Organics May Soon Be Out of Reach for Many Consumers

progressive

(Tue, 13 May 2008 09:57:59 -0500 (CDT)) --- (Another by-product of the worldwide food crisis. Organic food, always
pricey, stands to become prohibitely expensive. SR)

Organics May Soon Be Out of Reach for Many Consumers

By Tana Ganeva
AlterNet.
May 8, 2008.

In the past decade, organic food has moved into the mainstream, as more and
more consumers have gotten creeped out by the use of growth hormones,
pesticides, antibiotics, chemical fertilizers and all other sorts of
unsavory, potentially carcinogenic things that go into conventional food
products. The rising demand for organic food has even pushed Wal-Mart into
the organics game; recently, the retail giant struck fear into the hearts of
small organics suppliers by announcing a plan to fill its shelves with
organic produce, meat, and dairy.

But the recent spike in food costs may curb the growing demand for organics.
According to a Newsweek story, rising energy and commodity prices could
drive healthy, organic fare beyond the reach of many consumers.

A gallon of conventional milk can cost as little as $2.99; meanwhile, the
privilege of consuming milk that is free of unhealthy additives can run
consumers up to $7 dollars a gallon.

The price hikes may discourage all but the most well-heeled shoppers from
buying organics. As the article reports, only 27 percent of shoppers
surveyed thought organics were worth paying extra, even though most
considered organic food healthier.

As fewer shoppers load up on organics at the grocery store, the cost of
producing organic food will increase, driving prices even higher:

"Organics' growth and premium prices once persuaded farmers to go through
the costly three-year process to cleanse their fields of chemicals to become
USDA-certified as a green grower. But now with corn, grain and soybeans at
record prices, the financial incentive is to grow conventionally. The rising
price of organic grain is making it tough to feed all those free-range
chickens and synthetic-hormone-free cows. Some organic farmers in the
Northeast are even converting back to chemically enhanced crops to boost the
bottom line. Fewer organic farmers means higher prices and less variety on
greengrocers' shelves.

Once confined to the realm of the wealthy and finicky, organic products have
been increasingly democratized. But skyrocketing food prices may limit the
health benefits of organic food to those who can afford it -- yet another
example of the impact of wealth on health.

www.alternet.org

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