Phil Howard, assistant professor in the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation, and Resource Studies at Michigan State University, maintains a chart showing which megacorporation owns your favorite organic brand. Recently, Good Magazine published an edited version of Howard’s chart, and Boing Boing linked to it, leading to an interesting discussion of whether it’s a good or bad thing that General Mills owns Cascadian, Heinz owns Arrowhead Mills, Santa Cruz Organic falls under the Smucker brand, and Horizon milk is made by mega-dairy-corp Dean Foods.
If we want organic food to be more affordable, and more available to more people, the “pro” argument goes, isn’t it good that it’s being mass-produced? And even if the agribusiness producing it operates a huge, monocrop outfit, don’t we still get the environmental and health benefits of organic versus nonorganic processing?
Commenter Rexrhino at Boing Boing says yes: “If you are truly concerned about the environment, and you truly believe that organic food is positive for the environment, then you wouldn’t have any problem with the mass-marketification of organic foods,” Rexrhino writes. “Of course, if you are purchasing organic foods as a way to boost your social status and ‘green cred’ with other shallow urban hipsters and/or crunchy types, then you are probably pretty pissed off.”
On the other hand, notes Rawfoodrox, once organic companies are bought out by profit-oriented corporations, “the standards (sometimes) become lowered because they are in the business to make money.”
It seems inevitable that corporations will continue to snap up small organic companies, fair-trade companies, or even local food outfits, as these kinds of products become more popular and profitable. Michael Pollan has addressed the possible outcomes for our food supply repeatedly, and, with things like the buyout of Honest Tea by Coca-Cola happening almost monthly, the conversation is far from over.
You write, “t seems inevitable that corporations will continue to snap up small organic companies, fair-trade companies, or even local food outfits, as these kinds of products become more popular and profitable.” But if we stop and think, is that what we really want? Because as soon as that happens, the organic standards drop and mega corps will get their way.
I mean, since when do the big corporations actually care about our health? Don’t you find it odd that many members of the FDA and EPA are, or once were, “big wigs” in the Monsanto Corporation? You do know about Monsanto, right? How about Round Up Ready Plants or Suicide Genes?
So, if you have not watched The Future of Food (http://www.thefutureoffood.com/synopsis.htm) well I would start there. I also highly recommend Michael Pollen’s Latest: In Defense of Food: (http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php)
Or How About Fast Food Nation: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Food_Nation)
What it all boils down to is Consumer dollars speak loud and clear! But until people wake up and choose to really get to know their food and where it comes from, while understanding the benefit of spending “extra” on good, organic produce that supports their small, local farms and farmers, then agribusinesses and major corporations will continue to do what they do and take over the people and the land any way they can.
http://coolearthtopics.blogspot.com/
profit is one thing but the organic taste and quality is another thing. i have been purcahsing gluten free and organic products from this australian aupplier and i found them to be just great, the prices are 20% more the normal grocery stores but its definalty worht it
http://shop.oway.com.au/epages/oway.sf
try them out, its an easy way to stick to your gluten free and organic diet.