Supermarket Organics

Supermarkets often have a small and not at all successful token organic vegetable section. Why does the supermarket shelf fail to entice the many organic buyers such as myself, even when I'm gagging for organic veg!? As a prime potential customer of organic produce, I can tell you exactly why the customer who is discerning enough to care about the environment stears well clear of supermarket organic vegetables. They break many of the ideals of the whole organic ethos, the organic label which identifies methods of growing the veg is only part of a discerning customers concerns. Its not just the superior flavour that counts ... a customer who cares enough to opt organic, will also care enough to notice the following points about their food! ;

Packaging. This is my biggest turn off to supermarket organic veggies ... I haven never seen them sold loose, but excessively packaged in plastic boxes and plastic bags. No self respecting eco-conscious individual would touch them with a carbon neutral bargepole, never mind place them in their trolly!

Going organic is all about reducing the impact of production on the environment. A quick glance at the label and not one of the products encased in plastic packing is from Ireland. They are all imported half way around the world having clocked up vast numbers of air miles belching out pollution on every leg of their journey.

Those are the reasons I walk past the token organic veg isle in a supermarket, and keep on going right into my local farmers market where I can buy unpackaged organic veg picked that very morning from the soil a couple of miles down the road. Infact, I'd go so far to say that I find it hypocritical to sell organic produce that could be grown in this country imported and over packaged.

I'm hoping to take it all even closer to our doorstep this summer by using a polytunnel to grow our own veg at home and sell to the local community. I have heard it said that because of the vast air and road miles clocked up by our food, for the average person, having your own home grown veg patch has more of an impact in reducing carbon emissions than giving up the use of your car. Not that giving up the use of a car is a viable option with public transport as it is today, but thats another post!

Now, where did I leave my sewing?!

Comments

[Flibbertygibbet]

Yeah, get back to that patchwork, missus! My cousins run a small organic food shop and as far as I know, they source quite a lot of stuff locally, so it is possible. And do the best, best cheese in the galaxy!

[Sew Recycled!]

I totally and utterly agree. We started an allotment just over a year ago and decided to go with a local Veg box to see if we could not only cope with just organic veg but what I am finding even more important, SEASONAL veg. It was really hard at first weaning off veg that was un -seasonal but boy how great it is now. Even my children love it and know of the importance it has on our environment. My children love Brussell sprouts! Yeah to home grown and local produce!

[Nonnie]

I totally agree with you. Like you, I have noticed that the supermarket organic veg is always over packaged an comes from far away. I hate when veg is pre-packaged because not only is it environmentally bad, but I find that it goes off quicker once it's opened than un-packaged veg. The only problem I have is that living in London it is more difficult to get hold of veg not from the supermarket. I think it's really great that you're going to be growing more of your own veg.

[carolyn]

Gosh I've missed so many of your posts! The piglets are adorable as is the baby shower gift for your friend (but in a different way!)I would love to grow our vegetables, in fact we do have an allotment. Unfortunately we haven't had any success what with the rabbits, who seem to eat every new shoot, and the human theiving varmints who have nicked any remaining produce we haven't managed to produce enough veg for one meal!

[anna]

I read that the Soil Association is considering banning the labelling as 'organic' of fresh produce grown overseas.

[Jennifer]

We moved from Washington state to southwest Oklahoma three years ago. The first time I went to the grocery store produce department, I stood there and cried. I was so used to going to farmers' markets and buying the most amazing, locally grown, organic produce and cut flowers in Washington. Now we live in a hot, dry area in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by cotton fields that are sprayed with poisonous chemicals, with water that is so unsafe that they have to tell us about it so we can buy the clean stuff. I have to shop at Walmart (ugh!) to get a halfway decent selection of produce. They have recently started carrying organic stuff, but, like you have noticed in Ireland, it is all over-packaged and from far away - and incredibly expensive!

I'm afraid it won't change around here anytime soon. I had a cashier at the store ask me if the organic produce and milk that I was buying tasted funny!

Sorry to rant - you seem to have pushed a button in me this morning! Good luck with your home-grown vegetables!

[letty]

Oh, I completely agree! I used to buy my veg etc at the farmers market (Boyle &/or Carrick) but after my own investigations, i found that none of their organic produce is Irish, not a thing. So, it goes to show, you have to be bloody careful bout wherever you buy!

[Podchef]

Jennifer--comment #1--why would you ever move from Washington to Oklahoma? Ugh.

The mere name "WalMart" proves the point of this post--horrendous. I haven't shopped in a MallMart for years since I realized what they were doing to small business. I would never set food in one now--even if I had to go forage for a meal along the side of the freeway.

Washington is the closest state in climate, food and attitude to Ireland and even we are having problems with the distinction between Organic with a big "O" and supermarket "organic".

This is a great post. If the Irish Blog Awards were still in the nomination phase I'd nominate this post to get the word out. The state of Organic Produce in Ireland is spotty at best despite the best efforts of passionate growers and consumers.

Great stuff. Don't forget to plant a row for the pigs!

[Rebecca]

Hi Letti

The Rooskey Growers sell their produce at Carrick Farmers Market and their farm is just down the road, their food is delish and the two sisters who run the farm are lovely ladies.
They do import a little of their veg, some citrus fruits and toms when out of season, but the majority of their stall is all their own.

[Rebecca]

Hi Letti

The Rooskey Growers sell their produce at Carrick Farmers Market and their farm is just down the road, their food is delish and the two sisters who run the farm are lovely ladies.
They do import a little of their veg, some citrus fruits and toms when out of season, but the majority of their stall is all their own.

[Phelan]

I recently wrote an article about hyrid and heirloom tomatoes. This will give you an idea why organics are rarely sold in a grocery.

http://www.all-foods-natural.com/articles/heirloom-tomatoes.html

Selling your own is a great idea. Now I am off to try and catch up on what I have missed around here.

[Rosie]

yes, I agree! although, I do admit to buying supermarket organics sometimes, I am consciously trying to steer away from supermarkets altogether and go to the local organic shop. I would love to grow my own again if I could decide whether i'm moving house or not!
I remember living in Ireland (Donegal) in the late 80's it was harder to get local veg as it was the meat/dairy farmers that were subsidised, I think.
Good luck with the polytunnel. I shall be eagerly watching for the results!

[Jennie]

You have just fired me with fresh enthusiasm for growing my own veg - more than slightly jaded by the grey February weather and the superabundance of weeds on my veg plots. I have decided though, that I won't try any more fancy-pants veg I think I "ought" to try - did I really think my fussy family would take to Celeriac or Kohl Rabi? - but I shall stick to the things we like the most and also the things which are the most expensive in the shops, especially if organic (think Purple Sprouting here). Right, loins girded (or something!)

I really enjoy your blog, by the way, though I only discovered it a couple of weeks ago and have been "lurking" . . .

[littlejennywren]

Good luck with the vegie growing. I agree that buying organic produce that has come from half way round the world is ridiculous. Packaging of organic foods at my local supermarket has reduced but it is still always wrapped so it is easier to identify at the check out.

[Maddy]

I am with you, it is so hard to get 100% Aussie organic, our farmers are crying out to be let into the markets that are over run by imported produce. I have had good success in the garden with my organic veg, but not enough to sustain a family of four.

One of the most successful things I have done is grow herbs, they take up little space and pay you back ten fold in flavour, it’s so nice to pick your own basil or parsley and add it to the pot. I would encourage anyone to get a small patch and stick in some garlic, rosemary, onions, parsley, basil, spring onions, oregano even tomatoes don’t take up too much room.

I am so looking forward to seeing Polly up and running.

[Amanda]

I'd just like to say I love reading your blog and seeing just what else you are up to! I haven't quite made it to living the good life but you give me great inspiration to get started!!