Alex Rast wrote:

>reducing the debate to a legalistic courtroom
>trial - using tactics appropriate to an attorney interviewing a
hostile
>witness. It assumes, a priori, an adversarial relationship, and that's
what
>you create - with no opportunity for cooperation, collaboration,
discovery
>of shared interests and goals, things that would explore the synergies
>between each of the 2 methods of production and allow environmentally
>unimpeachable progress in farming technology. As it is, there's no
real
>debate, only a stream of name-calling from both sides of the issue. It
>clouds both the issues and the facts and leaves the ordinary consumer
>confused with no way to get good information.

You just described the political discourse in this country, and
especially online.

Thanks for the nice summary of reasons for choosing either organic or
conventional methods. I'm going to copy and save.

BTW, I "cherry pick" organic food consumption. I don't buy organic
milk, but do buy that which is free of that bovine growth hormone. I
never buy conventional potatoes because the pesticides used on them are
so terrible. Spinach, green beans and broccoli are other items I try to
buy organic when possible. I know conventional strawberries are pretty
toxic, although I'll indulge sometimes, but when even mainstream
Parents' Mag warns that the levels of pesticides etc. are too high for
little kids, I get concerned for my pre-schoolers. So I buy organic
berries, often the frozen kind.

When it comes to chicken and beef, I just go "hormone and antibiotic
free", don't require organic. And I also eat out and don't ask too many
questions. Who can be perfectly pure? You pick the worst offenders
(again, potatoes, greens, green beans, strawberries) and wing it for
the rest. I fail to see how "organic" boxed macaroni and cheese is
demonstrably better for you than the regular stuff. How about regular
macaroni dressed with real parmesan, butter and cheddar? I never buy
the "organic" snacky stuff my fellow middle class moms like. Chips and
popcorn are chips and popcorn, guys, and I'll just pop my own kernels,
thank you.

Leila