Guest guest Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Margaret, If you look at Wal-Mart's history, it is an endless path of destruction for small, local businesses everywhere. Wal-Mart's requirements will be so large that it will virtually force a factory-farming approach into the organic segment. Where vibrant, vital farmers market are already well established, such as here in California, local growers might not be adversely affected. But elsewhere, difficult times lie ahead. Wal-Mart is not a producer, in fact it produces nothing. Rather, it is a distributor. And as it brings mass distribution to organic foods, it will place a huge, never-before-seen load on producers. Yes, prices on some items will drop, but there will also be immense pressure (already happened in fact) to lower the organic standard in order to " let in " more products to meet Wal-Mart's requirements. The belief that quality remains high while prices plunge reflects real misunderstanding of the content of character of most of our species. Consider also that other large chains -- Safeway, for example -- are also bringing out their own lines of organic products at the same time. Now go and READ the ingredients on some of the packaged products they offer, then go over to Whole Foods and read the ingredients on comparable products. In general, the Safeway (and future Wal-Mart) products still contain lost of " extra " ingredients to preserve, protect, and defend the shelf life of the underlying " food " . I'm not saying Whole Foods is perfect, far from it. But Whole Foods has exhibited a genuine, consistent commitment at least to certain standards and a genuine regard for the welfare of people and planet. These other corporations have already published statements -- many statements -- making it quite clear that this is a marketing move and nothing more. They have no commitment whatsoever to health, ecology, or much of anything else that may matter to many of us here. Consider also that it has been published US government policy for decades to drive out small farmers and support massive, factory-style farming. The farm subsidy programs, on their way to $1 TRILLION (cumulative), have simply not gone to support small local farmers. Instead, they pay large farmers to let fields lie fallow (control production volume) and things like that. Were the government to get out of the act, most of these factory farms would collapse, as they cannot support themselves financially without these props. Do not respond glibly to what is happening here. The pattern for decades is to centralize control of the food supply. Now that organic has become " large enough " , that is what is happening. Elchanan _____ rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of Margaret Gamez Thursday, July 13, 2006 8:40 PM rawfood [Raw Food] shortage of organic food Louise wrote: > Hope it's not like oil - just to raise prices. I don't think so... Gee... the big news in the local papers here is that Walmart is getting into organic food (and lowering prices), and that organic food is being grown in foreign countries, and that that might impact local growers. That sounds like NO shortage. I go to the market, and I notice any shortage. Everything is still there at the same prices. My local supermarket has added, and subsequently expanded its organic section. Margaret Louise wrote: > Hope it's not like oil - just to raise prices. I don't think so... Gee... the big news in the local papers here is that Walmart is getting into organic food (and lowering prices), and that organic food is being grown in foreign countries, and that that might impact local growers. That sounds like NO shortage. I go to the market, and I notice any shortage. Everything is still there at the same prices. My local supermarket has added, and subsequently expanded its organic section. Margaret Louise wrote: > Hope it's not like oil - just to raise prices. I don't think so... Gee... the big news in the local papers here is that Walmart is getting into organic food (and lowering prices), and that organic food is being grown in foreign countries, and that that might impact local growers. That sounds like NO shortage. I go to the market, and I notice any shortage. Everything is still there at the same prices. My local supermarket has added, and subsequently expanded its organic section. Margaret .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714 & grpId=5520395 & grpspId=1600015482 & msgId=240\ 18 & stime=1152848 461> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Well, Tiffany I used that link and it wasn't the article I thought I was sending! AND bad news - I can't seem to find it. I must have been reading 2 things at once and sent the wrong link. I apologize to all. I will still see if I can track it. It was very interesting. Louise <<<4b. Re: shrotage of organic food Posted by: " Tiffany " bluelairess bluelairess Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:46 pm (PDT) Louise, I copy/pasted the website address you posted but a search page came up instead, and when I eliminated the 's', what looked like could be their site said it was under construction. Tiffany Lohr Joyloulin wrote: www.rawfoodsnews.com shortage of organic food. Hope it's not like oil - just to raise prices. I don't think so... Louise>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 So two things come to mind: 1. How is organic produce being kept fresh through ALL that time in shipment and, 2. What standards are foreign country growers being held to when they say " organic " ? Ah, yes, ever the pessimist when it comes to Walmart. Kendra ________________________________ rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of Joyloulin Friday, July 14, 2006 12:53 PM rawfood [Raw Food] re: shortage of organic food Perhaps when we see prices for certain items start to raise suddenly - then we will know for sure. They say the demand has increased from 17% - 22% while other markets have decreased. They can't find enough local organic farmers and are importing more from other countries. Louise <<<9a. shortage of organic food Posted by: " Margaret Gamez " mgamez <mgamez%40nyc.rr.com> manifestnow Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:41 pm (PDT) Louise wrote: > Hope it's not like oil - just to raise prices. I don't think so... Gee... the big news in the local papers here is that Walmart is getting into organic food (and lowering prices), and that organic food is being grown in foreign countries, and that that might impact local growers. That sounds like NO shortage. I go to the market, and I notice any shortage. Everything is still there at the same prices. My local supermarket has added, and subsequently expanded its organic section. Margaret>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Agreed. Anyone remember the old " victory gardens " from the WW II era? E _____ rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of Joyloulin Friday, July 14, 2006 12:00 PM rawfood [Raw Food] re: shortage of organic food OMG yes, Elchanan, Wal Mart is a monster to the environment and to any living wage or benefits for workers. They have demanded that many factories cut quality to meet their low prices and of course buy from China, Mexico, Japan, any where but here!!! Definitely low prices aren't everything when it comes to organics. I'm glad my garden is doing well now. We all need to GARDEN! It is good exercise and feels good for my spirit. Louise <<9a. shortage of organic food Posted by: " Margaret Gamez " mgamez. <mgamez%40nyc.rr.com> com manifestnow Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:41 pm (PDT) Louise wrote: > Hope it's not like oil - just to raise prices. I don't think so... Gee... the big news in the local papers here is that Walmart is getting into organic food (and lowering prices), and that organic food is being grown in foreign countries, and that that might impact local growers. That sounds like NO shortage. I go to the market, and I notice any shortage. Everything is still there at the same prices. My local supermarket has added, and subsequently expanded its organic section. Margaret Messages in this topic (4) ________ 9b. shortage of organic food Posted by: " INFO @ Vibrant Life " VLinfo (AT) earthlink (DOT) <VLinfo%40earthlink.net> net elchananpc Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:53 am (PDT) Margaret, If you look at Wal-Mart's history, it is an endless path of destruction for small, local businesses everywhere. Wal-Mart's requirements will be so large that it will virtually force a factory-farming approach into the organic segment. Where vibrant, vital farmers market are already well established, such as here in California, local growers might not be adversely affected. But elsewhere, difficult times lie ahead. Wal-Mart is not a producer, in fact it produces nothing. Rather, it is a distributor. And as it brings mass distribution to organic foods, it will place a huge, never-before-seen load on producers. Yes, prices on some items will drop, but there will also be immense pressure (already happened in fact) to lower the organic standard in order to " let in " more products to meet Wal-Mart's requirements. The belief that quality remains high while prices plunge reflects real misunderstanding of the content of character of most of our species. Consider also that other large chains -- Safeway, for example -- are also bringing out their own lines of organic products at the same time. Now go and READ the ingredients on some of the packaged products they offer, then go over to Whole Foods and read the ingredients on comparable products. In general, the Safeway (and future Wal-Mart) products still contain lost of " extra " ingredients to preserve, protect, and defend the shelf life of the underlying " food " . I'm not saying Whole Foods is perfect, far from it. But Whole Foods has exhibited a genuine, consistent commitment at least to certain standards and a genuine regard for the welfare of people and planet. These other corporations have already published statements -- many statements -- making it quite clear that this is a marketing move and nothing more. They have no commitment whatsoever to health, ecology, or much of anything else that may matter to many of us here. Consider also that it has been published US government policy for decades to drive out small farmers and support massive, factory-style farming. The farm subsidy programs, on their way to $1 TRILLION (cumulative), have simply not gone to support small local farmers. Instead, they pay large farmers to let fields lie fallow (control production volume) and things like that. Were the government to get out of the act, most of these factory farms would collapse, as they cannot support themselves financially without these props. Do not respond glibly to what is happening here. The pattern for decades is to centralize control of the food supply. Now that organic has become " large enough " , that is what is happening. Elchanan>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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