I do not think it is hype. I had lymphoma when I was in my 20's and my feeling is that I got it from 'somewhere'. It did not just 'happen'. If it was from pesticides and chemicals and I can avoid that (and you really DO want to avoid that, let me tell you) then I'm going to try for my family.

ITA! I don't know how anyone can call farming and raising animals using natural methods "hype". Common sense tells us that pumping our foods with pesticides, hormones, and chemicals cannot be good for us.

I find it odd that as consumers we will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars a month on "stuff" we don't need, yet we don't want to spend more on food that we know is better for us. I was just as guilty as anyone else, but now I feel that it is certainly worth the extra money to feel good about what I am feeding my family. We are fortunate enough to be in the financial situation to afford organics, but if I had to make some sacrifices to continue buying it I definitely would.

It's funny. I have one child who has major ashtma and a ton of food issues. My other child has some allergies as well as behavior issues tied to food.

I am sold 100% on buying organic and eating healthy. I can tell a difference when we don't.

I think it's sad that we got sold out for cheap...for example, everything has corn syrup in it because the finished product is lighter but as sweet as real sugar. My one son is allergic to corn and can't have any. So, when I started reading the labels I was so shocked. I would rather have real sugar any day than corn syrup.

Just my rambling 2 cents.

Yes... it's Bunk! But let me explain...

I think the part that is 'bunk' is the whole media machine behind it all.
Companies that put the label "organic" on its box can autmatically charge twice as much these days as their cheaper non-organic counterparts. There is something backwards about that. I would guess that organics do have to cost a little bit more because of their shorter shelf life, they're less cost-efficient to raise, etc. but most of it is definitely media hype. I think prices are overinflated somewhat due to the media's ability to scare consumers. Problem is consumers are buying it big time.

Yes, foods without the preservatives, chemicals and hormones are better for you. Nobody is disputing that, me included. But good 'ole fashioned gardening, shopping farmers' markets, buying simple unprocessed foods and cooking from scratch can often be just as good for you as those fancy schmancy foods in the organic section of the grocery store - without the pricey stickers.

__________________
Read my Mommysavers Blog: Forget the Joneses
Check out the Mommysavers Group on Facebook

Download my free eBook full of savings ideas for the holidays Click Here

I agree with Kim. I don't think it's hype that our vegetables and meat have unwanted pesticides and chemicals in them, but the fact that the government has not regulated what exactly is "organic" is a problem. For me, I just try to cook from scratch when I can, I shop the farmers market when I can from growers I know are local ( some are not!).

I was going to say what Kim said, too. Just because something says "organic" doesn't mean it is as purists would define "organic". It just has to fit the definition of the USDA standards sort of like the definitions/criteria for "low fat", "low carb", or other specialty foods. They are not necessarily healthier in my opinion, just fit into a government defined category. So, I, too, think it is mostly hype. It all goes back to simple economics.

I think the media and the food industry is just playing into our fears and jacking up the prices of a lot of foods labeled organic according to govenment regulators. But, as Kim said, homegrown, locally grown, farmers market, fresh, less processed foods are probably much more healthier for you than organic foods overall.

Well...the USDA does require that organic labeled foods meet strict government requirements. Here is a link from the Mayo clinic website with some helpful facts about organic foods.

Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious? - MayoClinic.com

Wow! I am surprised that we disagree a bit here Kim, we are usually on the same page in quite a bit of our thinking. As far as your post goes, I tend to agree with you about the pre-packaged organic foods. I totally believe that there is a higher price slapped on because they can use the word organic on their packaging on many items. I don't buy them, and I probably never will because we don't eat a lot of pre-packaged foods and I make a good bit of our other foods from scratch. Right now I am buying organic perishables, which brings me to my next point.

On perishable items like produce, dairy, and meats, I tend to think that a good bit of the higher price is acceptable. Like you said, cooking from scratch and not using processed foods is something we can all do and feel good about. It would be mind numbing though, to try to buy all organic ingredients for, say, a cake or blueberry muffins. Could you imagine? As far as the perishables go though...who has the time to raise their own farm animals or make their own cheese? I do have a garden that we fertilize with compost, don't use commercial pesticides (we use things like spray on soap and water mixtures and have had good luck with them) and keep weeds down by pulling them or mulching, but there are some things that my "brown thumb" won't let me grow. I will just have to buy those items organically.

Organic also refers to how the animals we consume are raised. Here is an exerpt from the link on my previous post regarding how certified organic animals are treated. "Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease." This plays a part in my decision to go organic as well as wanting chemical free foods.

I also wanted to point out that I live in a rural area with lots of small produce stands and farmers markets. I know quite a few of these people and know that many of them use chemical fertilizers and very toxic pesticides on their home grown produce. To me, that is no better than what the commercial growers do. Just because it is home grown or from a roadside stand doesn't mean it is pesticide/chemical free. Just something to think about...

Well, obviously things have changed since the last time I bothered to look at organics, Spoodler. But my stance has not changed, I still believe growing my own, buying at my farmers market from known local distributors and farmers, and cooking from scratch saves me money and is safe for my family.

I agree! I don't think organic food is bunk but I do think that the "dangers" of non-organic food are overstated to scare people.