With all the concern over GMO crops and chemicals contaminating the food supply, organic food is becoming increasingly in demand by consumers. However, the common perception is that safe, healthy food is too expensive. Depending on where you live, that may or may not be true. For those of us on a tight budget, organic food can seem out of reach.
Fortunately, there are ways to eat healthy and still stay on budget. Most large grocery chains have organic foods available, and their purchasing power can keep costs only slightly above the non-organic items. There are also stores that specialize in healthy foods.
Founded in 1975 in Asheville, North Carolina, Earth Fare is the authentic organic and natural healthy grocery store with 39 locations across the Southeast, mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Whole Foods calls itself "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" and has 279 stores in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Organic food can be expensive, but Albertsons’ house brand, Wild Harvest, typically costs 15% less than name-brand organic products.
If you don't have access to these, then check out Environmental Working Group's "Good Food on a Tight Budget". This guide—the only one of its kind—lists the most nutritious, most economical and least polluted fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains and dairy items. You can even print out a copy of the guide to take with you when you shop. Brilliant!
Have a healthy, happy holiday season!
Until next time...become the change you imagine.
What is the DARK Act?
In February 2015, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) reintroduced HR 1599, a bill intended to strip states of their right to pass GMO labeling laws. The bill is officially called the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.” Others call it the Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act because it would stop GMO labeling laws.
On July 23, 2015 in a 275 to 150 vote, the House of Representatives voted in favor of the DARK Act, in spite of the fact that 90% of Americans surveyed are in favor of GMO labeling.
GMO crops took up about 1.7 million hectares soon after they were introduced in 1996. Acreage has grown at an average clip of 10 million hectares a year, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, and are now up to 175 million hectares, with no signs of abating. And Monsanto is either leading most of these markets, or is in close competition for them.In 2013, Monsanto racked up sales of $14.9 billion. Of that, $10.3 billion came from seeds and genomic traits.
It is becoming clear that big business will soon have control over the food supply. Will we let that happen? There have been some successes in the grassroots movement to stop Monsanto from taking over the world's food production. It will take the voices of millions of people demanding an end to agribusiness' stranglehold on seed production. Millions more voices to end the systematic destruction of small farms around the globe.
Some brave souls have fought the good fight, and have won, in a small way. The 10-minute short documentary, Seeding Fear, tells the story of a farmer named Michael White, who with his father Wayne, took on the corporation in court. Percy Schmeiser: David vs Monsanto runs a little over an hour but is a much more comprehensive look at what independent farmers are going through in their fight against GMO supremacy in the fields. They are both disturbing and frightening.
GMO Awareness has a list of state, national, and international anti-GMO groups. The Non-GMO Project has good information and suggestions on how to get involved. Contact your Congressmen and tell them to vote "NO" to HR 1599. The future of food is in our hands.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."~ Edmund Burke
Until next time...become the change you imagine.
