on your food, it is your choice. It makes no difference to me as long as you don't try to impose your beliefs on me.

I don't think that there is any comparison between store bought and home raised. If it comes from my garden, I haven't picked it until it is ripe and it hasn't been shipped a couple thousand miles.

Qualify that statement: on most items. I occasionally get some really good produce from the market. It's hit and miss. Then there are a few things where it doesn't seem to make any difference. Also a few things that I can't seem to grow, so store bought is always better than my home grown, cause I can't get any decent home grown.

NEUrbanHmstdr · #26 04/12/11, 01:23 PM

The problem is with the organic label, as much as any other labeling, is that it has completely diverged from the spirit of why the organic label exists in the first place. It is now in the same realm as when "Fat free" equaled "healthy" or the same thing with "low-carb" after that. It is just base market manipulation by manufacturers and gurus to play into the prevailing mindset of the population. Of course people would think that "organic" is therefore healthier and even lower in calories. It's the same problem in general with greenwashing.

The typical industrial abuse of these labels, and the government being complicit in the charade, has made them meaningless now. Count it as big agribusiness managing to screw yet something else up. You want to know truly know what's going on with your food, you have to grow it yourself or know the actual farmer.

Home Harvest · #27 04/12/11, 01:27 PM

after reading through this thread I believe that some here may have missed the point of this study. The way this study was designed tests only one thing, whether someone's knowledge that a food is organic changes their overall perception of that food. Nothing more. This information might be useful from a marketing perspective, but doesn't affect which is "better" for you.

Specifically, you can't infer anything from this study related to whether people can tell the difference between organic & standard foods. This study didn't test that.

I believe the author of the article even missed this point. The study doesn't try to prove anything related to whether people can taste a difference, since only organic food was used in the study. This was strictly a test of peoples perception of the benefits of organic food. And the results are clear. People perceive organic food as better tasting that conventional food, even before they taste it. So all of you organic growers can feel comfortable that the message is being heard by consumers. Organic products have a perceived added value versus conventional products.

I don't see any "OOPS" in that message.

MO_cows · #28 04/12/11, 01:27 PM

I think the difference is mostly a matter of scale. The folks who are growing in mega-quantities to supply a whole chain of grocery stores versus the smaller producer. The varieties of vegetables grown in a huge operation will be selected for properties that make them easier to successfully grow, how well they stand up to handling/shipping and shelf life. The smaller, more local producer can grow varieties selected for taste. So to me, 1st choice is home grown by me, 2nd choice is something grown locally (farmers market, roadside stand), and 3rd choice is mass production available in the grocery store, regardless of organic labeling.

springvalley · #29 04/12/11, 02:45 PM

I am not going to use this thread to debate organic or not, I also can give you another hype in labeling a product. The whole "Angus Beef" thing is also a hype, I would never say angus beef is better than any other type of beef. We even have a diner in town that says they serve angus beef when I know they don`t. There are marketing ploys in all kinds of food products, so why would organic be any differant. > Marc

therunbunch · #30 04/12/11, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

y.

Marketing is King, when your dealing with mental peasants.... just look at bottled water (tap water) sales.

Don't even get me started. I'll simply say... I agree.

texican · #31 04/13/11, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippygirl

Personally, I've often wondered just how much food labeled organic is "actually" organic. Seriously, short of testing it, how would the average consumer tell the difference?

I know there is some sort of certification involved to be able to claim something is organic, but I have to wonder, KWIM?

Certifications mean nothing, if someone 'cheats'. It's all about trust...

The only person you can really depend on, is yourself...

springvalley · #32 04/13/11, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

Certifications mean nothing, if someone 'cheats'. It's all about trust...

The only person you can really depend on, is yourself...

Amen brother Texican, guess some people given the chance will cheat on anything. Just to make an extra buck. > Marc

farmergirl · #33 04/13/11, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenista

I agree!! Organic carrots are fantastic!
You cut into them and juice actually runs out.

We buy organic carrots in 10 pound bags. Price averages $.50/ pound which is the same or CHEAPER than the conventional ones if purchased in 1 or 2 pound packages.

The taste difference is huge. Gone is the bitterness that we had to endure with conventional carrots

Betho · #34 04/14/11, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmerDale

You should see the list of allowable pesticides, and the pounds per acre of stated pesticides that are used in the USA on "organic" farms.... You may be tasting oil, copper sulfate, BT, pyrethrum, rotenone, etc.. , many applied in POUNDS per acre, not ounces as in conventional agriculture,on your "organic" food. All of these and MANY more "organic chemicals", are allowable to be used for US organic crops. Imagine the crap thrown on in countries where we import "organic" food from. An interesting list of allowable pesticides for organic agriculture indeed. Organic in name only, is more like it, IMO. But to each his/her own of course.

I totally agree, and I refuse to buy the hype. I will buy LOCAL when I can, but the "certified organic" doesn't even cross my mind. I will not drink the organic kool-aid. Chemical-free veggies? You bet. But certified organic does not mean chemical-free anymore.

sticky_burr · #35 04/14/11, 05:57 PM

indeed there is a reasoning thing as well .. if you run out of 'premo?' organic feed drive 50-75 miles to the feed store and they have none, ofcourse you shoulda planned ahead but irregardless, are you going to drive annother 100 miles to hope they have it in stock or grab what ever they have and make sure the critters git fed.

Sanza · #36 04/14/11, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmergirl

We buy organic carrots in 10 pound bags. Price averages $.50/ pound which is the same or CHEAPER than the conventional ones if purchased in 1 or 2 pound packages.

The taste difference is huge. Gone is the bitterness that we had to endure with conventional carrots

Around these parts we leave the carrots in the ground as long as we can and try to wait for some good overnight frosts because it makes the carrots sweeter.
If you don't have big outside dogs around the coyotes might beat us to digging them up though!

Sanza · #37 04/14/11, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

I can taste a difference in fresh as well as frozen. Maybe the frozen is less fresh? Both come to the house in the same condition.

Are you talking storebought or your own frozen veggies? Try freezing your own veggies in water for a better taste.

kirkmcquest · #38 04/14/11, 06:52 PM

I never heard that organic food is supposed to taste better, but most people would simply prefer not to ingest 13 different types of fungicide when eating a carrot.

arabian knight · #39 04/14/11, 06:55 PM

You just rinse them off, just like you would anything even you are taking out of your own garden, no big deal.

Mulegirl · #40 04/14/11, 07:00 PM

This is why we don't usually bother with organic, but instead go as much as possible with local food from people that we know. The local stuff does generally taste better 'cause its actually ripe. Even the local hothouse tomatoes tend to taste better than any of the ones, conventional or organic, that we pick up in the store.

Ugh. This conversation makes me so look forward to getting our house built and garden in. Next spring, I hope . . .