Organic vs. Conventional Food

Organic (Green) vs. Conventional Food (Black)

 

I went to the local Giant grocery store in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to find organic food. I walked by the apple sections and did not see organic apples. Then I went to the potatoes and fresh vegetable section and missed organic potatoes and vegetables also. I found organic products in the salad section with out help. There was an employee who was stocking shelves with fresh fruits, and I asked him about organic food. He told me that they do have a small selection of organic fruits and vegetables, and he showed where they were. It was a little challenging to me to find an organic selection of fresh fruits and vegetables initially, but now I know where to look.  

 

Labeling Organic 

Organic food was labeled with a USDA seal to show that it is certified as an organic and the packages had an "organic" sticker on them.

 

Explanation the Cost Difference

Differences between organic and conventional food costs are significant. Thee are several reasons for the price disparity. First, organic farming often uses more "elbow grease", and human labor costs more than mechanical labor. Another reason for the price disparity, as stated in Nutrition and Health Eating article from Mayo Clinic, is that natural fertilizer can be more expensive that chemical fertilizer, and more difficult to transport (manure, for example) than conventional farming.

 

In article Organic Not Necessary Better for You from News Discovery sais that nutritional value comparison of organic and non-organic foods did not reveal significant differences. Organic fruits and vegetables have higher level of phosphorus and antioxidant than non-organic products. But in the book Get Smart an author Heller stated that antioxidants are very important nutrients because they help protect the cells and neurons in the brain and the rest of the body. As a nutritionist, I would be concerned about how much pesticides are absorbed by fruits and vegetables, which we a consume. I would suggest to use the "dirty dozen" list to guide purchases of fruits and vegetables.