What's in a name?

In Chapter 8 of the Omnivore’s Dilemma entitled “All Flesh is Grass” Michael Pollan assesses the true meaning of the word organic in contrast with what it has become today. He meets with old-world-organic chicken farmer Joel Salatin to enlighten him on the subject. Salatin represents the ideals of growing organic that many other growers seem to have abandoned. For example, he refuses to ship his product and use fossil fuels to spread his goods to market. This is a concept I had never even considered- using resources to transport organically grown food undermines the point of sustainability at its core.

The irony that calling food organic has become a marketing ploy is truly astounding. As a consumer, I admit to have fallen into that trap on multiple occasions. There is a connection in buying “organic” that makes you feel like you are making the world a better place and symbolically shoving it in Big Business’ face. But the joke is on you. Pollan continues by explaining that industries have taken to mass-producing “organic” which comes down to growing the crops without pesticides. From there the food is shipped to all corners of the country where you can find virtually any fruit or vegetable year-round. But is the amount of energy need to stock our supermarkets with global produce something we take for granted? And is it truly feasible to return to eating seasonally in urban cities? Although this would come closer to the originally meaning of “organic,” I do not think that society is willing to give up the luxury of choice when it comes to food.