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Organic Food ... and Walmart

Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
in A Moving Train
Walmart has announced a deal with Wild Oats (a prior organic food supplier to Whole Foods) where they will sell organic food at non-organic prices. 25% cheaper overall.

washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/wal-mart-plans-to-bring-its-compete-on-price-approach-to-organic-food-heres-how/2014/04/09/db1bab32-c003-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html

Does this help or hurt the organic food market? For someone like me it's good because I refuse to pay a higher price for an equal product. But I would assume it would hurt what was once a niche market that has been able to sell a product at an inflated price. Now that you can feel good about yourself and pay a reasonable price, reason stands that all organic sellers will need to lower their price ... unless America really is as narcissistic as it seems and would still pay a higher price for ego and prestige (worldwide).

Perhaps Wild Oats will be deemed sell-outs by the hipsters and Whole Foods and Trader Joe will continue to prosper. Time will tell.
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Comments

  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    I'm for lower prices and fair competition. That said I'll never step into a Wal-Mart.
  • EarlWelshEarlWelsh Posts: 1,118
    I'd pay a little more in order to not support Walmart. I don't strictly buy organic though so kind of a non-issue for me.
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    unsung said:

    I'm for lower prices and fair competition. That said I'll never step into a Wal-Mart.

    It's worth going just to people watch. Once I step on the property, I'm immediatlly judging and ranking who is going to win the weirdo award of the day. I have witnessed grand champions in my day.
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    If I can get organic lettuce at the same price as Dole, I think the choice is a no brainer.

    Right now Wally is only expanding to 2,000 stores so it will be a coin-toss if it comes to my local Wally World.
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    Jason P said:

    unsung said:

    I'm for lower prices and fair competition. That said I'll never step into a Wal-Mart.

    It's worth going just to people watch. Once I step on the property, I'm immediatlly judging and ranking who is going to win the weirdo award of the day. I have witnessed grand champions in my day.
    I've never been to a Wal-Mart (none in my immediate area) but I'll tell you what - some of the folks strolling around my local Bristol Farms and Pavilions could put to shame some of those I've seen on that people of Wal-Mart site.

    I've heard that labels on some products claiming them to be organic are actually (technically) false. Who oversees and verifies this? FDA or some agricultural board?

    At the corner store, they sell a pint of regular raspberries at a buck and change; same size for organic is twice the price. I've tried both, and the regular ones take the cake.
  • JWPearlJWPearl Posts: 19,893
    That doesn't sound right. I would complain to the agricultural board. Would not pay for for fake organics when I can get regular..
    I was going to buy blueberries for the lady's lady a while back but it would have cost 8 so I didnt, would have been even more ticked off to find out it was regular. I just buy regular for that reason because its the right price for me...
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    i grow organic. Sunlight, water, and compost. Yum!
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • chadwickchadwick Posts: 21,157
    edited April 2014
    has to say something like this.... certified organic

    organic on the label literally means nothing

    by the way, if i am not mistaken everything is organic
    i'll go find the link(s) i posted the other day that talks about organic vs' certified organic
    quite a twist on phrasing, language & something like loop-holes

    every time i am reading/typing in this subject i kick myself (for not being able to remember his exact words) & i'll explain why
    in a environmental science class i was taking the professor asked us what organic means
    you can imagine how easy this was answered by many of his students... we were all incorrect
    he gave us the shocking answer
    two of my classroom neighbors & myself nearly fell out of our chairs & onto the floor as we couldn't stop asking, but why this, but why that, say it isn't so, blah blah, no way.

    uh, yes way

    the shock of our lives

    Post edited by chadwick on
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • JWPearlJWPearl Posts: 19,893
    Well that makes lots of sence i read it about three times almost going for a forth lol...
  • chadwickchadwick Posts: 21,157
    http://organic.about.com/od/organicindustrybasics/f/When-Is-Organic-Really-Organic.htm

    just the tip of the iceberg
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • JWPearlJWPearl Posts: 19,893
    Thats terrible isn't it and we're made to believe organic is really special and different from the rest so unfair!
  • chadwickchadwick Posts: 21,157
    edited April 2014
    plus quite pricey

    so wrong & so fucking screwed up

    this is also what we get for trying to feed a population growing exponentially
    so in many peoples' eyes & opinions, folks with yards (or even a small handfull of veggie/fruit growing racks or whatever mounted on their deck) & not having a garden to be proud of & growing some of your very own healthy stuff are truly missing the point & could be borderline out of their minds & or lazy

    anymore i am leaning towards hunting one's own meat. this would also mean doing it quietly & not shooting giraffe or rhinoceros or gorillas & polarbear. eating a deer or elk one managed to shoot is a decent way to survive.

    i would hope the hunter pays respect to the deer or elk spirit giving a humbling thank you with great respect just as if this hunter is a indian warrior 700 years ago

    ted nugent & pals firing on & murdering 200+ wild hogs in an afternoon all from the comforts of a helicopter is extremely disrespectful to this planet & its wildlife
    Post edited by chadwick on
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,051
    As much as I'm all for organic foods I'm a bit skeptical of anything labeled organic. Much of what carries that label these days is not so healthy as it may sound. I have a friend who follows this stuff closely- I'll see what she comes up with.

    But for me it's a moot point. Walmart moved into our semi-rural area and killed several great independent small business in the area (thank goodness they don't sell used books!) so from my perspective I don't care what they sell or don't sell. But of course everyone here already knows how I feel about Walmart.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,051
    Another question comes to mind: How fresh is it? Probably no where near as fresh as our food co-op and farmer's market. :-)
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    That's one thing that sold me on the state that I want to move to, the farmers market was unbelievable, I spent nearly three hours there. My local ones I'm in and out in less than 15 minutes.
  • AnnafalkAnnafalk Posts: 4,004
    unsung said:

    That's one thing that sold me on the state that I want to move to, the farmers market was unbelievable, I spent nearly three hours there. My local ones I'm in and out in less than 15 minutes.

    That sounds very nice!
    I buy local and organic food as much as possible it feels right for me
    :)
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    how can someone say organic is the same product!?

    anyways - organic in the US is tough because the regulations associated with calling it organic are purposefully vague ... i wouldn't trust it ...
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,051
    unsung said:

    That's one thing that sold me on the state that I want to move to, the farmers market was unbelievable, I spent nearly three hours there. My local ones I'm in and out in less than 15 minutes.

    Where is that if I may ask? Just curious in case I'm ever passing through- always nice to find a good farmer's market on the road.

    When we went to Missoula in 2012 there were very good farmer's markets in a few of the small towns of US 93- Hamilton and Stevensville.

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    unsung said:

    I'm for lower prices and fair competition. That said I'll never step into a Wal-Mart.

    What are your reasons?
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    brianlux said:

    unsung said:

    That's one thing that sold me on the state that I want to move to, the farmers market was unbelievable, I spent nearly three hours there. My local ones I'm in and out in less than 15 minutes.

    Where is that if I may ask? Just curious in case I'm ever passing through- always nice to find a good farmer's market on the road.

    When we went to Missoula in 2012 there were very good farmer's markets in a few of the small towns of US 93- Hamilton and Stevensville.

    Not far from there, CDA Idaho.

  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    callen said:

    unsung said:

    I'm for lower prices and fair competition. That said I'll never step into a Wal-Mart.

    What are your reasons?

    I prefer to shop local and not from some big box retailer that destroys mom and pop shops. Wal-Mart has a huge amount of inventory that is Made in China, over 90% from some reports.

    My IQ is also too high to enter.
  • backseatLover12backseatLover12 Posts: 2,312
    Hey, if it will improve the nutrition of the typical Walmart shopper (not me), I'm all for it. Do you see the people that frequent that store?!
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    edited April 2014
    backseatLover12 said:

    Hey, if it will improve the nutrition of the typical Walmart shopper (not me), I'm all for it. Do you see the people that frequent that store?!

    Do they make organic cheez whiz?
    Post edited by Jason P on
  • chadwickchadwick Posts: 21,157
    yuck... fucking cheese whiz. yellow liquid salt (maybe) flavored cheddar in a pressurized can. i myself would rather be punched in the mouth than eat a can of that
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    chadwick said:

    yuck... fucking cheese whiz. yellow liquid salt (maybe) flavored cheddar in a pressurized can. i myself would rather be punched in the mouth than eat a can of that

    I remember eating it as a kid ... which is strange because I was a picky eater. I think I would heave if I tried eating it now.

  • chadwickchadwick Posts: 21,157
    edited April 2014
    kids eat weird stuff, dirt or mud or bugs or grass or dog & cat food or sticks or bark or gravel or boogers or glue or tape or chalk or candles or just ketchup or just mustard or ketchup-mustard-toothpaste-relish & mayo on a cracker to win the grand championship statues at a sleep over w/ friends all trying to eat the grossest shit

    plus cheese whiz .... in a can. kids would think that is just great i think
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • backseatLover12backseatLover12 Posts: 2,312
    edited April 2014
    I loved Cheez Whiz when I was a kid. But my Mom refused to buy it. I now thank her.
    Post edited by backseatLover12 on
  • chadwickchadwick Posts: 21,157
    http://youtu.be/fXwvL7n7NCQ
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,051
    backseatLover12 said:

    Hey, if it will improve the nutrition of the typical Walmart shopper (not me), I'm all for it. Do you see the people that frequent that store?!

    Good point! If I could put my disdain for Wall-of-crap-mart aside I would probably give their move toward healthier food a thumbs up. :-)

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • JWPearlJWPearl Posts: 19,893
    rgambs said:

    i grow organic. Sunlight, water, and compost. Yum!

    Thats the best way id like to try and do that.
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