The Omnivore's Dillemma Chapter 8
In this chapter, Pollan's primary focus is the word organic, and the many misconceptions about its value. Foods labeled organic are done so to add what he calls pastoral value. Its the type of thing where customers think the food is better quality because they imagine produce being grown in "well composted soils on small farms", or animals being raised in open rolling hills of grass. Pollan reveals that there are not that many requirements to be able to label your food organic. Besides the absence of certain chemical pesticides and antibiotics in feed, many organic foods are grown/raised in environments not so different from that of their conventional counter parts.
The organic movement and the organic industry are two completely separate entities. The organic movement is the attitude that mimicking the polyculture of nature is the best way to grow produce. This includes chemical free farming and alternative modes of consumption. The organic industry is a combination of farmers that were previously a part of the organic movement but have now drifted away due to the tug of capitalist values, and large conventional food corporations that are attempting to make a profit on the market for organic foods. "The organic label is a marketing tool," Secretary [of Agriculture] Glickman said.
After reading this chapter, Organic makes me think of the Verbal section of the SAT I test. If someone asked me if I know what the word organic means, I would confidently answer 'yes'; but if they asked me to define it, I'd probably have a considerably tough time finding the right words.
??Questions??
1)Since plants grown using chemical pesticides are not considered organic, is there a better word to describe them? They're obviously more 'organic oriented' than the infamous twinkie so often mentioned.
2) Whenever a new nutrition fact is unveiled, its seems a new phad diet is in hot pursuit. Why isn't this the case with the polyphenols mentioned?
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