Comments on: The Pricing for Organic Foods Has to Be MORE Expensive Before It Gets Cheaper – The Renegade Health Show Episode #11 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:16:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: bjamez http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2397 bjamez Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:26:23 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2397 Andris, that is right on. Those of us who are poor just cannot afford all-organic food. I've never priced it myself, but I wouldn't doubt an all-organic diet to be anywhere from $600 to $700 a month. Families of 3 who live on a $2,500 salary (like mine did for some time) with a $800 to $1000 mortgage payment let alone the huge price of gas and other bills, simply would not be able to afford it. I agree with you, Kevin, about growers being transparent and using it to market, but growers need to find ways to lower prices, not higher them so that more people can benefit from the healthiness of organic foods. Low prices should not mean low quality (If only the food corporations could understand that). Andris, that is right on. Those of us who are poor just cannot afford all-organic food. I’ve never priced it myself, but I wouldn’t doubt an all-organic diet to be anywhere from $600 to $700 a month. Families of 3 who live on a $2,500 salary (like mine did for some time) with a $800 to $1000 mortgage payment let alone the huge price of gas and other bills, simply would not be able to afford it. I agree with you, Kevin, about growers being transparent and using it to market, but growers need to find ways to lower prices, not higher them so that more people can benefit from the healthiness of organic foods. Low prices should not mean low quality (If only the food corporations could understand that).

]]> By: Andris http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2281 Andris Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:20:18 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2281 Theoretically, this is a plausible idea. People want high quality products and rush to spend their money on them. However, I think it has one fundamental flaw- many people simply cannot afford to pay the high prices on top quality organic products. I would love to eat 100% organic diet but, alas, I cannot afford to do it. I also know many other people who would like to go 100% organic and they simply cannot afford it. If the prices go up, what are they going to do then? I have lived in the USA only 9 year, but my impression is that "all-organic" lifestyle is the privilege of people who make enough money to afford it. I am not suprised there is certain cinicism among people who cannot afford all organic diets about those who can. Although I genuinely repsect what they are trying to accomplish, the fact remains that most "health advocates" are well to do individuals for whom price is not an issue. For example, Mike Adams is a millionaire. If I had millions of dollars, I would acttually try to do the same things he is trying to do- educate poeple and take down the corrupt FDA. Have you heard of a Health advocate working 50 hours a week trying to make his/her ends meet and trying to change the world at the same time? I have not. Every one of them I am familiar with does not even have a regular 8 to 5 pm job. Every time I go to Whole foods, every other car in their parking lot is a fancy Lexus or BMW. I do not have one, and I cannot afford to buy all my produce in whole foods. Should bying organic produce be a privilege of the rich people and the rest of us should resign to buying chemical laden produce simply because we cannot afford it? Theoretically, this is a plausible idea. People want high quality products and rush to spend their money on them. However, I think it has one fundamental flaw- many people simply cannot afford to pay the high prices on top quality organic products. I would love to eat 100% organic diet but, alas, I cannot afford to do it. I also know many other people who would like to go 100% organic and they simply cannot afford it. If the prices go up, what are they going to do then? I have lived in the USA only 9 year, but my impression is that “all-organic” lifestyle is the privilege of people who make enough money to afford it. I am not suprised there is certain cinicism among people who cannot afford all organic diets about those who can. Although I genuinely repsect what they are trying to accomplish, the fact remains that most “health advocates” are well to do individuals for whom price is not an issue. For example, Mike Adams is a millionaire. If I had millions of dollars, I would acttually try to do the same things he is trying to do- educate poeple and take down the corrupt FDA. Have you heard of a Health advocate working 50 hours a week trying to make his/her ends meet and trying to change the world at the same time? I have not. Every one of them I am familiar with does not even have a regular 8 to 5 pm job. Every time I go to Whole foods, every other car in their parking lot is a fancy Lexus or BMW. I do not have one, and I cannot afford to buy all my produce in whole foods. Should bying organic produce be a privilege of the rich people and the rest of us should resign to buying chemical laden produce simply because we cannot afford it?

]]> By: frann http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2212 frann Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:56:06 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2212 There's a way to get great organic food, from your local area, AND great a great boost to your personal fitness at the same time - grow your own. This is a great hobby, really rewarding, and you get to eat the results. It doesn't get much better than that! There’s a way to get great organic food, from your local area, AND great a great boost to your personal fitness at the same time – grow your own. This is a great hobby, really rewarding, and you get to eat the results. It doesn’t get much better than that!

]]> By: Ron http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2128 Ron Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:13:18 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2128 Hi Kevin! You have comments on your vids disabled so I assume you want us to comment here on your chanel... I hope honesty IS what you indeed want. On getting a high price for organic foods, an apple your example. You said, you'd pay a dollar more for an apple under your list of quality assurances. Well I would like honesty and competitive free market practices to allow prices to determine themselves... Once we get to the point where the standards for organic growing are met (and I agree with transparency). At my local health food market I know they are buying good quality produce, and selling at very competitive prices. The more people want organic the more growers will convert. Then prices will come down. It is unfortunate we live in a get rich quick world, where everyone wants a high profit margine rather than fair profit high volume. I've been into healthy food since 1992 and it's getting better all the time I appreciate what you are doing and hope you do well, but please keep in mind poor people want to be healthy too! One meal at a time! Good luck, O, Hi Kevin!
You have comments on your vids disabled so I assume you want us to comment here on your chanel… I hope honesty IS what you indeed want.

On getting a high price for organic foods, an apple your example. You said, you’d pay a dollar more for an apple under your list of quality assurances. Well I would like honesty and competitive free market practices to allow prices to determine themselves… Once we get to the point where the standards for organic growing are met (and I agree with transparency).

At my local health food market I know they are buying good quality produce, and selling at very competitive prices. The more people want organic the more growers will convert. Then prices will come down.

It is unfortunate we live in a get rich quick world, where everyone wants a high profit margine rather than fair profit high volume.

I’ve been into healthy food since 1992 and it’s getting better all the time I appreciate what you are doing and hope you do well, but please keep in mind poor people want to be healthy too! One meal at a time!

Good luck, O,

]]> By: Carrie Ransom http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2125 Carrie Ransom Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:10:17 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2125 Being a single person, I'd pay the extra money for the premium product. After all, I already buy almost everything organic since doing The Ultra Simple Diet cleanse from Dr. Hyman (thank you for bringing that info to light! My joints feel AMAZING and that brain fog is gone, too!), but organic doesn't guarantee the vitamins and minerals in the food, so I choose to take vitamins, and the good ones aren't cheap! Sure, some people with a family to feed may not be able to support the products at a higher price, so they won't purchase them. Just like at a place like Mother's Market; the stuff in there is on the pricier side, yet they still have a client base willing to pay their prices! Being a single person, I’d pay the extra money for the premium product. After all, I already buy almost everything organic since doing The Ultra Simple Diet cleanse from Dr. Hyman (thank you for bringing that info to light! My joints feel AMAZING and that brain fog is gone, too!), but organic doesn’t guarantee the vitamins and minerals in the food, so I choose to take vitamins, and the good ones aren’t cheap!
Sure, some people with a family to feed may not be able to support the products at a higher price, so they won’t purchase them. Just like at a place like Mother’s Market; the stuff in there is on the pricier side, yet they still have a client base willing to pay their prices!

]]> By: L http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2110 L Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:02:07 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2110 I am concerned about the pesticides but also the genetic engineering of our foods and the radiating also. I also understand the higher prices of organic produce but places like Wild Oats or Whole Foods are way out of bounds on some of their prices. These are the kind of places I have to shop for organics for variety. Some of the chain markets sell some items and sometimes the price is more reasonable but not always. This puts my food budget off the chart and there are only two of us. I find I have to buy regular foods more often than not b/c I can't afford the organics. There are not any organic farmers in my area that I know of that sell at a farmers market so people who have this option are so blessed. I do hope that in the future there will be an organization or web site where we can put together info expressing our concerns over the practices being done to our food, so we can get it out to the government officials in charge of these areas so they know there are people who want these practices stopped. I am concerned about the pesticides but also the genetic engineering of our foods and the radiating also. I also understand the higher prices of organic produce but places like Wild Oats or Whole Foods are way out of bounds on some of their prices. These are the kind of places I have to shop for organics for variety. Some of the chain markets sell some items and sometimes the price is more reasonable but not always. This puts my food budget off the chart and there are only two of us. I find I have to buy regular foods more often than not b/c I can’t afford the organics. There are not any organic farmers in my area that I know of that sell at a farmers market so people who have this option are so blessed.
I do hope that in the future there will be an organization or web site where we can put together info expressing our concerns over the practices being done to our food, so we can get it out to the government officials in charge of these areas so they know there are people who want these practices stopped.

]]> By: Merideth http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2100 Merideth Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:03:27 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2100 I make a point of getting to know the growers at my local farmers market (Union Sq. & Tompkins Sq. NYC), not just by buying their veggies but by making rockin' live food delights out of them, bringing them back to the market, and giving them some. I'll say "this was made with your tomatoes (jerusalem artichokes, kale, turnips, whatever), try some!" They're always touched. When they're not too busy, I engage them in conversation about their growing practices. I'm not happy with Americans who feel it's our birthright to have cheap food! We get what we pay for. I've had friends who comment "Merideth, you pay so much for food!" to which I respond, "That's why my doctor bills approach zero!" For much more on local, sustainable, organic food, read Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle." The best indicator of health is EDUCATION. One grower was shocked into tears at Union Sq. when I bought all the raspberries she had left, a few pounds of Jerusalem artichokes & sundry and told her to keep the change. She'd never been treated so well by a customer. I told her that if she & the other growers weren't there, I'd have to move to the country & grow my own. Another kiosk at the farmers market bore this quote from the farmer: "Once we lose agricultural land to development, we never get it back." Support local growers! Health and peace to all. I make a point of getting to know the growers at my local farmers market (Union Sq. & Tompkins Sq. NYC), not just by buying their veggies but by making rockin’ live food delights out of them, bringing them back to the market, and giving them some. I’ll say “this was made with your tomatoes (jerusalem artichokes, kale, turnips, whatever), try some!” They’re always touched. When they’re not too busy, I engage them in conversation about their growing practices.

I’m not happy with Americans who feel it’s our birthright to have cheap food! We get what we pay for. I’ve had friends who comment “Merideth, you pay so much for food!” to which I respond, “That’s why my doctor bills approach zero!” For much more on local, sustainable, organic food, read Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.” The best indicator of health is EDUCATION.

One grower was shocked into tears at Union Sq. when I bought all the raspberries she had left, a few pounds of Jerusalem artichokes & sundry and told her to keep the change. She’d never been treated so well by a customer. I told her that if she & the other growers weren’t there, I’d have to move to the country & grow my own.

Another kiosk at the farmers market bore this quote from the farmer: “Once we lose agricultural land to development, we never get it back.” Support local growers! Health and peace to all.

]]> By: Kevin Gianni http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2093 Kevin Gianni Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:20:06 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2093 I know, Wendi, it's expensive... for the small farmer to afford the testing, I think they'd have to do it on a smaller level and be sure to claim that these are just samples, a mini disclaimer (since that's what we are all about these days) Or else, they'll have to get come VC (venture capital) from people who are really into the idea, who want to fund the project. The first one is probably easier, but I'm not sure... As for the price of organics, I think with Mike Adams's latest report, we need to really start self policing the industry and I'll gladly pay more as almost a tithe to the smaller guys who are making a point to be transparent... http://www.naturalnews.com/022862.html Thoughts? Kev I know, Wendi, it’s expensive… for the small farmer to afford the testing, I think they’d have to do it on a smaller level and be sure to claim that these are just samples, a mini disclaimer (since that’s what we are all about these days)

Or else, they’ll have to get come VC (venture capital) from people who are really into the idea, who want to fund the project.

The first one is probably easier, but I’m not sure…

As for the price of organics, I think with Mike Adams’s latest report, we need to really start self policing the industry and I’ll gladly pay more as almost a tithe to the smaller guys who are making a point to be transparent… http://www.naturalnews.com/022862.html

Thoughts?

Kev

]]> By: Wendi Dee http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2091 Wendi Dee Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:10:59 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2091 I thought I was already paying a whole lot more for organics. :-P I think your idea is a good one, but how can the small farmers afford to have their produce tested to prove it's better? As always, lots of love to you. Wendi XOXO I thought I was already paying a whole lot more for organics. :-P

I think your idea is a good one, but how can the small farmers afford to have their produce tested to prove it’s better?

As always, lots of love to you.

Wendi
XOXO

]]> By: Bernadette http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/03/18/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2089 Bernadette Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:52:23 +0000 http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-pricing-for-organic-foods-has-to-be-more-expensive-before-it-gets-cheaper/#comment-2089 Wow...great comments so far. Another idea to increase demand for organics, especially certified organics, that won't cost the farmers any money... would be for free lance writers, interested in nutrition, to start writing and publishing more articles on the health benefits of organic food, including the differences in nutritive value. Victoria Boutenko has published differences between commercial and organic produce in her book, Green for Life, so I'm sure the information is out there. Free lance is a great way to spread it to the mainstream. Wow…great comments so far. Another idea to increase demand for organics, especially certified organics, that won’t cost the farmers any money… would be for free lance writers, interested in nutrition, to start writing and publishing more articles on the health benefits of organic food, including the differences in nutritive value. Victoria Boutenko has published differences between commercial and organic produce in her book, Green for Life, so I’m sure the information is out there. Free lance is a great way to spread it to the mainstream.

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