[Grovenet] Organic vs conventional vs GMO

[Marian Cakarnis]

For the past six or seven years (last year was an exception), I've
participated in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).  We are so lucky in
FG to have quite a few very close by.  This year I'm going to try the Love
Farm CSA for the first time.  They are virtually around the corner from me
and their pickup times are very convenient.

In case anyone hasn't tried it, it is a great way to get farm fresh veggies
and know who grew them.  Another benefit is there are a limited number of
people handling your food before you get it.  Washing fragile berries, like
raspberries, can often crush or bruise them a bit.  Knowing they haven't
been handled nearly as much as storebought produce, makes me feel more
confident about eating them unwashed.

If you haven't tried a CSA before, I highly recommend it.  And if you are
unsure, you might try splitting a share with a friend and alternating your
pick-ups.  I do this every year and we pick up on alternate weeks.
Alternating weeks works better than trying to split the weekly pick up -
it's not always easy or fun to split a squash or head of lettuce or end up
with just 2 ears of corn.  With this method you won't be over-inundated with
veggies and can still supplement with farm stands and farmer's markets on
the off-week if necessary.

Marian

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of chuck
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 6:46 PM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Organic vs conventional vs GMO

Unfortunately, it's not so easy to avoid GMO foods.  The top 2 crops are 
Soybeans and Corn.  What isn't made into processed foods (partially 
hydrogenated soybean oil, high fructose corn syrup) is made into animal 
feed.  If you eat processed foods (in a can, box, or package) it's 
probably got one of the two ingredients in it - along with a long list 
of additives, preservatives, and coloring.  And most of the meat we eat 
comes from factory farms - which is fed the GMO animal feeds, and worse.

Pretty much the only way to eat safe (or should I say to KNOW what you 
are eating) anymore is to grow your own, and become Vegetarian or 
Vegan.  The thread I saw earlier about starting a community garden is a 
GREAT idea. 

Dr. Mercola's site has a lot of good info as does NaturalNews.com.

Good books on the subject include The China Study, Omnivore's Dilemma, 
Diet for a New America, Food Revolution.

Great documentaries are King Corn, Dying to have Known, Simply Raw, Food 
Matters.

When I was in my Computer Store, and ate out at Quiznos, Cornerstone, 
Pac Ave etc every day - I was the poster boy for the Standard American 
Diet.  And I topped 225 lbs.  Today I am a Vegetarian.  I stopped 
drinking soda and try to stay away from processed foods. especially 
HFCS.  I quit eating all meat and instead eat tons of veggies and 
fruit.  Organic if I can afford it and as locally grown as possible.  
New Seasons has a really good selection.  Fred Meyer's not too bad 
either.  Safeway?  I avoid altogether.  Winco's not too bad but you 
gotta watch what you are buying and know where it coming from.

I said I topped 225 pounds.  My weight today is 188lbs.  That's a net 
loss of 37 pounds.  And if I can do it - anyone can do it.

The Standard American Diet is killing us.  Heart Disease, Cancer, 
Diabetes, Obesity, Osteoporosis -  So now let's genetically alter some 
genes and see what that does to us.  I like being a Guinea Pig

Good article Martha



Martha Khoury wrote:
> How to know which is which... (Found this interesting tidbit on Dr.  
> Mercola's Newsletter.) --MK
>
> The little stickers on fruits and vegetables have digits that let you  
> know whether they're conventionally grown or organic, and if they're  
> genetically modified (GM). There are many benefits to knowing this  
> information:
>
> . The health risks -- GM foods have been in stores only since the  
> 1990s, so the long-term health risks are unknown
> . The environmental risks -- Scientists are concerned that GMOs will  
> reduce biodiversity
> . The taste benefits -- People all over the world agree that the range  
> of possible flavors is greater without a few GM foods crowding out the  
> many natural varieties
>
> Here's what you should look for:
>
> . A four-digit number means the produce is conventionally grown
> . A five-digit number beginning with 9 means it's organic
> . A five-digit number beginning with 8 means it's GM
>
>
> Sources:
>    Ideal Bite January 30, 2009
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