organic

[dread head vegan]

just was wondering how much organic food do you eat?

[Morn]

The majority of my food is not organic. It is way to costly for me. I wish I could afford to buy all organic but the availability and expense to do so makes it difficult.

[MelissaO]

Mine is less than half - too expensive and hard to find. Things like lemons ( love to toss them peel and all into the juicer to cut my greens.), ginger, spinach, and little baby red, yellow and orange peppers I try and purchase organic. The rest depends on the season.:)

[goobygirl]

I get a raw delivery fruit and veggie box every other week (from door to door organics). Their prices are comparable to the store and I don't have to waste gas or time getting my produce.

I don't usually supplement with organic lemons, but almost all other fruit and veggies are organic. If not, I was them with GSE first or a produce wash. I just have a hard time eating things that might have pesticides on them. It skeeves me out. I also know that organic has more nutrients, so more bang for the buck.

My nuts are usually not organic if I buy them locally. But I did buy a bunch of organic grains from barry farms recently at a very decent price (they have nuts too).

I don't buy any superfoods tho, no maca, mesquite, chia seeds, goji berries. Just regular produce that most people can find in the store. Oh I did add carob last week, but honestly, that's not that big of a deal. I really don't crave chocolate, and I bought it just to make a recipe for nonraw friends.

[Jenifae]

All the food I have in the house is Organic. The only time I don't eat organic is at a restaruant because, I can't do anything about that. But, I think it is extremely important HEALTHWISE because, I don't want to put in chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and whatever toxins they grow them with in my body to try to fight off. It's much better to grow your own food but, since I can't do that yet I will pay the extra $$$ for it. It's really not that much more and I figure I will save in the long run by not giving so-called savings to the medical community later on.

[Lady Green Jeans]

I've been hitting the farmers' market on Saturday morning and finding better value for organic. What I will pay extra for in organic includes all my lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers, and root veggies. Most fruit is hit and miss. Prefer apples and bananas organic. The rest depends on what is available and the cost. Avos aren't a highly sprayed crop so unless I get good pricing, I usually buy conventional.

I can taste a difference between organic and conventional on quite a few items. If it bothers me, then I strive for organic and scimp in another area of my budget. Would say about half my purchases are organic.

[Go Go Goji]

All of my produce is organic. The nuts and seeds, nah. Those are way too expensive.

I find the taste is so much better with a lot of organic produce. I once bought collard greens from my regular supermarket and they didn't taste a thing like the hardy, flavorful ones I get from the weekly farmer's market around here. Ditto for tomatoes and watermelon (in season).

[Jenifae]

I've been hitting the farmers' market on Saturday morning and finding better value for organic. What I will pay extra for in organic includes all my lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers, and root veggies. Most fruit is hit and miss. Prefer apples and bananas organic. The rest depends on what is available and the cost. Avos aren't a highly sprayed crop so unless I get good pricing, I usually buy conventional.

I can taste a difference between organic and conventional on quite a few items. If it bothers me, then I strive for organic and scimp in another area of my budget. Would say about half my purchases are organic.

Organic does taste better and once I was organic for awhile I can taste the chemical on non-organic veggies. :( eeww!

[rawstrength]

About 75% of my food is organic. All of the food that I buy is organic, the apples and bananas I take from my school's dining hall are not. Sometimes when I am buying I will choose local over organic, but usually these are local farmers who don't spray but just cannot afford the organic license.
You can taste and feel the difference between organic and conventional produce.

[HolyGuacamole]

Almost all of the food we eat is organic. Once in a blue moon if I really want to make something and I can't get a certain ingredient organically grown, I will get the conventional one, but there are certain things I will absolutely not buy conventional no matter what, such as berries. My son cries for blackberries all the time but I won't buy them conventionally grown and I can't find organic right now. More than one grocery store freak out has resulted. :rolleyes:

[Eva]

Most of it. Some things are tough to find organic... like pineapple or bananas. If I get those, it's usually not organic. They do have bananas at my local HFS sometimes lately though! :)

I just recently made the switch, and now I can't eat some things that aren't organic because, like Jenifae said, I can now taste the pesticides more and it's gross!!! Especially with apples! Like night and day!

[cherrypie]

when i was still living in germany and the uk we ate 100% organic and most times even locally grown, since we moved to the US organic is no longer affordable for me:(, at least in CA organic is sooo expencive, at my local farmes market 1# of grapes for example is 3.50, my children eat that in 3 min. the only things i am insisting that need to be organic these days are carrots and bananas. On the other hand I a have to say I am not blwon away by the quality (taste) of organic food in my area, it still tastes quite bland ( I even suspect that things are labeld organic that are not)

When ever i go back to europe and eat there (my whole family is organic there) it blows me away how fab the foods taste there. This is an issue by the way that a lot of people from abroad have.

[Robison]

I get what is available in organic, which isnt much where I live. Im starting a garden next spring so my supply should increase provided I dont murder all the plants somehow.

I was reading that some organic growers use pesticides too, but even then when tested the levels were lower than non-organic.

[Raene]

I eat 99% organic. Exceptions are pineapples, coconuts, and sometimes avocados.

It's worth the cost, and even as a part time worker who is always struggling, organic foods are more nutritious, better quality, and keep you healthier. Who wants chemicals in their foods...isn't that what we're trying to avoid?

I work at a food co-op so I can get a 17% discount. I constantly check the reduced price produce that's been bumped or is on its' way out. I order cases at a time of oranges, hemp seeds, and other things that I go through quickly. You can cut corners, but don't cut em by eating conventional :(

[KaitAnne]

At this point, less than 10%. I am looking forward to the day when I am able to work so we are not depending only on hubby's income. I do get organic carrots though. It's kind of tough to find oranics around here, maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. I'll perhaps have to start getting some delivered to my door.

[RawKnitster]

I've pasted in a list of the contents from this week's organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box. Every Friday the farm emails a list of this week's items and allows up to 5 substitution. I made 3 subs, and ordered additional items. I pick up the box(s) every Wednesday at a drop spot about 5 minutes from my house. This is a small box for 2 people, it cost $30 a week. With the additional items it comes to $50.22 for this week.

The following items are scheduled to be in your box:

0.25 pound Ginger Root
1 pound Roma Tomatoes
1 each Cauliflower
1 each Acorn Squash FCF
2 each Sweet Corn FCF
4 each Golden Delicious Apples *
1 bunch Red Kale FCF
3 each Star Crimson Pears *
0.34 pound Cremini Mushrooms *
3 each Valencia Oranges
0.33 pound Salad Mix (Cut Greens) FCF
3 each Fuji Apples *
1 bunch Green Onions *
FCF = Grown at Full Circle Farm * = Grown in the Pacific Northwest

additional items:

1 Lacinato Kale 2.79
1 Rainbow Chard 2.99
1 Red Leaf Lettuce 2.49
1 Romaine Lettuce 2.99
1 Red Onions 1.49
1 Red Radishes 2.49
2 Lemons 1.99
3 Valencia Oranges 2.99

Additional items total $ 20.22

Invoice total $ 50.22

Add in some organic bananas, nuts, and specialty items and that's my week. There is enough to share with my non-raw husband and daughter.

It is more expensive, but the items are bigger, fresher, and taste better. Also I don't have to waste time and gas going shopping. Most importantly, I feel so much better and cleaner eating organic.

Shop around. Eat as much organic as you can. It's worth it. The more of us that do it, the more mainstream it will become.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/RawKnitster/marketbagblog.jpg

[juliesvoyage2]

How do I find a place like this in my area?

[RawKnitster]

You could ask around at a Farmer's Market. I visited this vendor at the Market for 3-4 years and wasn't aware they had this program. One day I asked where the romaine was. The girl told me the box customers had gotten it all. I said, "Box customer?" Went home and signed up!

Some of the CSA farms charge $300 or more and you have to sign up for the season. This farm does it by the week.

Does your state have a Farmer's Market Association? Google it. Or try googling community supported agriculture and your state. You might get something that way.

Good Luck. I hope you find one. If not now, maybe next year. It seems to be a trend that is catching on.

[NoGMO!]

All the food I have in the house is Organic. The only time I don't eat organic is at a restaruant because, I can't do anything about that. But, I think it is extremely important HEALTHWISE because, I don't want to put in chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and whatever toxins they grow them with in my body to try to fight off. It's much better to grow your own food but, since I can't do that yet I will pay the extra $$$ for it. It's really not that much more and I figure I will save in the long run by not giving so-called savings to the medical community later on.

agreed! 100% Organic.

I often have trouble affording it like others, so I just buy much less and have to forgo certain pricey produce or atleast buy produce that is in season and on sale. I can't believe there is such a thing as food for sale that has been grown and sprayed with dangerous chemicals. bizzare! just my opinion and choice.. plus I like to support organic growers.