Organic foods are grossly overrated, impractical

Lately that iconic insight from Mickey Mantle has been coming to mind, “If I knew I was going to live this long I’d have taken better care of myself”. Particularly, I have had some epiphanies as to nutrition, perhaps because of Creemore’s preoccupation with quality produce, the Farmers’ Market, the 100 Mile Store, The New Farm, Creemore Coffee Company, Morrison’s Apples and Giffens Country Market. I have become more conscious as to what I consume. Now I haven’t gone completely off the rails I still consume a couple of Cokes a day and at least one hamburger every 48 hours but I would like to share with you some potentially helpful common sense observations.

I think we should deal with the organic issue first. I feel it’s grossly overrated. Both French and Swedish scientific studies revealed no proof that it is more nutritious or healthier for us. It is considerably more expensive. It is weirdly regulated and the definition and oversight is very questionable, so are products marked organic actually organic? Most significantly it’s grossly impractical. If the movement was widely successful it would eliminate many modern farming techniques thus requiring a massive reallocation of labour out of the cities back to rural farming and, bottom line, the world could not support the existing 7 billion-plus population and some 3 billion-plus people would have to get off. I am not suggesting that you buy a 30-pound tomato from some guy’s organic farm downwind of the nuclear station up on the Bruce but like many issues they have their pros and cons and the pendulum has swung too far.

Out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean floats “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”, mostly plastic, about the size of Texas, every time someone buys bottled water in a plastic container they add, albeit indirectly to this disgusting mess and they’re poking their finger in the eye of Mother Nature. Recent scientific research debunks the eight glasses of water a day thing, your body tells you when you need fluids, its called being thirsty. Try an apple, it’s 80 per cent naturally filtered water. Many research studies show that when water is stored in a plastic container over time the water picks up contaminates from the plastic, so bottled water is simply not cleaner nor safer than Creemore or Toronto tap water and especially Mulmur well water, which I drink. In fact, according to a 2011 article in Canadian Geographic the countryside surrounding Elmvale, only 40 kilomtres from Creemore, has the purest water in the world. Regardless the disposal issue makes it markedly less environmentally sound, and I don’t understand why someone would pay hard-earned money for a substandard product that harms the environment, when they have a better free product waiting for them at home.

This is a tricky one, checking the source, and labels are designed to misdirect you as much as they are to inform. The best approach is to buy locally: Ontario, Canada and United States. The 100-mile concept makes a lot of sense. Food that travels a shorter distance is fresher, the farming practices are better known and we burn less diesel. Best to avoid foods from countries that don’t pay their labourers a living wage, or fund proper health, environmental and safety oversight that’s why orange juice from Venezuela, garlic or apple juice from China or pickles from India are cheaper. Cheaper should be a red flag for food consumers. China is the country that in 2008 produced milk destined for baby consumption fortified with melamine, an industrial product used in fire retardants and plastic production. Remember melamine dinnerware, you were supposed to eat on it not eat it. If you purchase a can of apple juice at any Ontario supermarket, and I don’t, and the label says Canada Fancy or Canada Choice that’s a grading not an indication of origin and it is very likely made from Chinese apples brought as bulk concentrate to Canada and packaged here. Not long ago I bought some pickles when I realized they were from India I took them back for a refund, no questions asked. Recently after a prolonged search for some local frozen corn and peas and I found some “Green Giant” product that clearly said “Grown and Packaged In Canada” a bit more expensive but clear labeling should be rewarded.

Why buy orange juice NFC “Not from Concentrate” that has been stored in vats for a year or more and then laced with flavor enhancers, especially in the fall when you can buy fresh apple cider grown and processed down the road? Our parents were forced to eat seasonally but we have grown to expect any kind of produce any time we want it. Sometimes non-seasonal events conspire to create a similar opportunity. It appeared that Mr. Harper annoyed Mr. Putin among others, so Putin not known for turning the other cheek cut off all Canadian pork imports to Russia, our third largest export market after the United States and Japan, creating a glut of high-quality Ontario pork and depressing the price. Treat it as seasonal adjustment and eat more pork, which by the way as a bonus is less environmentally damaging than beef. Seasonal adjustments are easy and who gets tired of pork tenderloin when it’s cheaper than hamburger or fresh corn, apples, rhubarb, spinach or carrots. As a heads up watch for the “Red Prince” apples at Giffens not until February or March as they are a very special locally grown seasonal treat.

Here’s the clincher, while these adjustments can cost a bit more, factoring in seasonal savings and the money you save on bottled water should more than compensate. However consider this in the United States and probably Canada, about 40 per cent of all food produced is wasted, yes doesn’t make it to someone’s mouth. So my suggestion is, buy better, albeit more expensive food, but don’t waste it, you’ll pay about the same. Last spring I stopped buying orange juice NFC and I now buy less of the more expensive fresh squeezed. Real orange juice is now more of a treat for me and I am careful not to waste any so I am ahead, but this fall I am drinking local cider till it runs out.

In summation here’s my five-point advice, and all you organic diehard, plastic bottled water swilling, Birkenstock wearing fanatics feel free to write to the editor.

Forget organic, drink tap water and use a reusable container, buy locally and check the source, eat seasonally, buy better food and don’t waste it.