I think one point we are all missing is the recent interest in
healthful eating, which in turn has boosted organic sales. You just
can't compare the produce department in terms of selection and quality
of my local Stop & Shop to the (not quite as local) closest Whole
Foods. (Which is admittedly not all-organic, but sometimes I wonder if
people know?) Of course you can't compare the price either, but I also
buy and use Apple computers -- talk about a "tax on the gullible!" :-)
And you really can't successfully argue that organic food is not
better for the environment and your health, and personally I think
tastes better, than the conventional produce you buy in a typical
supermarket. You will never, ever win that argument. (At least I can't
win it with my spouse.) That is the bottom line for the consumer.
Perception is reality.
Note I did not bring up the subject of 'locally grown' at all...
JC
Jon Clements
Extension Educator
UMass Cold Spring Orchard
393 Sabin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
413.478.7219
On Aug 11, 2009, at 2:25 PM, Daniel Cooley wrote:
FYI -
Lawson from the Times of London:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/dominic_lawson/article6788644.ece
Goldacre from The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/01/bad-science-organic-food
________________________________________________________
Daniel R. Cooley
Dept. of Plant, Soil & Insect Sci.
Fernald Hall 103
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
Office: 413-577-3803
Cell: 413-531-3383
dcoo...@microbio.umass.edu
FAX 413-545-2115
http://people.umass.edu/dcooley/
Office location: 103 Clark Hall
