I just bought the only organic celery at my grocery store. It's labelled USDA Organic. It really upsets me to see that it was grown in ANOTHER COUNTRY. I know that the USDA has agreements with other countries; and that the growing country says they followed USDA guidelines; but I want United States Department Agriculture Organics to mean it was grown in the United States. Now.....I'll step off my soapbox and go cook dinner.
I agree! Did you all know that many of our little organic farms we thought we were buying from are owned by large corporate food companies? This really angered me and makes me wonder how long it will be before the food lobbyists for these companies lower the USDA organic standards. Check out this chart of what companies own the small organic companies: http://www.cornucopia.org/wp-content/themes/Cornucopia/downloads/OrganicT30J09.pdf
I was also shocked to find out that M&M Mars bought Seeds of Change which WAS one of my favorite organic heirloom seed companies. Also, Coca-Cola owns Odwalla, Pepsi owns Naked Juice and Tom's toothpaste is owned by Colgate. The list goes on...
I swear since learning all of this, it just empowered me to grow as much of my own food as possible and to support local organic farms. I really trusted my local health food store, but they sell all of these brands that are produced by the big corporations. I just don't trust those big corporations and I am sure it is only a matter of time before they all buy out our local health food stores and lower the standards of USDA organic foods (if it hasn't happened already). It is disheartening to say the least. I don't want GMO's and chemicals in my foods.
USDA Organics
Posted - May 13 2011 : 3:16:24 PM
