Organic Food
Sydney Tack
Gilmore
Eng. 110
November 25th, 2011
Every Penny Counts While shopping at the market everyone experiences the same thought: “Organic or regular?” If one does decide to go organic, a few things come to mind: Is organic worth the price? How do I know if it really is organic? Why should I buy the organic five-dollar raspberries, while the normal raspberries are only two dollars? These are thoughts that strike every one's minds while shopping at their local super market. The majority of people would turn away from organic products due to the price. Not only is the price a factor, but people also like the consistency of their normal brand products. Recently moving out myself, I have become very much aware of the money I spend on groceries. Even though it may seem like health comes at a price, it is a price I am willing to pay. This is a decision that could potentially affect people’s lives, yet is constantly being ignored due to the price of organic foods.
The society we live in today has evolved greatly. Today, we are experiencing a green/organic movement. Many people wonder about the origin of this movement. In the early twentieth century, all food was organically grown. However, people didn’t know any different. Organic food was simply food. As genetic engineering replaced organic farming, no one thought of purposely putting chemical spray to enhance crop growth and yield. The only concern of the farmers was how they could be more efficient in a less costly way. As petro-chemical industries began to rise in the early 1900’s, agricultural research shifted its focus to which chemicals were needed in order to promote plant and animal growth (Callaghan par. 6). These chemicals were convenient because they came from finite resources. At first, these chemicals sounded like a brilliant idea: they were efficient, cheap, and easily accessible. Genetic engineers did not know what a horrible effect these chemicals would cause, but soon became a
Gilmore
Eng. 110
November 25th, 2011
Every Penny Counts While shopping at the market everyone experiences the same thought: “Organic or regular?” If one does decide to go organic, a few things come to mind: Is organic worth the price? How do I know if it really is organic? Why should I buy the organic five-dollar raspberries, while the normal raspberries are only two dollars? These are thoughts that strike every one's minds while shopping at their local super market. The majority of people would turn away from organic products due to the price. Not only is the price a factor, but people also like the consistency of their normal brand products. Recently moving out myself, I have become very much aware of the money I spend on groceries. Even though it may seem like health comes at a price, it is a price I am willing to pay. This is a decision that could potentially affect people’s lives, yet is constantly being ignored due to the price of organic foods.
The society we live in today has evolved greatly. Today, we are experiencing a green/organic movement. Many people wonder about the origin of this movement. In the early twentieth century, all food was organically grown. However, people didn’t know any different. Organic food was simply food. As genetic engineering replaced organic farming, no one thought of purposely putting chemical spray to enhance crop growth and yield. The only concern of the farmers was how they could be more efficient in a less costly way. As petro-chemical industries began to rise in the early 1900’s, agricultural research shifted its focus to which chemicals were needed in order to promote plant and animal growth (Callaghan par. 6). These chemicals were convenient because they came from finite resources. At first, these chemicals sounded like a brilliant idea: they were efficient, cheap, and easily accessible. Genetic engineers did not know what a horrible effect these chemicals would cause, but soon became a