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August 23, 2007 at 4:01 am
While on our trip I did two things I rarely do at home, I watched TV and went to Walmart. Not that I am saying these were highlights of my trip (they weren’t) but both things resulted in my seeing organic things in new places.
First, I saw a commercial on TV for Gerber organic baby food. Just seeing that the company was spending advertising dollars letting parents know they had this choice spoke volumes to me. Gerber must have identified new parents as one audience that desires organic products. I see this trend in blogs like The Organic Food Blog, Attachment parenting, MomFinds,and Green Parenting.
Second, while looking for a shirt ( I hadn’t brought clothing suitable for the 105 degree Tennessee temperature) I came upon a line of organic cotton sportswear at Walmart. This is important because Walmart is a high volume buyer and if they are requesting organic cotton clothing it might encourage producers to respond by making more products. In addition it means that the demand for organic is growing. People have apparently purchased these items at Walmart in order for the company keep stocking them.
Still, there is another thought that occured to me as I celebrated these triumphs of organic products being available in “mainstream” places. Will compromises in organic standards follow as large companies become involved in the organic market? Already the USDA has made compromises in organic standards due to requests from the food industries. Are more to follow as marketing giants want to cash in on the growing demand for organic goods? What about the other issues of producing inexpensive clothing? What do you think?
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Target also sells organic cotton sheet sets now…and very reasonable at around $30-$40.
Comment by Megan — August 23, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
What an excellent post, Debbie … a true Catch-22, isn’t it? I, too, have seen major retailers carrying more and more lines of organic products and while I do celebrate this fact, it does get you thinking. If I had to choose a side, however, I would have to say that overall, this is a positive thing. Spreading awareness of organic products is always good and the more our society is inundated with organic products, the more people are going to buy them and support the industry. The more the industry is supported, the more it grows, the bigger the beneficial impact on the planet and its people. I hope, truly, that a worsening of standards does not occur or continue to occur – that is bothersome and hopefully avoidable for the most part.
This situation is quite similar to a Catch-22 in the fast-food “restaurant” industry that has me all flustered and blustered. More and more fast-food establishments are offering “healthy” options and alternatives to their traditionally awful, artery-clogging fare – options like baked potatoes, salads, deli-style sandwiches, and soups, just to name a few. Although the majority of these items contain very questionable ingredients, they are, comparatively speaking, far better than the fries, burgers, and shakes that clutter the menu. So is this a good thing or a bad thing? It’s the same question, essentially, that Debbie poses above. Consumers are still frequenting fast-food establishments but ordering healthier items – should we commend or lament this? Who knows – what if the fast-food giants started offering organic salads and organic smoothies and the like? Would we celebrate this? What would it mean? Consumers would still be supporting a relatively deplorable industry (fast-food), but they would be making better choices for their health and longevity by ordering from the healthier menu. Like I said, another Catch-22. What do all of you think?
- Jen (The New Girl!)
Comment by Jennifer — September 4, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Agreed. Personally I would rather see the standard of requiring 7 (I believe) years of use without chemicals be dropped vs. the clear cutting of forests to make “virgin” land for our organic crops.
It is always a tough call for me on local vs. organic. Both have high price tags…but which is worse. Some say the benefits of organic is overshadowed by shipping the produce long distances…but personally the thought of extra toxins being digested by my already over stressed organs is tough to argue with.
I think in terms of this issue, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to the business practices of the company selling organics. Then vote with your dollars and let your politicians, community and everyone else know that we demand organics, but organics done right and that don’t cause other eco-problems in the process.
Comment by Kassy — September 7, 2007 @ 6:12 pm