Organic Produce at the grocery store

[astral]

I bought some celery yesterday I think was non organic in the organic section. The first two stores I went to had no organic celery. The third store had a bunch of nice big celerys in the organic section but no label or sticky tape designating them organic. I asked the checkout clerk who went to the back and came back out and said it was, but after washing it and eating it I am sure I could taste a bunch pesticide on it as is the case with regular celery, even if you do wash it it is very heavily sprayed.

Did I get snowed here?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. What does "organic" mean?

Made from hydro-carbon-based life forms? It's organic. Just like Cheeze-Whiz and Fritos.

We'd like to think it was grown with no pesticides, fertilized only from the poop of free-range chickens. But I'd bet the lawyers have defined the word "organic" so that mere mortals can't understand it.

:hi:

[conscious evolution]

4. That is pretty much what happened

The big food corporations got laws enacted so that organic means whatever they want it to mean.

[Skittles]

11. it's for people who think shit is better than pesticides

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. Like organic marijuana

"This is some GOOD SHIT, man!"

:party:

As opposed to bad shit, or pesticides.

[Orrex]

2. You didn't get snowed any more than anyone else who pays extra for "organic" groceries

If that makes you feel any better...

[Kali]

5. ...

:spank:

[Orrex]

8. Here's an article for you

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=8960264

But of course you already commented on it!

:evilgrin:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. "Organic" means only that it contains carbon atoms.

So that would include all celery, as well as Pop-Tarts and bubble gum. Selling vegetables as "organic," meaning grown in a certain way, has become a bit of a scam. You never know what you're getting unless you grow it yourself. I've never been able to taste pesticides on celery, but that might be because I never buy it. I hate celery.

[LeftyMom]

6. You went to three stores to buy celery.

:wtf:

That said, in my experience every now and then celery will taste a little weird and metallic for no apparent reason. I think it's probably the water, since celery is like 113% water or some damned thing.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. I agree with LM. Sometimes celery just has an off-taste.

If you really want to know the answer to your question, the next time you're in that store go to the customer service desk with the celery and tell them of your concern. They should offer to give you a credit just based on the fact that the celery tasted off.

I eat lots of celery and quite frankly I can't tell the difference in flavor based on organic status. What does make a difference is whether it's locally grown (and therefore fresher than the stuff that's spent days traveling from field to market.)

Color also makes a difference. Dark green celery has a heavier (and usually somewhat bitter)flavor than light-medium green stalks. Very pale green means it's old.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Celery ALWAYS has an off taste. That's because it's celery.

:puke:

[astral]

10. Well, I would buy local if I could

I didn't think going to three stores to find o.g. celery was weird -- the stores I went to were close together. I was hungry for some nice crunchy CLEAN ORGANIC celery, and that's what I went shopping for. Okay, "clean organic" doesn't mean you don't have to WASH it real good, but organic is supposed to mean pesticide-free, and if they are trying to change the definition of the term, it isn't legally changed when it comes to produce, yet.

BTW -- some organic things do not usually cost any more than non-organic around here. Like celery or onions, or even carrots. But alot of people know about celery. Non-organic carrots are another major baddy.

[revolution breeze]

13. Actually organic does not mean pesticide free.

The Department of Agriculture set rules for organic certification and the National Organic Program lists what substances can and cannot be used. Many small farmers cannot label their produce as "organic" because the do not maintain the record keeping which is required in order to use the label "organic". We used to joke that organic farming meant you sprayed at night when no one was watching.