Going Green: A Growing Movement
July 2nd, 2009 by Ashley StricklandGreen has become the new black. From creative ad campaigns touting health benefits of new products to a dedicated and active movement to save ourselves and our world, green is everywhere. Everyday, we are overwhelmed with images of this new, healthy lease on life. Such overexposure can have a blinding effect to the point that it is hard to understand what the terms beneath the umbrella of “green” really mean. The closest link to this institute of ideas is to be organic. But how can someone “be” organic? In today’s world, the term organic not only applies to food, but revolves around a whole new lifestyle. According to The Free Dictionary, to follow an organic lifestyle is to live “simple, healthful and close to nature” through educated choices concerning input (food and drink) and output (personal activities and consumer trends).
As with any lifestyle, there are benefits and difficulties with being organic. However, the benefits may be slightly different than what is expected; myths abound and tend to have a misleading effect. According to the Mayo Clinic, “no conclusive evidence shows that organic food is more nutritious than is conventionally grown food. And the USDA — even though it certifies organic food — doesn’t claim that these products are safer or more nutritious.”
The difference, when looking at organic food, is in the farming. Organic farmers take extra care that the entire environment included within their process is clean and healthy for everyone; no pesticides or chemicals are used. And the taste is really a matter of personal opinion. But by limiting exposure to unnecessary chemicals or additives, the consumer is decreasing his risk for potential health problems as well as supporting the environment when making an organic purchase. And eating an overall organic diet will support a healthy immune system.
The difficulties are more obvious with going organic. Unless you have been living in California or other organic-based locales since the beginnings of the Green movement in the seventies, there has been a general trend concerning the lack of availability. The organic outreach and locations supplying these items have been few and far between. There is also a history of high prices. In the last few years, availability has become more widespread, especially through grocery chains like Whole Foods Market, the Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s, Earth Fare and even a specialty chain of Kroger called Fresh Fare.
Trader Joe’s is based in California and without enough distribution centers in the rest of the country, the freshness of its produce can be limited. Earth Fare, which is based out of North Carolina and mostly caters to the Southeast; obviously outreach is and will be an issue. The individual lack of availability concerning items may be due to the arduous certification process it takes for farmers wishing to sell organic products to grocery chains. Some farms take up to eight years before their soil and conditions can be certified organic. But this is also why we’ve seen such a powerful response in 2009; many farms began to hop on the organic trend in 2000 and have just been certified. And more availability means lower prices; now it is possible to buy some organic items in grocery stores for the exact same price as conventional items.
In the end, green is still a growing movement. We have a long way to go, but we have made incredible progress. The recently deceased Paul Newman began a legacy of organics and charity that will live on through his remaining family, continuing to provide a wide range from doggie treats to peanut butter cups. His and other organic items are now available at Wal-Mart, Target, Costco and Kroger, which also make buying organic easier on household budgets. And the field covering “organic” has expanded beyond food to include pet food and products, clothing, all-purpose bags, and cosmetics, even down to a self-tanning crème called Tanagement put out this past summer by Nature’s Gate Organics. Healthy and organic alternatives are all around and will only continue to increase.
So when and where do you start? Any small change can make a big impact on your life and the environment, so choose wisely. And now seems like the best time to grow alongside the green movement.
Ashley Strickland is a senior at the University of Georgia. She is a summer intern for SocialYell and blogs about health, social equity, consumer advocacy, charity, sustainability and just about anything green.
