People buy organic food for status. It’s too elite. It’s for posh people with lots of money. There have been some rumblings in the press lately of this nature. Gabriel David from Luscombe drinks takes it all with a large pinch of salt. “The press love to bash the organic movement,” he said.
You’re a fan of organic food. What do you think? We’re opening up a can of worms here, just as Patrick Holden did when he addressed the topic at the Soil Association’s annual conference in Birmingham earlier this month, but we’d love to hear your thoughts below.
We caught up with a few of our suppliers after the event to get their views. One of the people we spoke to was Carol Kenward, who makes houmous for us in Bath. She admits, “There are a lot of people who cannot afford to buy organic – there’s no way around that, but it’s a huge lifestyle decision.”
“I don’t like the word elite – it’s very loaded,” she continued. “For some people food is a priority and they’ll make sacrifices to ensure they can buy organic food, even if they’re not on a high income. A lot of the problem has to do with culture, too. We don’t have a huge food culture in this country. We only spend about 18% of our income on food whereas,
in France, they spend something like 40%.”There was a great thread following an article in the Guardian on ‘organic elitism’. An organic blueberry farmer on Dartmoor (not our man on the Isle of Purbeck) made some really interesting points.
“It saddens me because the average English family considers they can no longer afford to purchase unadulterated food. Yet the extra cost attributed to unadulterated food for the average family is probably less than the cost of an average satellite TV package,” he wrote. “Pure foods are now seen as elitist…” he questioned.
The English, organic blueberry farmer was then engaged in a discussion on subsidies paid to co
nventional farmers, which organic farmers are not qualified to receive. This in effect impacts the price of organic food.
“If the government offered me £1m I could grow an extra ½ million blueberry bushes which would create sustainable long term employment, reduce imports, and provide the nation with even cheaper unadulterated fruit all certified by the Soil Association,” he said.
Now that’s food for thought!
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
17 Feb 2010 at 10:45
There’s definitely a lot to be said for ‘organic’ food. I personally prefer to eat food that hasn’t been bombarded with various degrees of pesticides and insecticides. Unfortunately, the general public are so naive when it comes to food. They see the cheap smart price foods in supermarkets and think they’re really getting a bargain when in fact by eating such rubbish all they’re doing is signing their death warrants. it’s been proven that foods contaminated with pesticides etc, CAUSE various forms of cancer, allergies and other ailments. Years ago we had no problem with our food in relation to it being organic or not. Banana’s, cucumber’s apples and carrots were varying shapes and sizes instead of being genetically modified to be uniform like they are today. If people can’t afford to buy organic foods then it’s a great pity but then if the government won’t give the farmers subsidies to help keep our food clean and healthy the only way forward i believe, is to keep pestering the life out of them until they get so fed up they’ll give in. The only thing ‘Organic food lovers’ can do for the time being is support all the suppliers who dedicate their time and effort into producing and providing their delicious wares and let them know just how much we appreciate their efforts.
So, a big thank you to everyone from me,
Sandra Chapman
17 Feb 2010 at 10:54
Organic food is not about being posh, elitist or snobby.
Like with other such subjects (eg terry nappies) it is about knowing what our impact on the planet and ourselves will be. Whatever way we source our food or live our lives there will be an impact on the planet, but I wish to feed my family foood that has been tried and tested safe over hundreds of years, and, do my best to leave my children a planet still capable of supporting them.
It does rile me that the govt is biased towards supporting “conventional” farming and oil/gas based industry’s and not organic/renewable. This effectively takes away the option to choose for those that are poorest in our society and fails to take advantage of the fact that the organic/renewable sector is job rich–surely a huge benefit in these difficult times?
17 Feb 2010 at 12:33
I think that if people really want to eat organically they will find a way. I find that if you cook all your meals from scratch and lay off convenience and snack foods, your shop is healthier, cheaper and better for the planet. Rather than being posh it is actually all about getting back to grass roots cooking and eating’ and if you plan properly and use all the food you buy you can work, play and have your organic cake and eat it!
17 Feb 2010 at 15:02
I buy organic because I want to, it tastes better, has less harmful cr@p in it and generally has not been messed about with chemicals. I think it’s better for the land and the people that work it.
I do still buy rubbish from the supermarket, but I know it’s rubbish and that’s my choice as well.
I get quite angry about others telling me to do this or do that because of whatever reason. It’s my choice to make and I make it!
17 Feb 2010 at 17:44
My husband and I are in our sixties and we were brought up on organic vegetables because all the people that we knew grew their own, partly because of the economic climate in the years following the Second World War. I think that we were very fortunate to have had unadulterated food, particularly duing our childhood years. My father used chicken manure from his hens and were grew up on healthy, compost grown vegetables and fruit.
I am convinced that organic is the way to go and that many people are sadly unaware of the harm that they are doing to themselves and their children by giving them food with all sorts of additives, be it meat, fish, fruit, veg or dairy products.
If all the people who can afford it buy organic food then hopefully that will help bring down the prices for everyone else. Most people can also find space to grow some of their own food, even if it is only a window box or grow bag. We all need to be more aware of the fact that ‘you are what you eat’.
17 Feb 2010 at 18:12
We’re on a low income and if we can buy organic food then I think most people can. We spend a third of our income on our weekly shopping bill, mostly at Abel & Cole! When we occasionally do a weekly shop at a stupermarket we find that we actually fare very poorly. I would go as far as to say that we feel run down and ill. Furthermore, we bounce back when we revert to our Abel & Cole produce! Yes, I know, we sound like an advert! This says a lot about the quality of the food from these dreadful places. By purchasing organic produce, we choose our health, animal welfare and environmental issues over and above everything else. Our low impact lifestyle (vegan diet, no car, no air travel, organic food, growing our own fruit/veg, etc) is not that difficult. As a wealthy Western nation, we are in a unique position to be able to make good (preferably stockfree-organic/organic plus) food choices, and do the best we can by the planet and all its inhabitants (human and animal).
17 Feb 2010 at 19:15
I agree wholeheartedly with Amanda. We’re also on a low income, and have all of our ‘essentials’ (things I know we will use each week) on a weekly order form Abel and Cole. Since buying our bread, milk, cheese, yogurt, fruit and veg (plus my secret stash of flapjack – hey, I make great cakes and biscuits and cook evening meals from scratch but creating great flapjack is a black art!!) in this way we’ve noticed a couple of things have changed in our household.
Firstly our two children (aged 3 and 4) now drink milk. Happily. Every night before bed! I’m convinced that they find the taste of the milk we now buy more palatable, since they have refused to drink it until we switched. This has had a knock-on effect on their sleeping habits, and with a pre-bed cup of milk and a biscuit they now both sleep, every night until 7am and not 5.30am. I’ve considered that this might be due to something in the milk (or something NOT in non-organic milk) but how could I prove it?
Secondly, as we are on a low income, I find it reassuring to know that our staples will arrive regularly. The way Abel and Cole operate has given me, as ‘housekeeper’ a platform from which to budget the remainder of my shopping. Furthermore I make fewer visits to ‘the shops’ and am no longer subject to the ‘fill the trolly’ syndrome. It’s a well-known and simple marketing principal – i.e. give everyone a trolly, people want to see theirs more full than empty, which, combined with other less obvious strategies can get you buying things you neither want nor need even if you go in with a list and a budget. Able & Cole don’t try to sell me crayons and kids art supplies with my carrots!
Finally, I don’t have a car so all my shopping is done on shank’s pony (namely, I walk!). This had to stop when our family car coughed it’s last ‘help me I’m dying’ a few months ago, and I could no longer get my husband to go out in the evening to buy the heavy stuff I couldn’t carry. Tescos charge between £3 and £5 for delivery regardless of your spend. Sainsburys aren’t free unless you spend over £40. I’d rather my delivery money went on tastier food – and you guys only charge a quid!
TLDR: (To long, didn’t read) version: We’re also poor, but I find the ethical practices of Abel & Cole help me save money, plus the food is better and now my kids can enjoy their milk.
17 Feb 2010 at 22:26
I am distinctly NOT posh or elitist and have a VERY strict budget but I prefer to spend a little bit more on food to buy organic where possible, especially meat, fish and eggs. Having said that though it does depend on where you get the organic food from – organic food from Abel&Cole tastes great, from Tesco, not so much.
Also, I don’t have other mouths to feed and what is ‘spending a bit more’ buying organic for me, can really mount up for families on very low incomes. I think most people want to buy the best food they possibly can with the money they have, and sometimes that’s just not organic unfortunately.
17 Feb 2010 at 23:44
For us it started with eggs. We had a box of organic, bought on a farm while on holiday, and a box of ‘free range’ from a good supermarket. The difference was unbelieveable and we’ve never bought non organic eggs since.
We are what I would call low-income since I went on unpaid maternity leave (i.e. no income!), but we decided to start receiving our organic food delivery now for two reasons:
1) We prefer organic food. It tastes better, keeps a little longer and we feel better for it.
2) It works out cheaper! I base our week’s meals around what comes in the box (and we get about the cheapest box you offer!), and as a result there’s no ‘running’ to the shop everday to pick up a few essentials, which without fail leads to picking up a whole load of non -essentials too! In fact, since we have started with this vegetable delivery, our weekly grocery spend has gone from over £100 a week (for two people!) to about £60 – for all food, toiletries and laundry. It’s actually been a huge saving in our household. And in addition, we now very very rarely have food wastage, whereas before we threw things out almost daily.
Yes, it is seen as ‘posh’ and friends always raise an eyebrow when I say I can’t afford to go to xyz, but yet we receive organic food deliveries, but we’re making other sacrifices – like pubs and takeaways, and we are definitely better off.
So from a fellow South Londonder, thank you for the excellent service, and keep it up Abel & Cole!
18 Feb 2010 at 15:39
I have a medium basic Organic Veg box every 2 weeks. I look forward to alternate Thursdays when I’ll get what I’ve ordered plus a surprise item if I’ve asked not to have something on the list. I know that what I’m getting is chemical-free and I know it tastes better than what I get in the supermarket. I’m 82, live alone and am, fortunately, healthy and active. It’s important to me to plan meals so that I use up the more perishable items first. Your storage tips will be welcome. I enjoy vegetarian food days and your delicious vegetarian recipes that save money on meat and fish and petrol. Considering all these things, your service is great value. A dreadful alternative would be ready meals – YUK!!
18 Feb 2010 at 15:45
It feels right to cut the airmiles and the chemicals.
Having a weekly delivery also means I don’t stand in the supermarket tempted by all those ‘special offers’ that just end up costing more (‘coz I hadn’t planned to buy them) and aren’t good for us anyway!
18 Feb 2010 at 16:00
here’s the longer version:
1. I was brought up with home grown. My dad’s favourite book was ‘The Farming Ladder’ by George Henderson – an argument against industrialisation of agriculture. Dad also instilled in me the view it was immoral to transport food in preference to what could be grown locally.
2. When I was pregnant (4 times) I craved healthy meals vegetables and real meat. I think my body was telling me what was best.
3. When I was quite run down between children, my doctor recommended vitamin tablets including fish oil from ‘Higher Nature’. This lead to me reading a book: Patrick Holford’s Optimum Nutrition Bible. The message I took away was ‘if you don’t understand the name of the ingredient listed then it’s probably bad for you’!
4. As said before, there are savings in not being tempted by the deliberate marketing ploys of supermarkets. The regular delivery that turns up even if I don’t modify my requirements is a huge help both to the budget and in time saved (time not spent shopping).
18 Feb 2010 at 16:23
Eating organic food isn’t elitist. What’s elitist about wanting to eat food that hasn’t been adulterated by pesticides, herbicides, unnecessary drugs or is GM? Yes, an average weekly organic shop is going to be a few pounds more than the routine supermarket, so cut back on non-essentials. Eating good, healthy home prepared food should be everyone’s priority and if government were prepared to give financial backing to organic farmers, more people might be able to do just that.
We are constantly being nagged by government, local authorities, health and safety organisations and any two bit celebrity who wants to grab a headline to do our bit to save the planet. Organic food is surely doing just that; think of the plus points.
1. sustainable farming
2. humane treatment of animals
3. kinder to the environment
4. additive free food
Most of my food is now organic, not to mention household goods, cleaning materials, even wine (so much nicer than equivalently priced non organic.) It is delivered to my door – even through deep snow drifts – in returnable recyclable containers. I am very grateful for being able to indulge my preference for wholesome food, and will yell from any number of soap boxes so that I and other organic foodies can continue to do so and encourage others to join us. I fear we shall have a fight on our hands, given the prevalent attitudes in the press.
18 Feb 2010 at 19:45
It tastes better! My family has always been gardeners. My granddad had a huge garden and allotment, my Great-uncle had an even bigger garden, my Dad has always grown a lot of his own food. It just tastes right!
18 Feb 2010 at 21:17
I agree with your article it is not about affording organic food at all but about a life style choice. It is not elitist but about education and culture. My husband and I are on a fairly low income, We find that actually we probably spend less now that we order a basic shop from Able and Cole then we did when I did a Supermarket Shop.
Your prices are really competitive and having the veggie box each week means I can be creative and work with what I have and then buy things to add in.
This way of shopping definitely saves money. The arguments about time and money do not really stand up to scrutiny. My daughter is a Nutrional Therapist and has taught workshops on healthy eating. She actually did a comparison between freshly prepared organic food and processed meals. She showed that it is in fact cheaper to eat fresh food and devised recipes that do not take any longer either.
19 Feb 2010 at 10:05
this says it all :
http://www.nosenfantsnousaccuseront-lefilm.com/
19 Feb 2010 at 10:49
I am on a low income but eat organic, including, thanks to Abel & Cole, some organic meat which was beyond my limits previously. Its a question of your prioities and if you really want to you will find a way. I make lots of soups using Abel & Coles wonderful veggies as well as my own grown on my allotment. I have ME and an increasingly delicate digestion which seems to react to chemicals and additives too so another reason to eat organically – apart from taste! And I care passionately about the environment and wildlife and want to support farmers who care and are farming in harmony with the environment.
19 Feb 2010 at 12:23
Well its a choice while we have it. A carrot is a carrot whether its organic or not but who wants it with the pesticides on it. For my money I’d rather buy it without the extra chemicals and support the farmers who want to grow it for me before they disapear forever. I am not posh or elitist just practical. Thanks Abel & Cole for giving us the choice by supporting these farmers.
20 Feb 2010 at 11:18
I am, like a lot of the people on here, on a low income, but I like to make food a priority. I think people that say they can’t afford organic probably just mean they don’t care about the issues and would rather spend the extra money on something else. I think it’s important how food is grown and i’d prefer to see a country where the land isn’t just a big factory but sensitively farmed, with wildlife able to survive. I can’t have that if I don’t support it, so i’m happy to pay any extra to work towards that. Also I find the supermarket experience really horrible so it’s nice to get it delivered, in returnable boxes.
20 Feb 2010 at 15:32
It’s not elitist to want to buy the best produce you can afford, it’s about wanting to do the best for your family and the planet. Buying organic is more expensive but not always, especially if you can’t be bothered to cook. Being out a work means juggling all sorts of pressures and shopping can become a ‘chuck it in the trolley’ rather than a considered purchase. Before I started shopping with Abel and Cole we used to spend an average of £100 per week on food (too much of which I’m ashamed to say ended up being thrown out). Now I plan a weekly menu on what is in next week’s box and have cut my shopping bill almost in half and what’s more it’s renewed my passion for cooking. I prefer home-made burgers to which I’ve added ‘secret’ veg to any ready-made ones, plus they are on average half the price and twice the size and certainly taste better. I know I’m biased as I hate the whole experience of supermarket shopping. It’s a life-style choice, okay if you want to fill your family with a load of chemicals then it’s your choice. It certainly isn’t mine.
20 Feb 2010 at 17:16
Elitist, my eye. Food as peddled by supermarkets is too cheap and too many people in this country now expect food to be cheap….so they can throw most of it in the bin! If supermarket food was more expensive it might make people think twice about what they are consuming and what they are wasting. I buy the best food I can afford, from a company I trust and make sure that I waste as little as humanly possible. I always like to hear about your farmers and other suppliers and am confident that together we are protecting our environment and discouraging waste. I don’t consider that to be an elitist view point.
20 Feb 2010 at 18:06
I agree – buying small quantities of good quality food means no waste. We eat a lot more vegetables too and have really varies dishes as we look for new interesting ways to eat the seasonal food that’s delivered. Luckily I have an organic butcher round the corner and we find the meat much ‘denser’ and tastier so you need less of it. There is also a Fresh & Wild a couple of miles down the road (so walking distance!) and they do a great meal deal of a main plus two sides for £5.99 – that’s cheaper than a Pizza Express pizza and much tastier! If you are on a budget there are always things on special offer. Quite often organic does not cost more any more anyway.
21 Feb 2010 at 17:39
I think that a lot of people do think that organically/sustainably produced food is reserved for the wealthy which is why they do not consider it. I think this is a shame and slightly short sighted because the quality of vegetables are better (I still get quite giddy about having vegetables covered in mud) in taste and there are so many little firms offering a wide variety of very good organic food, if you can be bothered to look for them.
We have several farm shops near us which supply excellent, locally reared meat. One of them breeds pigs and you can see them in the field which may seem a bit macabre but you can see they are happy little oinkers! The meat is no more expensive than vacuum packed supermarket meat and the quality is 1000% better. A good local butcher or farm shop are worth their weight in gold and you should never be afraid to ask where the meat/poultry has come from. I make a point in asking about the poultry because I detest factory farmed chicken and only ever buy free range. Over the last few years there have been lots of little farm shops appear in our area which only highlights the fact that more and more people are taking more time to consider what they are eating, the quality and the source.
11 years ago when we bought our first house and were (very) poor we said that we would always do what we could to ensure that we had quality food for our table because we both believe so passionately in eating well. It is something we still do.
21 Feb 2010 at 17:54
We, like many others who have posted on this blog are not on a high income, but make food a priority. We have three children (all with big appetites!) but by cooking from scratch and baking cookies and cakes for lunch boxes and snacks, we manage really well. I just wanted to add another ‘non-high income’ voice to the thread because I think it’s extremely important that eating organic food is not seen as elitist, but is a choice that many (although I realise not all), people can make. Like some other people who have posted here, we make other sacrifices to eat the way we do because we think it is worth it for our own health and for the environmental benefits. I don’t think organic food is for the elite, it’s for people who care about where their food comes from and the impact it has on the planet.
21 Feb 2010 at 18:35
We are definitely not posh, and do not belong to any elite. In fact, we find A & C’s weekly delivery actually saves us money and time, by keeping us out of the supermarket. Our diet is better, as we plan around the contents of the box to a certain extent.
21 Feb 2010 at 20:20
until about 60 years ago, all food was organic, end of story.
21 Feb 2010 at 21:09
Whilst I’d like to agree that organic is not only for the wealthy, why only with a credit crunch is A&C suddenly providing non organic alternatives? We’ve been hit hard & I’d like to continue organic all the way but have been unable. We’re still mainly eating organic, but only get A&C every alternate week because I cannot feed my family only organic within our new budget. Also, now that I’m having to work, I have less time so not doing my own veg choosing/planting… Going organic means making a conscious desicion that many poorer people don’t have the time to make. It’s not a clear cut debate.
I’ve heard the comment that organic farmers don’t get the same govt subsidies as non-organic farmers – hence higher prices? If that were true, what a shame!
The closer we are to our plate (contents I mean) – the more connected we are with out food, the better for our planet and our whole beings. When we travel and process our food, there is a disconnect from it, a lack of responsibility taking and at the same time making the food industry richer but ourselves and the earth poorer!
Last comment: perhaps we could eat purely organic if we only ate as much as we need, but generally I think WE EAT TOO MUCH!!! (yes me too!) (perhaps it is too much junk/processed?) Again, the question of not taking responsibility for our underlying instant choices! Do wealthy people take more responsibilty than those on strict financial budget? No I think the financually wealthy just have more time to consider their (more)choices and are less affected by choosing the organic root (route!) For instance, if I buy organic I can still go to the movies?
22 Feb 2010 at 08:24
In addition to my comment further up I do think that if people can’t/don’t consider organic and buy non-organic from their grocer/supermarket it is still much much better than feeding their family on ready meals and processed rubbish. Either way, food prepared from fresh ingredients is much better than eating food that has been messed with. Point in fact, my friend was horrified last week about a ready made lasagne that she had bought for her daughter. When she looked at the label it had almost all of her daughters daily calorific requirement in it. I made the point that if she had made it herself this would not have been the case.
I also have to agree with Elsje above, we do eat too much and I am happy to include myself but I am not sure that the financially more well off have any more time to make the choices, they work just as hard but in better paid positions but they are definately less affected by their choice.
23 Feb 2010 at 16:37
Buying organic food isn’t about being elitist, it’s about making an ethical wise choice .You are what you eat !!!! We have never been on a high income,but we have always spent as much money as we can on quality food. It’s better for us, our children , the animals.and the environment. We would rather eat good quality food ,support UK farmers who care for the environment ,than buying a new TV or going on an expensive holiday. If we can’t afford free range/organic chicken one week,then we don’t buy any chicken.
Since using Abel and Cole, we have become even more conscious of what we buy in the shops and where the food comes from. And buying seasonal produce makes you rediscover vegies you’d forgotten about.
I”ll agree with one comment above though, not all shop bought organic food always taste best. I also find that Tesco’s not good.
24 Feb 2010 at 20:43
I don’t buy the idea that non-organic food is “adulterated”, and I don’t buy organic food because I think it’s better for me. I am however prepared to spend a little more for the quality and flavour I get from these products.
26 Feb 2010 at 18:57
I am also from the ‘low(ish) income’ crowd, and don’t exclusively buy organic food but as much as possible. There is nothing elitist or pretentious about wanting to eat food full of pesticides! I know plenty of people who earn more than me who don’t consider buying organic food, so it is true that in a lot of cases, people do not see good quality food as a priority. I live in Edmonton, which is a poor area and so supermarkets tend not to sell organic food, so I am very glad to have found Abel and Cole!
26 Feb 2010 at 18:58
In that second sentence I meant ‘there is nothing pretentious about NOT wanting to eat food full of pesticides’
28 Feb 2010 at 08:19
I joined Abel & Cole around a month or so ago. Before then I used to be pretty lazy and wander across the road to a local big supermarket and just buy from there. End result: spiraling food costs and an unhealthy lifestyle.
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Since I switched, I’m finding the concept of a weekly shop and planning what I’m going to eat, storing food, etc saving me much more money than before and I’m eating much more healthily which is starting to pay off.
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So I find Abel & Cole cheaper and better quality. Double win right there!
28 Feb 2010 at 11:46
I don’t buy from you guys because you sell organic food – I buy because I prefer your veg to that i get in the supermarket, and more to the point I think the value stacks up very well comparing you to them – Just as a point of interest, I normally get the small organic box from you guys, and I’ve just priced up what I think I might get in that typically from my normal supermarket and it came to £11.
I’m not sure the argument about “organic is too expensive” holds water when you look at it like that.
28 Feb 2010 at 13:15
Very interesting debate!
I agree wholeheartedly with most of the comments though would say the fact must be faced that there are parts of the country where it’s hard to buy organic in the local shops and the sight of an organic delivery van is as rare as hen’s teeth. Some people genuinely can’t buy organic food.
Organic farmers should be helped much more than they are: chemical farming became the norm after the war and those are the farmers who are prioritised. This in my view is wrong on many grounds including good food, the environment, the health of the public.
Clearly many many people in this country choose to buy cheap foods and prioritise other lifestyle choices and consumer items, and they, like the very poorest, may well regard organic food as elitist.
10 years ago I had treatment for high grade breast cancer, and tried to research the link with diet and how I could use diet to inmprove my even stephen 5 yr survival odds. At the time it was hard to find any information from official sources (even the otherwise wonderful cancer charities), and the notion of linking diet to cancer survival seemed dangerously radical.
I persevered and my 5 a day became an organic 10+ a day during all the conventional treatments. I have not had any recurrence.
Nowadays the links are being made, and it’s sad to read that women with breast cancer in poorer areas are far more likely to die of it due to poor diet among other factors, according to official sources.
28 Feb 2010 at 18:13
I have always had an intolerance to convenience foods, and have cooked meals from basic ingredients. I think that it is sometimes difficult to buy organic food, but buying fresh ingredients is better than convenience foods. The problem is that people are fooled into thinking that cheap is best, making fresh or organic ingredients seem more expensive, and usually people don’t know how to cook with them either. They also think they take a long time to cook. I still go to the supermarket to do some of my shopping, but its not that often, as I use everything I buy, and have very little waste. I always cook large amounts of food and freeze it, its just as easy as cooking small amounts. The frozen food is my convenience food.
If people were made more aware of what is in their food, and what our livestock is being fed on I am sure that they would think twice before they put it into their bodies. I think this is true for other products like shampoos, shower gel, deodorants etc., again its the same debate as with food, organic products seem more expensive, but if you buy 1 deodorant you make sure that you use it before buying a new one. Some of my friends have shelves full of body care products because they are cheaper than my organic ones, but they never use them all, and end up being thrown away. If people added up the cost of the food and products they throw away, it would end up being more expensive than buying half the amount of organic products.
Have you ever tried reading labels on the back of packets in a supermarket, you need a degree in chemistry to understand it, besides taking twice as long to do the shopping. Then there are the hundreds of different symbols, numbers, letters, origins, producers, countries…… need I go on. At least with Abell and Cole, its simple, all the information is there.
I think the way forward is to educate people, giving them an informed choice.
01 Mar 2010 at 09:58
As Rob M said above, I recently found the organic and non organic chicken from A&C to be cheaper than the same (in weight too) than my local supermarket – so supermarkets aren’t always cheaper!
02 Mar 2010 at 11:13
I havent read all these comments so this has probably been said but my opinion; I found it interesting in the article about the French spending 40% of their salaries on food and the Brits just 18%. I beleive that a lot of less well off people will grubble about the cost of organic food because they would simply rather spend their money on other things (cigarettes, dvds, and convenience foods etc) because they dont see a healthy diet as priority.
Without sounding a snob, it is poor education in the area of providing wholesome meals for ones family that is lacking. Also, the belief that there is no time for busy mums to prepare fresh veg.
I dont know if its necessarily to do with being ‘rich’ or not as such though, my daughter goes for dinner regularly to maybe 7 or 8 friends houses (from low income houses to extremely high income houses) and every single one serves up frozen pizza, fish fingers, oven chips etc..
A large basic veg box (which will last a large family a whole week) is the same price as one large dominoes pizza…
Its not about cost. Its about laziness.
07 Mar 2010 at 08:31
I have to agree with Sandra Chapman (first post), it’s the chemicals and pesticides that first made me aware of what our food was undergoing. Then the welfare of animals really opened my eyes plus what the animals were fed (we all remember BSE for starters) and it was when our first child was about to wean we switched to organic food.
I believe paying a bit more for quality and making that quality food stretch that bit further is far more ecomonical than buying cheap rubbish that the kids won’t eat and more importantly has no nutritional value (I have 3 young boys so cater for 5 mouths each meal).
We go without certain things just to ensure we have decent food, the benefits of eating organic far out way eating fat and chemical laiden alternatives – and you feel so much better for it too. I’ve noticed how my children, who have the occassional cold, fair much better than those with poorer diets. All my boys had chickenpox and where so many of their little friends were in a very bad way my boys breezed through it, and I firmly believe the fact they have the right building blocks through their nutritional intake made a huge impact on how they coped with the illness.
Organic isn’t about being rich or a snob it’s caring about what you eat and how that food fuels your body, yes it is a life choice but I personally think its a choice without an option.
In testiment to organic food we had a French au pair with us for about 4 months, when she came to us her skin was bad and her energy levels very low. As she shared our meals we watched her transform, her skin improved and energy levels increased. And in an email from her just after Christmas she told me she’s training to become a nutritionalist….. that is pure testiment to how someone feels eating organic food.
Wouldn’t it be great if a scheme could be put in place whereby everyone could have organic food for 4 months, then see if they wanted to go back to their regular food after feeling the benefits? Now that is food for thougnt!
18 Mar 2010 at 12:13
I’ve found that since getting the essentials and occasional treat from A&C that I’m spending less overall. eg: I now buy a really special chicken ‘every 2 weeks’, which does 2 meals, and makes really good stock which supports another few meals – much more nutritional than supermarket birds!
We do economise in other areas. I’m a stay at home mum, and we have an allotment. We also make our own wine and beer! Last time we ate out, we didn’t really enjoy it! Not knowing the foods origins, and eating too much!
I feel much more pampered by having my A&C delivery arrive without fail, full of yummy goodies!! Thank you very much.
ps. I’d like to find some more organic beans/pulses to support the more frugal meals!
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