A Field Guide to Buying Organic
An Aisle-by-Aisle Guide to Every Organic Product
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
The definitive guide to healthful, affordable food shopping in the Organic Age—from a pioneer in the organic movement
What does it really mean when a food is labeled organic? While many of us believe there are good reasons to buy organic, what exactly are they? The authors of this indispensable handbook sift fact from fiction to help you make informed decisions that are right for you. Here is everything you need to know, including when paying more for organic is worth it—and when it’s not. A Field Guide to Buying Organic provides you with:
·Self-tests to determine your current organic-shopping habits—and the type of organic shopper you want to become
·A primer on organic food standards, labels, and seals
·Health and quality comparisons of organically grown versus conventionally grown produce
·An aisle-by-aisle supermarket guide to information about the most popular organic produce, dairy, meat and poultry, baked goods, nuts, seeds, grains, convenience foods, and drinks
·The truth about pesticides, hormones, genetically modified foods (GMOs), toxins, and bacteria
…Plus illustrations featuring product logos and contact information, and a fascinating overview of the evolution of organics
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Perry, a teacher and consultant to the organic food industry, and freelance writer Schultz skillfully guide readers through the complexities of organic food production, distribution and consumption to help informed purchasing decisions. They begin by detailing the history of organic farming; federal regulations and the U.S.D.A. certification process; nonorganic practices of concern for consumers (pesticides, hormones, genetically engineered organisms and crops, etc.); and the effects of current production methods on the environment and society. Then, they give an aisle-by-aisle guide to supermarket and health food store shelves. Useful tools such as label and ingredient comparisons, a brand guide, explanations of processing methods will allow readers to confidently choose between conventional and organic products. In each section, the authors offer quizzes for readers to pinpoint the concerns that drive their choices: health, economic, environmental, social or culinary. Readers whose main motivation is to safeguard health may be surprised to learn that some organic products don't have clear advantages over conventional ones, while those who seek the freshest, best-performing products may be inspired to select organic items more frequently. Similarly, price-conscious shoppers will discover that some organic products do offer definite advantages for only a few cents more. The authors' balanced approach should appeal to those committed to organics and skeptics alike.