Organic food in supermarkets

Edwardia

Got my Holland and Barrett order and ooh lots of bubble wrap so I sat popping it through the Budget speech

2 x Aspall organic cyder vinegar should do me at least three months for dressings
2 x VegeBears organic fruit jellies for OH, tried couple and oh fruity, remind me of jelly babies, yummy and vegan.
House Of Westphalia organic sunflower seed bread OH looks unimpressed
House of Westphalia organic pumpernickel bread OH ditto
2 x Inter tomato and pepper tofu pate for me
2 x Neal's Yard Wholefoods organic brazil nuts for OH
2 x Neal's Yard Wholefoods organic walnut pieces
2 x Neal's Yard Wholefoods organic cashew nuts
2 x Neal's Yard Wholefoods organic Bombay mix for watching movies with and mmmm recommend

BOGOHP with free delivery cost 23.51 the lot

Ocado order arrived today, got everything. Had text to say there were delays but arrived on time.

Got the Ocado medium organic veg and salad box and it's so good value.. lovely Jerusalem artichokes, sweet potatoes for OH, winter purslane, two huge red bell peppers, cute baby cauli, carrots, shallots, vine tomatoes, courgettes and fennel.

I'm thinking of stuffing the bell peppers with nutz and cheese.. have some Halloumi

I have had Parachute coconut oil and I just didn't like the taste when cooking with it eww but excellent body moisturiser, fantastic

Kirri

Edwardia, what a totally bizarre set up from Farmaround, what on earth are they on about if you are allowed to order, I just don't get it - totally unprofessional the driver refusing without contacting that morning. Plus if there was an issue like that they should have phoned not just emailed imo, even if the email had actually been sent.

Fire_Fox

MissAT wrote: »

Is anyone here not convinced that Organic is better?

Organic produce still uses pesticides on it, which does not mean organically grown by my understanding. All the 'organic' label actually means is slightly fewer pesticides are used on the produce.

I also have not experienced the improved flavour/texture that you all are raving about.

That depends on your definition of 'better' and what your personal priorities are. I don't think anyone here is under the illusion that all organic is optimally healthy nor that organic is a cast iron guarantee of either quality or even of no residues whatsoever. As I understand it there are other ways of reducing pests, from companion planting to biopesticides which are not artificial chemicals but rather microscopic organisms.

But the lovely Edwardia has had some fascinating results with her own health, and certainly *some* products are tastier whilst others appear to be disappointing. IMO that is where this thread comes into its own, value for money is always MSE.

Mojisola

MissAT wrote: »

Is anyone here not convinced that Organic is better?

Organic produce still uses pesticides on it, which does not mean organically grown by my understanding. All the 'organic' label actually means is slightly fewer pesticides are used on the produce.

I also have not experienced the improved flavour/texture that you all are raving about.

An organic system isn't a conventional farm with reduced pesticides - it's a sustainable growing system.

https://www.soilassociation.org/whatisorganic/organicfarming?gclid=CPjs573fi7YCFQe-zAod7AoAFQ

https://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=30Bk3Sg6Pp0%3D&tabid=385

rufydoofyM

MissAT wrote: »

Is anyone here not convinced that Organic is better?

Organic produce still uses pesticides on it, which does not mean organically grown by my understanding. All the 'organic' label actually means is slightly fewer pesticides are used on the produce.

I also have not experienced the improved flavour/texture that you all are raving about.

To me and oh going organic was and is to avoid gm food directly and indirectly through what is given in animal feed. Avoiding chemical nasties and perhaps better health is important too. Agreed not everything tastes different, but a lot does. We were amazed at how much better organic rice was, cucumbers, greens, cawli, apples and berries etc. Even using organic flour has improved our homemade bread, much better results.

Until I was 26 I had never had to shop for fruit and veg because my gf grew it all and supplied the family and on every visit we were given seasonal produce. He had 3 allotments and a huge veg garden. I went out on the land with him to help from about 3yrs old and had the first and last of all my favorites. It wasn't until I had to shop for these things that I really appreciated how lucky I had been. Little tastes as good as it did then but maybe its down to rose tinted glasses, but organic is the closest I have got to the memories of my childhood.
For those who do not have the memory of what things used to taste like it is difficult to see just how much standards and quality have slipped.

Edwardia have you tried Biona unfiltered organic cider vinegar ? If so how do you think it compares with Aspall ?

Edwardia

MissAT wrote: »

Is anyone here not convinced that Organic is better?

Organic produce still uses pesticides on it, which does not mean organically grown by my understanding. All the 'organic' label actually means is slightly fewer pesticides are used on the produce.

I also have not experienced the improved flavour/texture that you all are raving about.

Synthetic pesticides are NOT allowed on organic food certified by the Soil Association.

There is a list of pesticides etc which can be used (some only on headlands to keep weeds from spreading into crops) and of those some can only be used with permission under strict circumstances.

Biological crop protection is used also. For example rather than spray apples the farmer may release predators on trees which eat the aphids feasting on the apple blossom buds, for example.

Use is made of mulches to suppress weeds, crop rotation so pests don't get a chance to build up a population

Not all conventional farmers use pesticides, in any case, because of the health risks to them and their workers.

But here are some links for you to look at yourself..

http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XN06h4o5BOs%3D&tabid=143

http://www.pan-uk.org/archive/Projects/Food/index.htm

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/advisory-groups/PRiF/PRiF_Results_and_Reports/index-to-results-by-food-pesticide-residues

When I first went organic along with my husband in March 2012 we didn't taste a whole lot of difference at first. But as time went on, because we weren't ingesting industrial quantities of salt, sugar, preservatives, colourings, flavourings etc our tastebuds improved. We are now able to taste the difference in things like fruit and veg.

When I first started buying organic food I was totally clueless. From March-August 2012 we ate just what I could find in local supermarkets which meant trawling round ASDA. Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco with deliveries from the nearest Waitrose. Shopping was a real PITA.

I started using Ocado, Abel & Cole and Riverford which introduced me to more food from farms and a much wider choice.

I still use supermarkets - I was in ASDA yesterday buying organic tinned tomatoes, baked beans, Weetabix and trimmed leeks. I'll stock up on garlic and olive oil in Morrisons, organic lamb chops, steaks and cheese in Sainsbury's, organic cheese and biscotti in Lidl, dried herbs and baguettes in Waitrose.

If you try organic food and don't like it, that's up to you. If you aren't fussed about chevalburgers, that's up to you. If you think it's too expensive, I can understand that. If you think it's less nutritious I'll say a carrot is a carrot, in the end.

I have type 2 diabetes which means regular blood tests. I had a liver function test just before I went organic and my doctor was concerned that it was flagged because I don't drink. In between the first test and the second extra one I went organic after finding added water, glucose syrup and two additives in Tesco pork loin steaks. The second test showed a dramatic improvement.

So I'm not convinced by any pseudo science argument, I know that stopping eating additives reversed the raised liver enzymes in weeks.

My ophthalmic consultant told me that he felt that having seen some improvement already, it's possible my retinopathy could heal up and I should stick with eating the way I do.

For me it's a no brainer, I don't want to be blind and I don't want to be shooting up insulin. No Gregg's pie or Tesco Value burger tastes good enough to risk that IMO.

Other people on this thread will have their own reasons to eat organic. The reasons why people chose to eat some or even all of their food as organic (organitarian) is just as valid as the reasons why people choose not to eat organic food.

Edwardia

:T to the crew here

rufydoofyM - good point there I forgot about completely in my indignation GM has to be labelled in UK but animals fed on it don't and certainly GM can be traced into milk, for example. Maize (corn) has such a distinctive genetic pattern that it can be traced from field to human.

When I had an allotment, it was always organic. I would hazard a guess that most people are reluctant to spray chemicals on produce they are going to eat when they see the chemicals at the gardening centre.

No haven't had the Biona yet as I've been using Aspall for years, even before I went organic, I just always liked it. I've put Sainsbury's SO organic unfiltered Extra Virgin olive oil next to the filtered and TBH there doesn't look to be any difference (they are same price). I'd use the unfiltered on salad though just in case have you tried it ? I'll put it on my list. My main sources for Biona stuff are Ocado and Holland and Barrett and if they don't stock it I would have to hunt around.

Fire Fox - I started the thread back in October to report back on some of the things I've tried and I hope it's useful, especially now that so many people join in.

Mojisola thanks for the links and you're soo much more succinct than me

Kirri - yup I agree Farmaround were unprofessional. I've worked in customer services and if you're proactive and grasp the nettle as it were you can often turn a customer around. I know it's not great to be dealing with grumpy customers but there wasn't just one mistake there were loads. Farmaround had opportunities to fix my disappointment and didn't and they mislead me. So nope won't try to use them myself and on that performance wouldn't recommend them.

Gonna have to buy the Cow nation milk in Selfridges now

Edwardia

http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/fmcg/fresh/organic-food-sales-rebounded-in-february/237644.article

Here's the article from The Grocer.

Mojisola

Edwardia wrote: »

There is a list of pesticides etc which can be used (some only on headlands to keep weeds from spreading into crops) and of those some can only be used with permission under strict circumstances.

There aren't any weedkillers that can be used in an organic system. There are some natural fungicides and pesticides allowed but the farmers have to get permission for their use. Routine use isn't allowed and a farmer who regularly requested their use would be monitored - the need would suggest something was wrong with the farm management.

Edwardia

Mojisola wrote: »

There aren't any weedkillers that can be used in an organic system. There are some natural fungicides and pesticides allowed but the farmers have to get permission for their use. Routine use isn't allowed and a farmer who regularly requested their use would be monitored - the need would suggest something was wrong with the farm management.

Sorry I meant pests spreading into crops, have flu ATM despite flu jab