Costco has become the Largest Organic Grocer

[Bonny]

Interesting article in the SF Chronicle:

blog.sfgate.com/morford/2015/06/09/the-terrifying-truth-about-costco/

LOL, I just notice the difference between the title of the link and the actual article!

I have to admit that I'm a bit of a skeptic that a lot of what is labeled as "Organic" is nothing more than a marketing scheme so I don't go out of my way to buy organic. But I do like the fact that a big retailer who actually monitors this kind of stuff is making Organic more mainstream.

Do you care if your produce is organic? Why or why not?

[Sam_2.0]

I like the idea of "organic". But I am not convinced that the produce in the store actually is, or is worth the markup. And when it comes to processed foods, organic sugar & flour are still sugar & flour

We don't have a Costco membership because its just not worth the cost to me right now (mainly because it's almost 30 minutes away). I am not driving past 10 other stores just to get there, especially when the savings aren't that drastic. However, with as much food as Baby J eats, we may soon need to buy there just so we can get everything in bulk

[emma1420]

Jun 10, 2015 11:50:25 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

I like the idea of "organic". But I am not convinced that the produce in the store actually is, or is worth the markup. And when it comes to processed foods, organic sugar & flour are still sugar & flour

We don't have a Costco membership because its just not worth the cost to me right now (mainly because it's almost 30 minutes away). I am not driving past 10 other stores just to get there, especially when the savings aren't that drastic. However, with as much food as Baby J eats, we may soon need to buy there just so we can get everything in bulk

That is the way I feel as well.  And I don't know enough about the organic label to determine what the criteria is for a product to be classified as organic.   However, I will buy organic for foods where I consumer the skin and it's not cooked (apples, strawberries, etc.), but I think it's pointless to spend extra on organic foods for things like banana's or things I am going to cook.

I don't shop at Costco (despite it being on the way home from where I work) or Sam's because I can see myself buying a bunch of crap I don't need.

[Deleted]

We follow the "Dirty Dozen" list and buy organic apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, grapes, celery, spinach, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, potatoes, kale. Pesticides are not really something I want to be eating.

I am actually just as concerned over buying non-GMO foods. I think science has done some things that will have negative repercussions in the future. I hate that the GMO labeling didn't pass. The big companies just obliterated the campaigns for labeling.

[Tiny]

I'm skeptical about the whole "organic" labeling... who the heck knows what it means? Then there's the other issues with transportation and whatever they do to the stuff to keep it looking 'fresh' - ie whatever coatings/waxes are applied. 

I'm also highly skeptical that consumers  really want 'organic' veggies/fruit... cause organic veggies and fruit AREN"T all perfectly the same shape, size, color.  Organic fruits and veggies might be smaller or blemished in some way - and it's been my experience that people who are use to seeing the uniform fruit/veggies at the store think there's something wrong with actual organically grown food because of the non-uniformity OR because the veggies/fruits aren't as BIG as they are used to getting.

But, hey, that's my opinion.   

FWIW:  I do use an organic CSA - but 80% of the reason I do it is because --- the veggies have flavor! they are gosh darn yummy!  The produce at the grocery store pales in comparison.       I also like the variablility -  what you get in the Box depends on the growing season - this years first box of the season won't be like last years or the years before first box.  
I don't mind working my menus around what's in the box.   I can see where this is not for everyone - especially since what's in the box is rarely anything I'd ever buy at the grocery store.    The other 20% of the reason I do it is a combination of I like the buy local ideal as well as the organic ideal and alittle bit 'entertainment' - following the work being done at the Farm, working out the 'puzzle' of how best to use up the veggies in the box, trying new recipes.          

[Deleted]

www.organic.org/home/faq  This site nicely defines organic and the variations of that you see on labels.

You know, I did not realize that organic farmers do not get federal subsidies. So the fed only subsidizes large scale, pesticide using operations. Nice. So its really seeing the non-subsidized price of food.

[kent]

They also are one of the major players in the car business. I read something the other day that said they were involved in the sale 400,000 units last year through their buyer program. I've talked with two people that used it and it appeared they got a VERY fair deal on their new cars.

[Deleted]

Why they might be 'the biggest' is because on some of their products (canned black beans & chick peas for example) they only offer the organic version of the product. I still buy them there, but not because they are organic.

Well, actually, to be honest, I no longer buy them there because the organic stuff has a shorter shelf life & I buy canned stuff for 'emergency foods'.