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156 Comments
- jmritchie, on 11/10/2009, -6/+36Trader Joe's is the best store in the world, I'm convinced. If I could only shop one place for the rest of my days, it'd be good ol' TJ's.
- RealmDown, on 06/12/2009, -0/+26#16 Buy seeds
- bababooey141, on 06/12/2009, -4/+18Good article. I wish there were more like this on Digg.
- Niocan, on 06/12/2009, -1/+12Look up the closest farmers market near you and buy from there :)
- christoast, on 06/12/2009, -0/+10"A chip is a chip and a cookie is a cookie"
I'm going to be saying this all week to in response to as matter of fact statements. - ariggle, on 06/12/2009, -4/+14This writer should check his facts regarding non-organic foods. Studies have confirmed that organically grown foods ARE more nutritious than conventionally grown foods. Vegetables and grains that are grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides lose the ability to produce natural defenses against pests (think of built-in pesticides/herbicides/insecticides). It’s precisely these natural chemical defenses that are nutritious for the person/animal consuming the plant. And, you can’t just “wash off” chemical residues. If a plant has been grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the plant contains the chemicals- inside and out. Organic is healthier and more nutritious, period. Read "The Ommivore's Dilemma."
- Animal, on 06/12/2009, -1/+10Well there's certainly a lot of myths surrounding 'organic' foods.
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4019
http://www.skepdic.com/organic.html
Most people just accept at face value the idea that 'organic' or 'natural' food is better for the environment and more healthy but that's far from the simple truth. - CJ117, on 06/12/2009, -2/+10Hey it's not too hard to grow your own vegetable patch! There's no cheaper organic food than that!
If you can grow weed, you can grow tomatoes. - Robozilla, on 06/12/2009, -3/+11A lot of the information in this article is innacurate.
"4. Don’t buy organic boxed items from a regular grocery store - (unless it is a store-brand). Get them from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods (or equivalent). They will actually be cheaper as it is their specialty."
VS.
"11. Many regular grocery stores are now offering a store-brand line of natural products. These are usually cheaper than if you bought a similar product at a place like Whole Foods and are essentially the same products."
That's a wee bit contradictory isn't it?
Additionally...
"8. There are many non-organic foods that are very nutritious. Don’t think you need to buy organic, you don’t. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are always just as nutritious, organic does NOT make any food more nutritious, it just usually means it has less chemicals...."
That is flat out wrong. Non-organic foods grown in giant monocultures not only have more chemicals, but indeed have less nutrients than many of their organic counterparts. These foods are grown in abundance using artificial fertilizer (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium injected into the soil), and often lack the dozens of other nutrients that are normally present in food when they grow from rich soil. Sure any apple is still healthy, but it's far better for our own bodies and the environment if we eat an organic apple instead of an apple designed to grow as fast and big as possible.
This article is a step in the right direction, and it's from Mint.com (which I love), but it's full of inaccuracies. - mimiami, on 06/12/2009, -1/+8Nice, if you have access to a Trader Joe's or a Whole Foods! (At least we do have a food co-op in our podunk town.)
- inactive, on 06/12/2009, -2/+8People need to get off this organic, not organic hype. Just eat something that is NATURAL and not processed. A little fertilizer on a tomato isn't going to kill you, just remember to wash them good. Better than eating a bag of doritos.
- Lewie, on 06/12/2009, -0/+6A cookie is just a cookie, but a Newton is fruit and cake.
- creoderiot, on 06/12/2009, -0/+6@norman, it's not about having money to burn. The food you put into your body becomes your body. It's one of the most important investments, if not the most important investment. I agre with Lytium in that if saving your money is your main interest or necessity then, yes, unfortunately buying higher quality food may not be an option. The FDA is not doing their job. We have to watch out for ourselves. I'm not saying that everything these stores sell is of perfect quality. It's just much, much more likely to be of better quality
- glitternbells, on 06/12/2009, -0/+5"organic usually means it has less chemicals" ....I thought it also meant no GMO, no?
- KarateMedia, on 06/12/2009, -0/+5The article is about how to save money while buying natural foods. Not "how to save money" in general. This is for people who have *two* main criteria - buying natural food *and* saving money.
For people who want to buy natural food, then the food at TJ's *is* one of the best deals they'll find. - EddiePotato, on 06/12/2009, -0/+4Seems like every year there are contradicting studies regarding this issue, most likely coming down to who's funding the study. I personally lean toward the "organic is healthier" idea, since it generally tends to look and taste better, factors which have been clearly established as indicators of nutritional value in produce. Vivid colors represent valuable phytonutrients, and good taste comes from essential sugar, mineral, and protein content.
- WhiskeyLemur, on 06/30/2009, -2/+6It *is* a great store, but it is *not* cheap. If saving money is your main criteria, then Trader Joe's and especially Whole Foods are not the way to go.
- norman619, on 06/12/2009, -0/+4That grub was just one of the all natural treats.
- inactive, on 06/12/2009, -0/+4I agree Trader Joes is awesome, however it sucks when they discontinue items that you get addicted to. They just recently stop carrying the spinach and goat cheese quesadilla’s that I loved. I plan on protesting if they discontinue the prepackaged chicken salad.
- tonyma, on 06/12/2009, -0/+4I don't agree w/ Lythium. It is cheap for what you get. Most of their organic items are considerably cheaper than the exact same organic item at other stores. Overall they just carry a higher percentage of high quality items so in that sense it seems more expensive, but it's all relative isn't it? It's good value for sure. And since the article was talking about natural and organic food, TJ's is the place to get those items for "cheap".
Also don't fully agree w/ the article recommending TJ's to shop there one a month calling it a specialty store. I think it's way more than that, I've just recently discovered their non-food products and use those for the most part now. - skags, on 06/12/2009, -1/+5I used to think the same way until I read a book called In Defense of Food. The industrialization of our food has prioritized high yields and long shelf lives over high nutritional value. http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Food-Eaters-Manifest ...
- askantik, on 06/12/2009, -0/+4I eat organic corn all the time, and none of them are the size of a baby's fist. I think you're mistaken. And it doesn't matter how much fertilizer or ***** we put on our corn or soybeans and how much we produce-- we still feed it to our cows, chickens, and pigs. We DON'T give it to third world countries. In fact, studies have shown that if Americans alone reduced their consumption of meat by 10-20%, it'd free up enough grains and legumes to (theoretically, IF we gave it away) to feed every starving person in the world.
Again, though, it doesn't matter if we produce a zillion ears of corn for every person in the US... Most of the starving people in the world would still never see any of it. Your argument is moot. - smitas, on 06/12/2009, -6/+10Yes really nice.
- johnn11238, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3Good advice, but this only applies to people who eat "natural" foods because they think it's better for their health. Organic farming should be supported because it has significant ecological benefits that are proven, not only because you think it might be healthier for you.
- chalkboy, on 06/12/2009, -6/+9Organic is exactly the same as non organic. I lived in a farming community and organic is a way to get more money for you product. All you have to do is prove you farm using sustainable techniques and you get the certified organic label. The food is grown in the same locations and still uses pesticides. It is a big scam.
- strangewill, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3It seems more repetitive than anything TBH. #4 says to not buy UNLESS it's a store brand, and #11 reminds you again to buy store brands.
- andrewpmk, on 06/12/2009, -0/+317. Eat less meat
- intothebreach, on 06/12/2009, -2/+5If you want to save money on natural foods just hunt. You can put 100 lbs of of lean, organic, and healthy meat in the fridge for less than $50.
I know everyone would prefer for someone else render their protein into possesion rather than have to do it yourself though. - BigLou, on 06/12/2009, -4/+7Note to self: stop buying unnatural foods.
- mackmarn, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3I'm a regular working dude, and it's not unrealistic to at least supplement your diet with homegrown veggies. I live in a city and I'm growing tomatoes, peppers, beans, and some herbs in containers on my porch. I bought the plants as seedlings from the farmers market, cutting down on the "work" involved. Really the only effort is keeping them watered and supported with stakes depending on the plant. It's satisfying and I can't wait for the fruit.
http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/container-ve ...
http://gardening.yardener.com/YardenersPlantHelper ... - askantik, on 06/12/2009, -2/+5Still uses pesticides? Sure, organic ones. But not synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides. The food isn't grown "in the same locations" (if you mean on the same field as "regular" crops) since the USDA requires your fields to have been organic for 7 years (I think it's 7) before you can be labeled organic.
Eating sticks of organic butter will still give me a heart attack?! But the company told me it was fat free and healthy!! /sarcasm
Organic isn't everything and local is still great, too. But it's not a "big scam" unless you are reading "studies" by agricultural lobbyists or Monsanto. Saying GM foods is safe IS a big scam, because no real studies have ever been done on it. - Disgod, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3A great case can be made against going back to older farming methods and to modernize our farming techniques. They're wayy less efficient and more damaging to the environment because they require more land and upkeep to provide the same quantities. Big modern farms are all about efficiency, which means the minimum pesticides and fertilizers used is a major goal.
Over fertilizing costs money, so modern farms are learning how to monitor how much fertilizer the plants require so they don't over fertilizer. The over fertilization is the problem with fertilizer because it is what is what is polluting rivers. So by being more efficient and modernized it's actually providing a better product, with less environmental damage.
Modern pesticides are being created which are designed to target specific genetic markers in pest species rather than using straight poisons. They're more potent against the target species, which means less is used for the same effect as older pesticides, which means less is out there polluting rivers.
Even with watering techniques, there are constant improvements which mean less water is being used, while still providing maximum crop yields. Israel has come up with a system which monitors and tells the farmer when trees need to be watered, so the trees are never over or under watered, saving water and preventing damage.
Even genetically modified crops are amazingly important. They can improve crop yields, produce crops which can be grown in more diverse conditions, provide better and new nutrients, taste better, and survive conditions better. For instance, there was a recent announcement that some scientists have isolated a gene which can help rice crops survive longer periods of flooding than what they could naturally. This gene can help feed millions more people by saving crops which would have previously been destroyed by floods.
There is a genuine debate about genetic copyrighting and Monsanto style stuff, but that is a separate debate from the benefits of genetically modified crops.
There is every reason to continually modernize our food production. It is actually BETTER to modernize than to go back to the old methods. To claim otherwise is to ignore reality and all the evidence in the name of an personal ideology and to, unintentionally, be for the starvation of millions. - Scottamus, on 06/13/2009, -0/+3Growing ur own food IS easy, just start small.
Tomatoes however are not at all easy to grow at least where I live. Start with someting simpler like beans. - Gndoab, on 06/12/2009, -10/+13organic != healthy. I can eat some organic food, and then ***** it out, and label it organic *****. does that mean that it's good for you to eat? Eating sticks of organic butter will still give you a heart attack, eventually.
more often than not, and especially with produce (meat and poultry is a bit different. I can see people paying more money for the humane treatment of live animals), the difference between organic and non-organic in the long run is negligible. - mandarin, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3Havent been to a Whole Foods for months now. You think they'll at least push down the prices considering the recession....
- norman619, on 06/12/2009, -1/+4This is silly. I eat lots of fruit and veggies. No way in hell could I grow enough to suit my needs. I can't play farmer and work a REAL job to pay the bills. Growing your own food is great for retirees but for regular folk it's unrealistic.
- Boognish, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3Then you keep eating your natural, wild (not farm raised), Twinkies.
- sodade, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3How about a 1lb bag of italian pasta for 99 cents? How about a pound of flash frozen wild salmon for $7.99? How about a box of 50 teabags of better than twinnings tea for $2.99?
I could go on and on and on. If you want quality foods cheaper - TJs kicks all comers to the curb. - DreamSpirit3, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3Also. Our store isn't doing so well cause the giants like Whole foods and TJ's are taking most of our business. Its hard for small local business's to compete with large nationwide chains.
- EddiePotato, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3Agreed. For every 1000 starving kids in a screwed up country, there's a corrupt thug/politician living like a king off their suffering. And just to add to the fun, throw in some religious "leaders" telling the masses that birth control is sinful.
Countries like Japan have proven that it is quite possible to support a large population in comfort with limited land mass and/or natural resources. - Shanich, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3 A lot of good ideas and some not so good a chip is not just a chip , if it's not made with expeller pressed oil ,then the oil has been separated by chemicals , and another idea I like to use is buy your own natural chicken and cook it up and use it for lunch meat burritos, taco's, soups, stir fry ,ect. also if you use the recipe I found in a Texas cookbook for making enchiladas , you just boil your chicken for about 45 minutes in salted water , maybe a teaspoon of salt per quart of water , it depends on your taste , and you get free chicken broth . But still over all a good article some organic is better then none .
- ghatid, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3I had a bad experience with Trader Joes early on when they were just starting up.
We got a box of chocolates from a friend who got it from Trader Joes. When we opened it (all the packaging was still there, etc) there was a FAT grub inside squirming around (still alive). It had eaten a lot of the chocolate, and was thus, really really fat. It was probably one of the most disgusting things ever.
So...I'm kind of scarred, but I know a lot of my friends like going there. - ghatid, on 06/12/2009, -1/+4@s0nicfreak Lol, have you even tried growing anything before?
People like you make me laugh. I've seen my friends decide to get a basil plant in order to have "fresh basil". They think it'll be an infinite supply of basil, then they make a little pesto and then there are no more leaves.
There's a lot more work to growing things than watering... - Sneezyx, on 06/12/2009, -0/+3There is more than enough food to go around; the reason people starve is because their government is incompetent and/or corrupt. Many relief organizations attempt to get food to these people, but they have a hard time getting it past their bozo rulers. There's isn't much the average Westerner can do about it except to contribute to these organizations, and hope that they'll succeed eventually.
Next time check your facts before you start ranting. - askantik, on 06/12/2009, -2/+5Warning: a long post ensues, but I have to set some things straight. This is directly at each point that ghatid made.
1) Folks like you always assume that people who eat organic food are retarded. While there are some people who just have enough money and are jumping on the "bandwageon," not everyone is as stupid as you might think. I am studying ecology at a university-- and I am well-aware of what genetic modification is and what organic molecules are.
2) I don't know if 7 years is arbitrary or not, but the point was that you can't "become organic" overnight. You have to be somewhat dedicated to it.
3) Organic pesticides and insecticides are generally not as dangerous because they can actually be washed off (unlike many synthetic ones, which remain after washing and processing), plus they aren't as harmful to begin with. An example? Neem oil works great and has long been used in cosmetics. Furthermore a snippet from Wikipedia: "Formulations made of neem oil also find wide usage as a bio-pesticide for organic farming, as it repels a wide variety of pests including the mealy bug, beet armyworm, aphids, the cabbage worm, thrips, whiteflies, mites, fungus gnats, beetles, moth larvae, mushroom flies, leafminers, caterpillers, locust, nematodes and the Japanese beetle. Neem Oil is not known to be harmful to mammals, birds or some beneficial insects such as earthworms, butterflies, honeybees and ladybugs." Of course, there are others-- or you could not use any and instead concentrate more on helping the beneficial insects and use that as a weapon.
4a) I never said genetically-modified foods were unsafe, I said (and I quote): "Saying GM foods is safe IS a big scam, because no real studies have ever been done on it." I said that there have been no studies to show whether or not it is safe-- and I'm not a fan of the USDA or FDA approving ***** that we don't know is safe and even has negligible benefits in many cases as far as supposed increased production-- plus its synergistic effects in the long haul could certainly affect the local ecosystem. When one thing in an ecosystem changes, virtually ever other part is at risk of changing (often negatively), too.
4b) As for "genetically-modified," that refers to human-induced genetic engineering. All food we eat is TECHNICALLY genetically modified; selective breeding is a term (if you have any kind of scientific background) that means us favoring certain phenotypes directly which indirectly causes change in genotypes. This is fundamentally different from genetically-engineering something, which is what people almost always mean by the term "genetic modification."
And finally, biomagnification is a term (if you have any kind of scientific background) that means chemicals become more highly concentrated as they climb up the food chain. I suggest some reading on dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (dioxins), Agent Orange, etc.
And one more note: biomagnification is sometimes used interchangably with bioaccumulation, but the meaning can usually be derived from syntax and I don't tell people they're retarded when I can still understand what they mean. - muzzy, on 06/13/2009, -0/+2@ chalkboy
Yes, Chalkboy, I have been on and around farms for most my life. I was born and raised in Montana. I now live in Maine. We consider Washington to be a little yuppie. So please don't try and lecture me like I've never been outside a city or don't understand what a "real" farm looks like.
Again, you are referencing one type of organic certification as if that applies to them all.
I don't know how you all do things out there in Washington, but don't assume every farm that takes on organic certification is doing the bare minimum and not producing truly organic foods. You'd upset a good number of folks here who take it very seriously and actually take pride in what they grow, not in how many trucks they can load up and sell as a lie.
I already told you I work in an organically certified production facility every day, and that we have to adhere to extremely strict procedures to maintain that certification. And nobody here is trying to skirt around the rules and do things the half-assed way, even if we could.
Try your "I'm a REAL farmer!" intimidation tactics on someone a little less knowledgeable next time, you may have better luck. - MrFunStuff, on 06/13/2009, -0/+2Organic produce is better for you than ordinary food, a major European Union-funded study says.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7067100.stm
"The findings call into question the current stance of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which says there is no evidence that organic food is better. " - Disgod, on 06/13/2009, -0/+2Yeah... you should look at the sources that it is citing.... One is the UK Times and and the other is a random website. Neither is a link to this study, which hadn't even been published. So unless you can find it, this is highly suspect considering the VERY next line says:
"A meta-analysis five years earlier (a review of all prior studies on the subject) had found no proof that organic food offered greater nutritional values, more consumer safety or any distinguishable difference in taste."
The sources for this one actually NAME JOURNAL ARTICLES, not some nameless, non-published, non-peer reviewed study.
You should ALWAYS check sources. - Disgod, on 06/12/2009, -1/+3"Arguing implies you had a point to begin with."
I guess that's why you never actually presented an argument to validate anything you've said. You never had a point to being with, only an ideology.
"Read some books kiddo and maybe you'll learn about the importance of food."
Yeah... I think I've got a little more information than you about the benefits of modern farming. If you're genuinely pro-environment, you damn well better be for modern farming techniques. They're better, require less land for more yields (Aka MORE LAND LEFT ALONE), they're learning how to pollute much much less than in the past (MUCH less than organic farming techniques), and they're much more efficient compared to organic farming. Try learning the actual science, not pop culture ***** science that most people are blinded by. - johnn11238, on 06/12/2009, -0/+2I dunno. Why don't you try?
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