Who’s Taking Over Whom?
By Cynthia Barstow
The Natural Farmer Spring, 2006 Vol. 2, No. 68
Northeast Organic Farming Association , Spring, 2006
http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_415.cfm
Either way you look at it, there is little question that corporate America is beginning to embrace the organic standards. Most would agree with this statement because it omits the principles and values of organic agriculture. Big business now provides a considerable percentage of the certified organic products now stocked on supermarket—and many natural groceries’—shelves.
According to the 2005 Whole Foods Market Organic Trend Tracker, “65% of Americans have tried organic foods and beverages, jumping from just over half (54%) in both 2003 and 2004.” Although my heart will always be with small-scale local production, two-thirds of Americans simply are not exposed to that farming universe. Most of our population is witnessing the organics influx on the shelves of their super-sized supermarkets.
The “more exposure” argument has been the consistent message I have heard from Gary Hirshberg over the years, far before his own company moved under the rubric (but maybe not so much control) of international corporation, Danone. More exposure means more sales means more organic acres. This has been my stance too. And yet, like many others, the atrophy of organic principles under the organic seal continues to be a concern of mine.
The green advocate website Treehugger recently (January 26, 2006) held an instant survey: How do you feel about companies like Kraft and Starbucks getting in on the organic biz? Sixty-two agreed with the statement, “It sucks; just another way to keep small business down.” Eighty-two agreed with “It is okay, you know, a necessary evil. And far ahead of both, at three hundred and seventy: “It is a great way to bring organic products and sustainable living to the broader public.” Interestingly, one of the comments posted by a man named Sid suggests the internal turmoil most of us go through when considering the issue: “I agree with other respondents that this kind of issue is just too hard to boil down to a few pat answers.” I tend to agree.
According to the 2005 Whole Foods Market Organic Trend Tracker, “65% of Americans have tried organic foods and beverages, jumping from just over half (54%) in both 2003 and 2004.” Although my heart will always be with small-scale local production, two-thirds of Americans simply are not exposed to that farming universe. Most of our population is witnessing the organics influx on the shelves of their super-sized supermarkets.
The “more exposure” argument has been the consistent message I have heard from Gary Hirshberg over the years, far before his own company moved under the rubric (but maybe not so much control) of international corporation, Danone. More exposure means more sales means more organic acres. This has been my stance too. And yet, like many others, the atrophy of organic principles under the organic seal continues to be a concern of mine.
The green advocate website Treehugger recently (January 26, 2006) held an instant survey: How do you feel about companies like Kraft and Starbucks getting in on the organic biz? Sixty-two agreed with the statement, “It sucks; just another way to keep small business down.” Eighty-two agreed with “It is okay, you know, a necessary evil. And far ahead of both, at three hundred and seventy: “It is a great way to bring organic products and sustainable living to the broader public.” Interestingly, one of the comments posted by a man named Sid suggests the internal turmoil most of us go through when considering the issue: “I agree with other respondents that this kind of issue is just too hard to boil down to a few pat answers.” I tend to agree.
Etiquetas: Organic
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