The Culture of Organics: A Way to Live Reflection My introduction to organics was, technically, in February of 2016 when I made the decision to become vegan. I began to shop naturally and organically although I was almost completely unaware of what those words meant. I shopped for those labels because that was what all the vegan websites and recipes said that I should do, not because that was what I came to know as the best decision. My more intimate meeting with organics was in August of 2016 when I flew to Washington D.C to visit a cousin. This cousin, Christina, is a vegetarian and she also lives organically. The street that she lives on, and the surrounding area, is filled with very vegan, vegetarian, organic and natural positive restaurants. Unlike me, Christina had a way deeper knowledge of the meaning of the word organic, and she knew a lot of people who knew even more about it than her. Luckily, those people where more than willing to truly introduce me to their world. My first “professor” if you will, was a very eccentric soul by the name of Rezz, a very lanky black man with long dreads, who I assume is in his mid to late forties. He is known in the town by the nickname “The mad scientist,” because of the healthy concoctions he is always cooking up and the peculiar way that he talks and thinks. He also tends to laugh exactly like count von count from sesame street, which I personally find very amusing. As soon as he learned that I was not, what he called a,
An arising food category in America is anything organic. Over the years, several local grocery stores organic section is rapidly increasing. Michael Pollan, who wrote Omnivore's Dilemma, is a New York Times bestselling author. Pollan stated, “Forty years ago there was no such category as ‘organic’ food. Today it is a $20-billion business- the fastest growing part of the food industry.” (112) With organic farming becoming more common, there are many changes being made that are resulting in significant outcomes. One of the substantial changes while using organic farming is the improved treatment and health of animals. Further knowledge and awareness of the importance on how organic farming is better for the lives of animals, as well as our health is needed. Gaining more education on animals lives with organic farming, will potentially lead organic food becoming the most popular because of its remarkable outcomes.
Over the last few years, awareness of organic food has risen. Due to this, the demand for organic food is a factor which is influencing the farmers to switch to use this technique, and it is being sold in specialty stores and conventional supermarkets. Organic products contain numerous marketing claims that it is healthier, it offers more value, and the farming is more environmentally friendly than traditional foods, so, how does one determine if organic is the way to go? Some argue that there is evidence that supports and demonstrates why organic foods and farming are better overall, while others insist that conventional foods and agriculture can offer the same benefits as going organic. There is no right or wrong answer. Within this
From the now popular recyclable cloth grocery bags, to the organic garden at the White House, food, and the food industry is changing. The popularity of organic and whole foods is on the rise. Processed foods are increasingly advertising that they are additive and preservative free, and all sorts of products now offer a “gluten-free” variety. The popularity of what is now being called the sustainable food movement, leads many to wonder why are some people willing to pay more, sometimes double, for organic produce, meat, eggs, and milk. Will this prove to be just another trendy American fad, or are there real health benefits from eating organic and whole foods? While the organic market only represents approximately 3% of the total food
Sales of organic food have risen steadily over the past couple of years, reaching nearly $30 billion in 2011, or 4.2% of all U.S. food and beverage sales, (Adams). Many people believe that organic foods are ultimately the better choice when it comes to health due to the absence of pesticides and hormones. But other people—especially those whose food budgets may be more defined—wonder if organic food is really worth the inflated price tag. Despite the price, Organic foods are worth producing and consuming rather than conventional foods due to the immense benefits they provide.
The general public sees any type of organic food as being produced “straight out of a backyard garden” or “right off of the family farm”. But is it really freshly picked tomatoes right out of Grandma Mae’s garden or chicken breast from a local farm? If the food purchased is from Whole Foods or the organic section at Walmart, then that probably is not the case. Large organic farms are what usually supply Whole Foods and other larger chain stores that have organics. They are not what people initially think of when imagining the typical organic farm. They usually think of a small plot of land with an old farmhouse, chicken coops, a red barn, and a large pasture of grass. Even though there are still organic farms like that,
To start, in today’s global world, it can be quite advantageous for a nation to maintain it’s individualistic culture since positive cultural relations can help to endorse a reputable status. In fact, culture is a very crucial aspect to public diplomacy. There has been a plethora of Canadian achievements, which have not only garnered recognition from an international audience, but these efforts are also known for their contributions to public life. These triumphant accomplishments capture a more sympathetic international audience, and more importantly, a more receptive environment in which to project national interest. Indeed, Canadian novelist John Ralston Saul has stated that: Canada’s profile abroad is, for the most part, its culture. That
Long time ago, the idea of organic food was something ridiculous, nobody cared. But after proved the nutritional benefits and better taste of organic food, many farmers become interest in grown organic food. The article Beyond Organic by Eliot Coleman said that “Now that the food-buying public has become enthusiastic about organically grown foods, the food industry wants to take over.”
Personally, I am fortunate to live in an area that has a fairly wide array of organic foods. There is a healthy mix of large supermarkets and small, independent grocers that sell organic foods.
Eliot Coleman’s article seems to take the approach that “organic” foods have shifting into becoming large and commercial enterprises that are not true to what the term used to mean. He seems to want to focus more on the health of various crops and wants to promote crops and livestock that are able to be healthy and naturally resistant to the environment. Then in Justin Rohrlich’s piece, there is a critical focus on the consumer who chooses to buy natural products from places like Whole Foods. This article seems to point towards the attitudes of those people and casts societal labels on them by accusing them of being privileged in their shopping and considering those who don’t consume organic to be of less importance. Both articles seem to dislike the commercialization of organic foods more so than the actual food itself. I don’t feel as though either author is taking the position of favoring standard foods over organic.
The “Locally Abundant – Sustainable Food Documentary” tries to show the public what organic farming looks like, what eating locally looks like and educate on the reasons why to eat organic food. Their overall motto is, “You are what you eat, and therefore you should know more about what you eat!” Ryan Oickie and a friend, for a school assignment, made this documentary in Canada. The two young college students take a road trip to see all the successful organic farms around them. They end up staying and volunteering at ten organic farms in hopes of bringing more attention to the organic communities around them. According to Ryan Oickie, organic farming does not only produce organic, safe food but also happy, healthy people.
As an international student, cultural conflicts always exist but the diversification makes me enjoy. In Unites States, I realized different cultures can be combined together and no bias. I am a sophomore student and I’d love to join those activities that can introduce my cultures to other countries people. I am proud of my culture and I’d love to know other countries’ cultures.
Specific Purpose: I want my audience to understand the importance of purchasing and consuming organic food.
Organic versus non-organic foods are always being debated to whether they are worth the extra cost. This seems to be an easy question, at first, but begs a more in-depth analysis to come to a conclusion. Organic definitions can vary by government, company and even individuals. Many people have their own ideas of what organic means. My personal definition, before this research assignment, was that organic products were grown with no pesticides, chemical additives, or preservatives and grown in a humane way. Meaning that if it said 100% organic, that is what was meant. This however, is not the case when it comes to the government’s definition of organic, according to T. A. Niewold who wrote, “Organic More Healthy; Green Shoots in a
There is an old saying that use to announce the following: You are what you eat", at least that is what they say. Are customers losing faith in today's natural market with the combination of synthetic ingredients that are now being mixed in with it? It needs to be understood that in today's supermarkets, a person can buy organic food grown anywhere. Individual do not have to just worry about organic meats and vegetables, but customers can also buy organic dairy products, such as things foods that are considered advantageous, organic meats, coffee beans, organic wine, alcoholic drink, tea and even fashions purchase clothes that contain organic cotton. All of these different selections have really made organic foods the "wildest growing sector of the grocery manufacturing." The Organic Trade Association (OTA), in its "Corporate Evidences" fact sheet which a person can see at www.ota.com, will allow a person a brief assessment of the cites in the Natural Foods Merchandiser food cycle, which is a trade periodical, being used in measuring organic business event that has grown 30 percent or even more for in the past 12 years. Around two percentage of the U.S. food supply is being grown daily by using organic methods without artificial mixes. In 2001, customers went on a rampage and bought a lot of organic provisions of which was projected to be roughly $10.3 billion (Dunn-Georgiou,
Although organic foods are found in nearly every grocery store, the average person is unable to differentiate between organic and non-organic food products. Many consumers purchase organic products in the hopes of gaining positive health benefits. (Chhabra, Kolli, et al “Organically Grown Food Provides”) “The current demand for organic foods outstrips the domestic supply, causing retailers in the United States to import $2 billion worth of organic foods annually.” (Crandall, Seideman, et al. ”Organic poultry: Consumer perceptions”) In this paper, I want to define what it means for food to be organically produced, while also exploring the requirements necessary to deem a product ‘Organic”.