ORGANIC PRODUCE - yes or no ??

 The great organic food debate rumbles on - whether it's better for you, whether it's worth paying a little more for it, should it be inside or outside the shop, and, from a business point of view, whether there is enough of a demand for it.

Chatting to customers yesterday, I found them to be divided about all of these issues, but eager to have the discussion.

So, spread the word, we want to know what you, your family, and friends, think.

If you are pro-organics, are you prepared to buy organic ?

Do you want a larger range of organic fruit and veg in the shop, and are you bothered by the various accreditations that are available (at some cost) to growers, or happy to buy local stuff that hasn't been treated.

You can tell us in the shop or you can email us at shop@slaithwaite.coop

And remember - its your shop  - we want it to reflect your ideas and stock what you want to buy.

Comments

Organic, or sustainable?

Submitted by admin on Tue, 30/08/2011 - 8:59am.

This is a fascinating, and important, debate. Over the years I've learned more about some of the issues involved, and my current take on the whole thing is that organic agriculture (as in growing without the aid of synthetic fertiisers and pesticides, etc.) is both better for us as consumers of the food, but also better for the planet, and is therefore something to be encouraged and supported. The current dominant model of agriculture is not sustainable, as it demands massive fossil fuel inputs in the form of fuel and fertilisers, and it reduces the natural fertility of the soil. As oil prices continue to rise, the cost of food production will climb higher and hgher, reflecting in higher food prices for us all.

In the face of this surely we need to move to a different, lower input method of agriculture, which is organic and more localised (to reduce ever higher shipping costs). Increasingly, progressive food retailers are beginning to grow their own food, and/or support and encourage food growing and production that is local to the shop. Is this something that the Green Valley Grocer should be considering?