Going fully organic is a pain in the arse?

[Tressle]

There's just the two of us at home now, we love cooking, so after a good amount of research, including what we have heard over the years, we decided to try going as fully organic as possible last year.
We didn't think it would change our lives or help us to live longer, just something we cared about and wanted to support, and some of the stuff is delicious and not always pricey.

I can look back now and whilst I don't regret it at all, it has become a royal pain in the arse. Obviously it is more difficult to source, even though we make use of local farms (sadly lacking), an organic delivery service and finding it in supermarkets when we can.

But sourcing is still a mess. We are happy with seasonal veg, and can find some variations of organic meat that we both like, but local supplies seem to be dwindling, as I just presume there isn't as big a market for it where we are as there used to be. 3 of our big supermarkets pretty much stopped offering organic chicken in the past few years, and quality online has been a gamble to be honest. We prefer to see meat, fish and eggs before buying, so it becomes even more bloody tricky.

Even stuff that should be in season is often difficult to locate, and trying to get everything from organic delivery services is not as easy as it might seem.

We are certainly not 'afraid' of pesticides, but really wanted to support smaller farms and help the environment. I also appreciate that there are still enviro issues with organic farming as well as regular, so not blind to that.

It's got to a point where planning the week's shopping is becoming a chore, even though we can buy jars and longer shelf life stuff in bulk, the fresh side is often a gamble. We planned a few meals around mixed peppers and tomatoes this week yet could locate none.

Probably time to slacken it, maybe?
Perhaps just prioritise some stuff over others?
I know many people think organic is a rip off or just as problematic as non organic, and there is scant evidence of pesticides causing tangible harm to humans, but we did really want to do it.
We don't spend a lot in other areas of our lives so have been able to afford it, but it's really becoming a giant bollock as I just wanted to slap a 3 pack of red non organic peppers into the trolley yesterday and not give a shit

I hope the more of us that keep buying it, the more they expand it. My local Tesco in particular is dire for organic produce there's barely anything.

It's worth noticing that list is from the USA where no doubt they spray more and use compounds which are illegal elsewhere.

For example the spinach I get in the market is not organic but it is grown by local market gardeners, is covered in dirt and has signs of minor pests etc. It is also very cheap compared to supermarket spinach.

I'd rather get something grown on a small scale locally than an organic product from halfway round the world. You have to be realistic and a bit flexible I think and not be too purist or you'll drive yourself mad.

I’d buy organic where you can, buy non organic elsewhere if there’s no easily obtained organic option.

I wouldn’t fixate on it, otherwise you’ll cause yourself a mental breakdown in the middle of Sainsbury’s, especially given how many products say organic when they’re actually not or claim to be all natural ingredients when again, they’re not.

Just do the best you can

As a seller of organic eggs, how on earth can seeing the egg first tell you anything?

Opportune article:

How to buy organic food (and wine) — by nutrition experts and chefs

https://www.thetimes.com/article/d319c627-7d24-48b6-8944-99fce5917b7b?shareToken=7d9aaba8c41d2363b48d17fb275d1026

@SpaceRaccoonah that I don’t know sorry- we have active foxes around here so I never see any rabbits. You’d probably have to put hoops and mesh, or bamboo and mesh over to protect them

I get a Riverford box and cook round that. I top up with a couple of things from Riverford and then an online supermarket shop. It’s not hard.

That was an interesting read, thank you! I originally made the switch to organic because I was worried about soil health and wanted to reduce pesticide exposure but I agree that the taste of some products is excellent.

I haven't yet tried organic wine but I do like the non organic version of the Terre de Fiano mentioned so I'll definitely look out for that one!

Waitrose is good and often has offers on organic products, they also send you online vouchers for things you buy a lot which in my case is organic products. I do a Riverford order( a box and a few otger other things) and it isn’t much, then top up at Waitrose. Riverford do a switch out box now.I chop and change with boxes and every week, they have loads of options. I use their recipe bank which is fab.

Do you have any farm shops or small butchers in driving distance? I've found these can be better for sourcing organic produce, particularly the seasonal produce which can be grown here.

You may have to "shop around" to find one, we tried about 6 farm shops (although I do live in a more agricultural area than yours by the sounds), before settling on our current farm shop. I also use different shops for veg Vs fruit and berries. I found the ones offering PYO for berries/ fruit were better for those. We do use supermarkets for bananas and other fruit that isn't grown here and I have just bought whatever as sourcing the organic version is a headache.

I've found an independent butcher who keeps his own animals and also sources exclusively from local farmers. He makes all his own pies and sausages rolls ect. He also sells eggs from a local small holding and sources a lot of things like cheese, chutneys and bread and baked items from local independent providers.

We have gone no/ low UPF and it is also very tricky with the supermarket with some things.

I wouldn’t fixate on it, otherwise you’ll cause yourself a mental breakdown

Well that escalated quickly
Believe it or not I managed to get through the morning whist avoiding emotional collapse, enjoying a lovely slice of organic sourdough spread with non organic cream cheese and non organic apricot jam:)

I am as organic as possible and I find there are two main approaches:

1. Get everything organic you can, get non-organic for the things you can't. This is especially important if you are meal planning in advance.
2. You get what is available then plan your meals around it. This is ideal if you are getting a co-op type fruit and vege box regularly or if you do your own shopping.

These days I tend to do a mix, mainly due to how hard it is to really be fully organic these days.

Honestly, I’ve linked Farms to Feed Us twice now on this thread! (And I have no connection at all.)

Up to all of you if you can’t be bothered … 🤷‍♀️

Marks and Spencer Organic tinned plum tomatoes are currently the cheapest organic tomatoes i can find in a supermarket :-)

We have had riverford for 21 years and never disappointed, other than the veg which tastes of earwa (can'trememberits name!), and artichokes which are so pointless!!

Local farmshop or waitrose meat counter as much as possible...if you're in co Durham you must go to Broom House Farm. Nothing like it in the whole country.

Its too hard - just buy good quality meat and veg, and cook as much as poss x

A note to anyone interested- I didn’t know this until recently but most organic eggs are produced by hens that have been debeaked. Standard organic certification doesn’t ban debeaking. So you need to check the point if it bothers you- I think Soil Assoc approved eggs are ok and Riverford.

Thanks, I am still upset about the male chicks.

I am finding no information that helps me there albeit I could be 'using it wrong'.

I accessed the database which opened up an endless scroll spreadsheet of blank lines and got a file security warning on my desktop.
You'll just have to colour me confused.

I feel your pain and it’s crazy to think that the default that nature intended has to be labelled.

It should be the other way around with organic not labelled and the other produce labelled as chemically enhanced with details about what was used.

Agree.

I am failing to locate red peppers again this week, wouldn't mind so much but we use them a lot in various meals. It likely depends on where you are located so sods law (pun intended!).

Hopefully it improves and it definitely has got easier to find organic products. But it’s still got a long way to go.

The more people buy it, the more farmers will cater for it and the prices should come down a bit.

@Tressle- that definitely doesn’t sound right! Will take a look myself once I’m out of the cinema.