The politics surrounding the organic label have become so troubling that I go out of my way to avoid organic food, which sometimes proves a challenge.
Against organic
Tag: agriculture
Too much cheese is no laughing matter
The cheese surplus in the US might make for funny jokes on late night television, but it really sucks for farmers, and the politics of how to resolve it are complicated.
Particulate pollution and industrial agriculture
As farms increase to the load of particulate pollution, it’s time to talk about how industrial agriculture can reform its practices to protect the environment.
Women of the fields
Consumers play a vital role in industry reforms in a variety of settings — they’re the ones with the power to push for change, as seen for just one example in the arena of food labeling. It’s consumers who demanded ‘organic’ food and got it. It’s consumers who pressured for a number of other changes […]
What a clucked up mess: Egg labeling in America
I love chickens. Chickens are my jam. They’re such hilarious characters, each with their own distinct personalities. They’re smart, they’re funny, they’re friendly, when given a chance to get out and be themselves. As a bonus, they produce eggs, which I love, and there are few things in this world as amazing as a really […]
Are heritage crops and animals saving family farms?
Farming in the United States is an extremely tough and challenging enterprise, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Lots can go wrong — a single bad season can bring a farm to its knees, and the expenses involved in operating a farm are high, including not just economic costs for goods and supplies, […]
The return of the draft horse
I have a deep and abiding love for horses, and I particularly love draft horses, as these gentle giants are so lovely to look at, and so strong, and so pragmatic. In recent years in the US, they’ve been kept primarily as show animals or beloved riding animals, but we’re seeing a growing return to […]
Cultivars and food sensitivity
We’re living in an era in which judging what other people eat is extremely popular, as apparently minding our own plates is something we’re incapable of. We’re all familiar with people who troll other people because they’re too fat to eat X, or because they should try Y since it’s healthier, or they should eat […]
Don’t you dare lecture me about organic superiority
‘Well, if they’d rather buy cheap crap from Walmart than healthy organic food,’ he said, leaning over and glaring furiously, ‘that’s their problem.’ I was somewhat taken aback by the vehemence, and I struggled to come up with an adequate response. Somehow the conversation had gone from zero to extremely tense in about three seconds, […]
Almonds As the Latest Hipster Food
I’ve been an almond fan from way back — dare I say it, before they were cool. Of all the nuts, almonds are actually my favourite. I eat them on my yoghurt in the mornings in the winter (yes, I also ate yoghurt before it was cool). I like them in a variety of desserts […]