Going Organic
By Mr.e

I see why milk home delivery is so convenient. Once you’ve selected the kind of milk you’d like to drink from the list of available fat contents or absences, lactose free or organic products, it’s pretty much a matter of deciding how much you want.

Then there’s vegetable shopping. Now you can do it from the comfort of your kitchen table or any other spot in your home for that matter. Interesting idea that one. Read through the list and check off which organic produce, grocery and snack items you would like to enjoy for the coming week.

Then either call in or fax your order at least two days before your scheduled delivery date and a bin with your selections arrives on your doorstep on the predetermined day. All ordered sight unseen.

Let me remind you that you don’t check to see what the milk looks like before deciding on this or that box, jug or bottle at your local super market.

With produce it’s a different story. Creased foreheads, furrowed brows and grunts of approval or disapproval are all signs that tell of serious decisions being made. Take a look at the faces around you the next time you try to find the best onions, red peppers or apples. People really pay attention to the produce they intend to take home.

Getting my family to eat organic food (genetically unmodified and grown without chemical agents of any sort) all started in our first garden plot last year when we decided to see how much of the good stuff we could grow in that converted patch of weeds. Not enough. Not by a long shot.

Initially we went to an organic produce supplier who opens up the warehouse to the public every Saturday morning. We tried it a couple of times, but being disappointed by the speed with which the early bird got the best stuff and not willing to get up too early on that day of the week, we soon gave up on that idea. But we kept nibbling away on the stuff out of our garden and the trips to the local produce store were way down.

A few months ago an organic delivery service started to call at dinnertime. I tried to brush them off a few times but these phone people were persistent. They just kept calling. No wonder, since I kept giving them every reason to believe that any other time than supper time would be better, instead of telling them to beat a hasty retreat.

After the umpteenth call that yet again prodding a limp carrot at my conscience, I gave in and agreed to give it a try. Anyway the first delivery was a free sample, with no strings attached.

It duly arrived in the arms of an enthusiastic organic foods sales person. This young lad left his business card clipped to a sheaf of paper further informing us of the benefits of organic foods and the companies extensive product catalogue.

The oranges tasted as good as they did when I was boy. The apples were much smaller than the ones that regularly tumble off the displays at the local supermarket to bonk unsuspecting toddlers on the head in the produce isles.

The rush of these pure nutrients and the knowledge that we were eating ‘clean’ food went right to our heads and we signed up for the full fledged service the very next day.

Ok, so keeping to our weekly veggie budget on the organic route was pretty much out of the question what with a pound of garlic costing almost eight dollars as compared to the dollar and change at the regular produce store.

Yes, producing organic goods does cost more but if no one buys these goods and support the farmers who go to a lot of effort to certify their product organic, they will not be in a position to provide it to the consumer. Bottom line: it’s expensive.

Our first delivered order was a surprise. Everything looked great and I realized that I’d ordered more fruit than veggies. I vowed to adjust that in the next order. I thought I did, but when that order came in I found that a quarter of the items had not been available and so my order came in way short. Out of that batch, I discovered that I would not have selected half of what we got, had I been the one to pick it.

That did it. On account of that I cancelled our account after only two deliveries.

A little thing really, but I can go out to that organic produce supplier every Saturday morning bright and early to get the best looking produce they have to offer.

I can and I will do that. And I have that delivery service to thank for giving me the kick in the butt to get off of it and take a more involved role in choosing the foods I eat.

Sure, the delivery thing is great. But I’m not an invalid and I do care about the food I eat and I do need more than just five carrots per week.