Those who buy/eat organic foods

coasterqueen wrote: Have you noticed more organic foods in the stores by name brands? A few weeks ago we bought some spaghetti sauce (still haven't tried it yet, lol) by Ragu (I think that was the brand) and it said "USDA Organic" on it. Then tonight when we went grocery shopping we found more things by name brands. We saw Organic Frosted Mini Wheats, Raisin Bran and Rice Crispies. Is this new or am I just now noticing it? We are spending a lot more time trying to find as much organic things in the store as possible, so maybe we are just now noticing.

Can we 'trust' these name brand Organic products? I know they are USDA approved, but are they TRULY organic?

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I've noticed them but haven't tried them - I'd love to buy organic stuff but can't afford the extra cost - it adds up so quickly. I think it's fairly new ~ I accidentally got the Ragu organic spaghetti sauce a few months ago and it was really good though.

I don't know how strict the USDA's guidelines are for organic foods, but I would think that it really is organic. I don't really know though.... I'm not really any help.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I haven't really noticed it in my area....I'll have to keep an eye out when I'm at the grocery store tomorrow.

coasterqueen replied:
I know what you mean. Our grocery bill was $70 more this time around so we are going to have to find ways to cut back to make up for that. Dh is pretty stern about the idea that we try to go as organic as we can, especially after reading some book he read and it talking about how horrible our foods are for us. Soooooo, we are trying to skimp in other ways to buy organic. It's hard though.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Do you have a garden? I would love to be able to have a garden but unfortunately our yard isn't big enough. My mom always had a huge garden though and she would freeze tons of veggies and we'd eat them all year round. All the other things add up though too like pasta and stuff.

Nina J replied: If they are USDA approved, then they are organic. In 2001 nation wide organic standards were introduced by USDA, to end labeling confusion and have consistency from state to state. Food that has the USDA label has to be grown under strict guidelines, they can't use herbicides or pesticides and lots of other things when they grow the food. With meat products, the animals have to be fed organic foods, they arn't given hormones or anything. When you by food with the USDA label, you know it's organic because of the strict guidelines that were introduced. They have to comply with the guidelines.


I read up about all this stuff when I decided to become a vegetarian, I hope it helps

coasterqueen replied:
Yes we have a garden. This is the first year in years we've had one, though. We have clay soil and gardens don't grow well in all clay soil so this year we saved up our money to make raised garden beds. We made two of them this year and planted a garden. Although we didn't realize we bought regular soil, so next year we are going to rid of all that soil and buy organic soil. So this year our garden isn't truly organic, but it's the next best thing. Next year it will be completely organic. Now if I can grow fruit, which is the next biggest expense to meat in our house, I'd be set.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
I didn't even know you could buy organic soil! I'm sure that if you don't use any fertilizers or pesticides it will be fine.

I know what you mean about fruit too ~ wouldn't it be nice if we could all have our own orchards and vineyards and berry patches? Come to think of it I wish we could have our own meat too... I was born in the wrong era.

3_call_me_mama replied: If it says USDA CERTIFIED then it is organic. I also have noticed a lot more organic stuff popping up and it's great. Some of the prices arent' that much higher than regular stuff so for some things it balances out. Since the whole DYE issue with cameorn we try to eat only organic or all natural foods. Delmonte pickles (the ones that say organic on teh label ) are FABULOUS! We are finding out how much beter everythgin tastes when it isn't loaded with junk and pesticides. There's a list somewhere online ( i'm so bad at links) that has teh top foods that you should eat organic if you cannot eat anythign else organic (it's fruits and veggies ~ and they list teh most harmful ones to eat unorganic due to the pesticides) I'd love to get all organic meat but at almost $6 a lb for it I really an't afford to always get it. But we do buy teh hormone free and free range whenever possible. Plus our local CSA has chickens that we can buy and the farm is 100% certified organic. They also are doing beef so we might get some this year.

coasterqueen replied: Carrie,

If you come across that list let me know. We'd definitely be interested. And yes the meat can be expensive. I found free range, hormone free chicken breasts at the store, but not beef. I will definitely have to look for the pickles. Kylie LOVES them. Oh and the prices of the name brand organic stuff, I didn't really even notice the difference. So yes, they are keeping those prices w/in range.

Thanks

gr33n3y3z replied: yes we have the chicken,beef and pork organic meats here
eggs,butter also
Of course milk
cereal we are seeing more of on the shelves
sauces and stuff also.

Jackie012007 replied: yeah I have been LOVING Wal*Mart lately because their HUGE array of organic products... they are awesome because they mark organic products with a big green tag... and not just foods now! Organic is expensive, but lukily I live in a good-sized city and am able to choose from several different organic stores and markets... and YES gardening helps out a lot! Organic food really is worth it, fruits and veggies last so much longer and it's so healthy and tasty!!

3_call_me_mama replied: Here's one link to that list karen
Dirty Dozen Organic Produce

You can do a web search for "organic produce dirty dozen" and there's a TON of sites and info on it.

Another big favorite here which replaced our fruit snacks (which teh kids would live off if I let them) were Organic Fruit leather. Stretch Island sells it. OH adn Costco has added a TON of organics to their inventory.

coasterqueen replied: Thanks a lot Carrie. I will look through that link as well as do a google search. I know Dh tried the fruit leather and didn't like it but that was ages ago and I'm not 100% positive it was organic. So I will definitely have to look for that. Although all three of my sweeties would rather live off of fresh fruit anyways.

MyLuvBugs replied:
I personally don't think they are all natural "Organic". Read some of the labels just to find out, but I really don't trust them. Just b/c the USDA says it is "organic" doesn't always mean that it is. KWIM? JMO.

MyLuvBugs replied:
Doesn't necessarily mean that when they are making the sauce or cereal or whatever that they don't add other crap to it though. I'd still suggest to read all labels before purchase, and make sure you know (and can pronounce) all ingredients. That way you know it's a natural and healthy product. JMHO!

Nina J replied: USDA approved food is around 95% organic. The only sure way to know is if you grow it yourself.

DansMom replied: Yes, I have noticed this---I think it's great! The only reason I'll take a special trip to Whole Foods these days is for their huge selection of organic meat. Otherwise, I can find almost everything at my local grocery these days---even organic produce. They are just responding to the market---it's what people want. I'm kind of hoping it will affect farming practices in general if more and more people demand organic with their pocketbooks. Then the prices would start to go down.

coasterqueen replied:
Oh I so wish we had a Whole Foods. My BIL works for Whole Foods doing all the programming for their databases and such so he and his family are really on the organic way of life. They brought organic meat and produce with them on our camping trip and the meat was out of this world tasting. You can really tell the difference, as well as with the produce.

We only have one small health food store and they are limited as to what they have, therefore prices are enormous.

I do hope farmers change their ways as well. Seeing new organic products in the stores, especially like Kelloggs and such gives me hope that things will 'eventually' change. I haven't read the book Dh has been reading but the things he tells me from it as well as my own research tells me that it's the smart thing to do to go organic for our health and well being.

jcc64 replied: I'm thrilled that the organic thing is becoming more mainstream. I recently read a very interesting article about the entry of Walmart into the organic movement, and it was seen as a mixed blessing. The sheer volume of goods demanded by Walmart may not be entirely compatible with the slower, somewhat less productive organic farming methods, but I hope that there can be some way to work these problems out for the good of us all. It would be great if organic foods weren't just the province of those who can afford it but available to the masses at reasonable prices.

Brias3 replied: I don't know whether or not to trust the name brand so-called "organic" products but have tried some of them before. I also am trying to buy more organic as of late but it does do a number to an average grocery bill. As far as organic fruits and veggies go, I do grow a number of veggies in the garden- I have cherry and regular tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, carrots, lettuce and rhubarb. Everything has come up fairly well this year but due to a big rabbit and deer problem, I'm still buying alot of these things in the store. I tend to try to skimp and buy non-organics of products that have a thick skin or that we don't eat the skin of (since that is what is exposed to the pesticides) but nonetheless, it can be such an expense. I did just skim through an interesting book on the subject though- I'll have to run and track down the title and share with you.