Seen at Whole Foods Today

[bughunter99]

One pint of organic "heirloom" cherry tomatoes. $6.99
Who new the stuff I was growing was so valuable!

[kurt]

Where did they originate(grown,packed)?We get a lot of greenhouse grown varietys from Mexico at our Whole Foods here for about the same price.Also did they give the name of said heirloom?Ours here say "Heirloom style".

[travis]

Fortunately for me, there isn't one of 316 Whole Foods stores here in Evansville, and I won't have to go buy a $7 pint of tomatoes from a dude whose company grosses over $10 billion a year, but has to cut his employees to under 30 hours per week to avoid enrolling them in a healthcare program.

[GnomeGrown]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFc1pr2yUU

[Cole_Robbie]

As far as I know, anything labelled organic that originates beyond US borders has no inspection whatsoever. Caveat emptor.

I was just today looking into what it would take to make my hydroponic lettuce "organic." I thought it would be just organic seed and nutrients. But of course not, that would be too easy. My entire hydroponic system would have to have been made of 100% "food grade" materials, which are very difficult to find. I can get food grade pond liners, but I use a lot of styrofoam and fiberglass sheeting, which are building products, so they don't come in "food grade." That's why you'll just about never see certified organic tomatoes that are hydroponic.

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by kurt

Where did they originate(grown,packed)?We get a lot of greenhouse grown varietys from Mexico at our Whole Foods here for about the same price.Also did they give the name of said heirloom?Ours here say "Heirloom style".

Yes these to had no variety listed. I didn't check for country of origin because I wasn't buying them but I always do for the reason you listed. My biggest annoyance is when their lettuce products say country of origin USA AND Mexico! WTH?

Scratch that my bigger annoyance is when their big sign says Organic and Local but when you look at the tiny label on the pepper it says product of Chile.

Scratch that my BIGGEST annoyance is when Whole Foods has bins with unlabeled country of origin.

That gets them another peeved post on their forum, where I often complain.

That said. Thank goodness for them for making organic widely available and profitable. The company has a whole lot of flaws but I'll take them over the lack of choice and labeling that others have to deal with any day of the week.

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

As far as I know, anything labelled organic that originates beyond US borders has no inspection whatsoever. Caveat emptor.

I was just today looking into what it would take to make my hydroponic lettuce "organic." I thought it would be just organic seed and nutrients. But of course not, that would be too easy. My entire hydroponic system would have to have been made of 100% "food grade" materials, which are very difficult to find. I can get food grade pond liners, but I use a lot of styrofoam and fiberglass sheeting, which are building products, so they don't come in "food grade." That's why you'll just about never see certified organic tomatoes that are hydroponic.

Yep. Stuff that is inspected as organic internationally does not remotely resemble the organic standards of this country. The exception is things coming from the EU. Their program mirrors ours.

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by travis

Fortunately for me, there isn't one of 316 Whole Foods stores here in Evansville, and I won't have to go buy a $7 pint of tomatoes from a dude whose company grosses over $10 billion a year, but has to cut his employees to under 30 hours per week to avoid enrolling them in a healthcare program.

I shared the finding so that all of us growing our own could get a bit of glee and how valuable our organic crops were.

[ScottinAtlanta]

Well, I guess Japan is about twice as good as ours. Canada also has a good program. Australia, the same. Organics programs in South Korea are well advanced. Certification of organics in many emerging markets is just fine, too. You folks who talk knowledgeably about international standards and regulatory systems in other countries... I wish we could sit down and just review some material together. There is much misinformation here.

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by GnomeGrown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFc1pr2yUU

That's awesome!

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Well, I guess Japan is about twice as good as ours. Canada also has a good program. Australia, the same. Organics programs in South Korea are well advanced. Certification of organics in many emerging markets is just fine, too. You folks who talk knowledgeably about international standards and regulatory systems in other countries... I wish we could sit down and just review some material together. There is much misinformation here.

All I know is what I've read (and I've read a lot) My mind is not closed and my opinions are not fixed. Give me some links and educate me more!
I would especially like to know about the programs in Chili and Ecuador.

Stacy

[RayR]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Well, I guess Japan is about twice as good as ours. Canada also has a good program. Australia, the same. Organics programs in South Korea are well advanced. Certification of organics in many emerging markets is just fine, too. You folks who talk knowledgeably about international standards and regulatory systems in other countries... I wish we could sit down and just review some material together. There is much misinformation here.

Ya, it would at least be good for a few laughs, after we get a hundred lawyers to decipher the small print.

[PA_Julia]

There's a reason why Whole Foods has earned the nickname "" Whole Paycheck "".

[socalgardengal]

That's funny because about a month ago I almost bought one so I could save the seeds, then I thought what the heck are those anyways. So I didn't buy them. Didn't know if the would grow true. Can't tell I'm a beginner LOL

[ChrisK]

Now you know how I feel when particular subjects come up here.

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

You folks who talk knowledgeably about international standards and regulatory systems in other countries... I wish we could sit down and just review some material together. There is much misinformation here.