Who's buying up organic companies?

[greenbird]

Interesting chart picked up via HuffPo from Michigan State University:

http://www.msu.edu/%7Ehowardp/organicindustry.html

Food for thought!

[hippywife]

1. Kicking this up because it's so important

that people understand that this has likely been with a goal to take over that market and dilute it. Which I've no doubt it has been very much underway. It's time for people to start learning to feed themselves and taking the time to do it rather than relying so heavily on prepared, processed convenience foods. This is what's behind the health issues in this country and eventually will come a time when there will be no choice but what the corporations have to offer, and it won't be good.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=8617497

[Hannah Bell]

2. big capital. what'd ya expect?

[PuraVidaDreamin]

3. Incredibly important!

K&R

[ThomWV]

60. Could you explain to me what is important about it? Not terribly important, just plain important.

[NashVegas]

69. It's Important Because It Represents a Foodfight Between Corporations and Highly Educated Consumers

And I don't necessarily mean college-educated, just educated about the food/agriculture system. People who are very active and vocal, so much that the US government and corp. agriculture had to retrench in 1998.



As the market grows, the proportion of educated and active consumers shrinks, diluting the impact on decision making of the educated consumers, on the market they created in spite of the larger fish who are gobbling up everything.

[tigereye]

4. that's fascinating!

interesting how there is no mention of small chains or co-ops who have been selling these products for decades... The only think mentioned in my area is Whole Foods (we have 1 store and Trader Joes - we have one small store here.)


I think that incorporating organic foods and the idea of fresh/local foods isn't necessarily a bad thing for some corporations - that could mean better prices and better foods for larger parts of the population, although I think the idea of local, fresh and cheap makes more sense over the long run.

[JDPriestly]

53. Trader Joe's makes deals and uses house brands.

[tigereye]

55. right, my point is that they are perceived as being an alternative grocery

and they seem to have fairly good labor practices, as does Whole Foods. I don't know that making deals is always bad...

[JDPriestly]

61. Probably good business. We find we can pretty much rely on the quality of Trader Joe's products,

but we don't know who produces them.

[Raksha]

71. I think the small chains and co-ops are indicated by "direct sales"

in the chart just above your note. It's the darkest portion of the graph. Although it's also the smallest section, it too has been growing along with the other two sections.

[hippywife]

5. Tigereye is correct.

This site goes a long way in helping people find fresh local food in their area:

www.localharvest.org

[BrklynLiberal]

6. thanks for that link. I used to have it and when my puter crashed, I lost it.

[greenbird]

7. Thanks for that link to Local Harvest

My farm is on Local Harvest and I'm hoping for a good response this season.

[hippywife]

9. I pass that link on as often as I can.

The best thing we've done in the past year is join our local coop, get to know our food providers, and make as much as we are capable from scratch. I do hope you do well. :hi:

[tigereye]

56. we keep meaning to sign up for the organic produce service

and then it's always too late, since it's filled up. Maybe I should sign up now... :think:

[zeemike]

37. thanks for that link

I found more organic farms in my area than I knew about.

[hippywife]

65. Terrific!

Pass the word to your friends and keep these people in business. It is of tantamount importance that they thrive. :hi:

[Mari333]

8. awww shit i always use seeds of change

not anymore. fuck. they were radical..offering diversified heirloom seeds that could not be found anywhere else. this just stinks.

[hippywife]

11. I still ordered my seeds from there this year

because I was running behind and it was just easier. I am going to take the time to research and join Seed Savers Exchange next order, tho.

[SpiralHawk]

34. Seeds are selling out this year - unprecedented demand...

Read along in this blog -- first item starts out on the theme of Peak Oil, but the same item soon gets in the seed demand thing...

http://www.thecalloftheland.com

[hippywife]

35. I'm really not surprised.

Something else that's odd is the egg producers in our coop are ending up with eggs left when our monthly order closes. More than just a few dozen, too, it seems. I think, in addition to gardening, people who are able are getting their own chickens, too.

[greenbird]

17. Try Seed Savers Exchange or Johnny's Seeds

www.seedsavers.org

www.johnnyseeds.com

They both have amazing stuff.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Wow. I had no idea!!!!

I have seen at least 3 really big local neighborhood gardens destroyed and new condos being built on the land.
It is heartbreaking. I used to be able to walk a few blocks and buy fresh produce....
Now my only source would be a local food co-op or the Farmer's markets.

[hippywife]

12. That really sucks.

No other community gardens within walking distance at all? We do love our coop. It's been a wonderful resource for us this past year.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. There were two and now there are none. I have to drive to the nearest food coop.

I live in Brklyn and there are huge Farmers' Markets here and in Manhattan...but I would have to drive to get to them.

[ensho]

41. during WWII we had hucksters come in a open truck with bins/baskets

of veg/fruit down our street about once a wk. huckster was not a bad word then.

anyway, maybe, today in NYC huckster trucks could come to neighborhoods not near the markets?

just a thought. an old but new business?

[BrklynLiberal]

62. Great idea. Progress can sometimes mean moving backwards.. :D

[greenbird]

49. For New York City local food info, try:

www.justfood.org

[BrklynLiberal]

63. Thanks!!!

[hippywife]

13. Here's another good resource.

I bought the guy's book because he put a lot of work and research into producing it and it's small enough that I can carry it to the store with me where it's of real use. The website is good to use for the more in depth info behind the research and how it was compiled.

http://www.betterworldshopper.com/

And I carry a copy of this with me, too, when buying produce in the stores. It helps me decide where my organic dollars are better spent and where I can buy conventional to save a little money.

http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php

[BrklynLiberal]

15. Thanks!!!

[Mithreal]

16. K&R especially for some of the shared links, thank you. nt

[varelse]

18. Thanks for the link - I have added to my favorites

As a consumer of organic and locally grown foods, and as someone working in a closely related industry, this information is very useful.

[peacetalksforall]

19. This is really disturbing intelligence. I avoid GF & Cargill and some of

the others - now I'm going to have to go to the co-op with a list in my hand of brands that I'm not going to buy.

Congratulations to the Paul Newman corporation for not selling out.

Did Ben & Jerry's really sell out?

I once loved Hagen Daas - never touched their ice cream after it was sold to Pillsbury. Supersticiously, I knew it would have something in it that would bother me - msg, modified something, hydrolyzed something, artificial something, hormone something. Or other.

[greenbird]

20. Probably high fructose corn syrup

But I don't know that for sure.

[ensho]

42. me too, stopped buying Hagendaz

nt
edited cause I meant to say Hagendaz

[hippywife]

21. Kicking back up coz

things sink fast around here.

Making fresh food for your family can be quick and easy. It takes a little planning and it doesn't happen all over night. Starting with a few small things and adding new ones as others become routine is the easiest way to begin.

:hi:

[Overseas]

22. K&R! Great charts ! //nt

[AdHocSolver]

23. The 21st century may see the end of civilization thanks to capitalism-corporatism. n/t

[bluesmail]

24. You are what you eat. eom

[Mike 03]

25. Absolutely fascinating.

Bookmarked, printed and kicked.

Thank you for finding this.

[Mike 03]

26. Wow, check this out. It is horrifying, and the implications are enormous. NT

[Muttocracy]

27. K&R - loved Michael Pollan's take on this, and will pass this to the person

who gave me his book!

[beac]

28. Depressing, but good to have the info. K&R. n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

29. keeeeek

[tomm2thumbs]

30. I sent the person a note to say 'thanks' for such interesting work

This was their contact info from that page if anyone wants it -


I didn't want to post it as 'text' as they obviously prefer not to be spammed and have put it in a graphic

[rockedthevoteinMA]

31. bookmarking, thanks for the inspiration to kick up my

gardening. I have had a small veggie garden every year, but this year I'm going all out.

[Brazenly Liberal]

32. Not always a bad thing

It depends on what the purchasing company does with the product. Sometimes, the main result is to make the product available to many more people than had access to it before.

As an example, we use White Wave products. Before 2002, we had to wait until we went to Chicago to buy it because in small rural towns, products like these aren't in the supermarket. When Dean bought WW, they distributed the products to their customer stores and since then, we've been able to buy WW locally.

We live on a farm. We grow much of our own food, which is a good thing because it's the only organic food available locally. But the whole idea of eating fresh and local is only realistic here and in the rest of the north for a few months a year. It's a nice sentiment, but I ain't livin' on snow and brown twigs 6 months a year just to fulfill a slogan. Having better distribution of organic food products is a boon to those of who live in the north. And to those who live in a city in the warm climates.

[sazemisery]

33. Organics being ruined by Big Corporations

Organics regulations have been watered down over the last 8 years so the "Big Boys" could use the organic label and still add preservatives to give longe shelf life to their products.

[japple]

36. Thanks, greenbird, for posting this. It is VERY important.

It's no wonder that we're seeing more "organic" and natural foods at Kroger these days. I'm sure it's because Kroger is more inclined to buy from big corps. instead of privately owned sources. I'm heartbroken about Seeds of Change but happy to see that Newman's Own hasn't sold out.

And a big thank you to hippywife for keeping this thread kicked up to the top. I'm running into you all over the place these days!

[hippywife]

39. Where food is concerned, I am just outraged

at what is allowed to take place, really. The food people consume in this country is killing them and the way food is grown by the corporate giants is also killing the land.

I've seen eating fresh natural foods make a huge difference in my own health so I know it works. Sustainably grown without pesticides and herbicides is always optimal but we need to get people to make that first move - away from the chemically laden processed foods.

As far as corporate organic goes, this is the excellent guide to walking through that mine field:

http://www.betterworldshopper.com/

It's easy to avoid when they label under their own name, but not when they are buying up long trusted organic brands that used to be worth buying.

:hi:

[greenbird]

40. You're welcome!

The term "organic" is becoming increasingly meaningless. I myself prefer Eliot Coleman's term "authentic food". I actually find that my customers don't care that much about whether or not something's certified organic. They seem much more excited about buying fresh, local and beautiful food directly from the person who grew it.

[pollo poco]

38. k&r

Most important thread here. Biggest impact an individual can have on the situation is with individual choice on food. Voting with food dollars is a very good thing.

Thanks for the links, everyone!

[earth mom]

43. This really sucks. How many of us still believe that all these organic companies

are pure and altruistic? :argh:

I posted this list on another thread about gardening and thought I'd post it here too:

List of Organic seeds, Heirloom seed, un-treated seed, seed saving, seed suppliers

Paid ads are at the top of the list, scroll down for the complete list:
http://www.greenpeople.org/seeds.htm

Click on your state or province:
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/organic_seed/

[GinaMaria]

44. Where do you shop for organics?

I find Whole Paycheck... I mean Whole Foods to be too expensive. Trader Joes works well for me as well as a local chain, Treasure Island, where I can buy Amy's stuff. Occasionally I will shop PeaPod but they are expensive too.

I'm interested in hearing what goes into your decisions of where to shop and what brands to buy. It looks like Deans is buying Horizon... makes me nervous with the BGH and all. What brand of Dairy do you buy?

[hippywife]

47. Horizon has been suspect for a couple of years now.

They actually did get caught not complying with organic standards back in 2006, I think. I buy raw milk from a local producer and if I can't get out there, Organic Vally is a top company that can absolutely be trusted.

Some links for you:

http://www.betterworldshopper.com/

www.localharvest.org

[GinaMaria]

66. Thank you. This helps a lot :-)

stay healthy.

[NashVegas]

70. Dean Bought Horizon Years Ago

And Horizon has been busted for using Aurora's factory farm milk.

[onehandle]

45. If marijuana was legalized, the same thing would happen.

Big tobacco would take it over pretty quickly.

Not the backyard growers. They would lose profitability and go away.

There would be a few independent bigger pot farms, but they would be bought up.

And big tobacco would start planting, instantly. Here and abroad.

[Gabi Hayes]

46. thanks for this thread, and welcome to DU....great info at other posts, as well:

threads like these should be up at the top....

daily kicks?

[greenbird]

48. Thanks!

This has been fun and incredibly informative.

[Reterr]

50. k&r.eom

[create.peace]

51. not to mention the distribution structure which is now pretty much all United Natural Foods

Pre 'engulf and devour' days, there were lots of regional natural food distributors, servicing coops, health food stores, restaurants and food groups (conspiracies). Every year in the last 20 years more and more have been bought up, and now we have basically United Natural Foods to deal with. Support your local growers.

[cpompilo]

52. Thank you for the information. When agribusiness co-opted

and changed the definition of organic I was outraged. In my opinion organic now has to be read as "organic" in quotation marks to mean "not as organic as you think". I highly recommend that everyone grow at least some of their own food using heirloom, non GMO seed, savable from year to year for replanting. An excellent book on seed saving is Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth.

What we eat has a profound effect on our body. I ate the Standard American Diet (SAD) for most of my 54 years, consisting of mostly processed food and convenience food. Convenience food turns out to be not so convenient in the long run. I have Crohn's Disease, an incurable bowel disease, symptoms started 21 years ago. After diagnosis in 2001 I went through 3 years of conventional medical treatment (steroids and 16 pills a day of big pHARMA (emphasis on harm) of anti-inflammatory and 6-MP (which nearly killed me). Two hospitalizations later, and near death, I found the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which saved my life and eradicated the worst symptoms. The diet allows for NO processed food. Everything I eat I make from scratch. For anyone who has, or knows of someone who has any kind of bowel disease I recommend this website www.BreakingTheViciousCycle.info. It literally saved my life.

So I now have a very small organic garden to supplement whatever "organic" food I can find to buy.

I bookmarked all the threads - thank you all!

[hippywife]

54. Welcome to DU, cpompilo!

I'm so glad you pulled through all of that. How horrid for you. :hug:

I agree with people growing whatever they able to grow for themselves, even if they can only grow a few things in containers, and then look for local foods. www.localharvest.org

If people have the space to put even the smallest garden, it doesn't take equipment to do so anymore.
Anyone can garden!! Pick a method, no tilling necessary!

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1999-04-01/Lasagna-Gardening.aspx
http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

I don't have a good link for container gardening but I'm sure folks around here do. People are welcome to check into the gardening group here on DU. We're all available to answer questions and help.


:hi:

Big thanx to everyone for keeping this kicked up and rec'd. Very important what is happening to our food supplies.

[tigereye]

57. And if this indicates the caliber and thoughtfulness of your posts, you should be

be a great asset to DU!


Welcome! :hi:

[greenbird]

58. Thank you very much, Tigereye.

And thanks to Hippywife for the links and kicking.

[tigereye]

59. you are most welcome!

:hi:

[hippywife]

64. My pleasure!

It's something I'm extremely passionate about. I would love to see good, clean whole food readily available to everyone. Altho I understand that good local natural and organic food from trusted sources costs more for good reasons, it shouldn't be available to only those with the means to afford it.

[NashVegas]

67. Facinating

Ultimately a lot of what's on those charts will affect people who don't cook for themselves, disproportionately.

[derby378]

68. Woo-hoo! Organic Valley!

Stickin' it to da man! :woohoo: