17 Jan 2007
Wal-Mart accused of 'organic fraud'

Gosh, I wish I could get all worked up with outrage over this, but I just can't. Because the sorry truth is that the "organic industry" is far more industry than organic. Most of the commercially available organic products are produced with industrial methods - just (allegedly) without the chemicals or hormones. And given the way the USDA rules are written I sometimes have doubts about that.

There are good organic producers out there - and good organic marketers, too. Watch for folks like Sunflower Markets who try to buy most of their meat and produce from local sources, rather than shipping stuff halfway around the country.

A company like Wal-Mart could never do that - their key to "success" (lower prices) is to buy in vast quantities and then manage the logistics. They may be making an honest effort to do the right thing, but the very economy of scale that is their lifeblood will prevent it every time. To even expect them to "get it" regarding the organic and natural foods movement is absurd.

A policy research group is accusing Wal-Mart of "organic fraud," the latest controversy to arise as the world's largest retailer pushes into the organic food industry.

(link) [CNN.com]

22:56 /Agriculture | 0 comments | permanent link