WHY DO VEGANS CARE ABOUT ORGANIC?

September 2, 2016

Why Organic?

I am often asked why should we eat organic food and as someone who cares about my health, my answer is multi-faceted. Because all my food is plant based, organic, non-GMO food is especially important to me. Aside from the huge taste difference (organic definitely has more flavour) knowing I am consuming fewer chemicals gives me some sort of satisfaction. I come from an era when “organic” was an unnecessary label as pretty much everything we ate as kids was not modified by chemical companies anyway. Sadly, when said companies started experimenting with our food supplies with the premise that their product would increase quantity, speed up ripening and make processing easier, labeling became a must.

Several years ago, while driving through California in the spring, we encountered massive fields of strawberries and in those fields were tractors with enclosed cabs driven by people in full HazMat apparel. They had on face masks, white overalls and gloves and they were spraying the fields with a cloud of obvious chemicals. We were appalled and since then have never purchased non-organic strawberries. If a farmer has to protect himself from the chemicals he is spraying on the food we eat, what does that say about the chemicals?

Every so often, I will come across articles saying there is no difference between organic and non-organic other than price and I can’t help but feel those articles are being written by people on the chemo company’s payroll. If you have any doubts, the first place to start is with a taste test. Though the fruit or vegetable may be bigger, the flavour of non-organic foods lacks any semblance of what the actual non-modified food should taste like.

I feel a few extra dollars invested now will help prevent nasty side effects and ill health down the road and it is by far less expensive than the health care I would be facing later on in my life. I can’t control everything my body absorbs such as the air I breathe or the water I immerse myself in but at least with the help of Spud, I know whatever I order will be a safer choice than anything found in a conventional grocery store.

Susan Hollingshead

Susan is our resident vegan. She’s been a vegetarian for 20 years, and a vegan for 3. She has researched both lifestyles extensively and is constantly exploring new recipes, add her own twist. She is a long time Spud customer, and now our very own resident vegan blogger!