Organic food

[bornagainbiking]

After watching "FOOD INC" and several common links to family health issues, we have decided to move towards a more natural lifestyle.
We just started and found Goodness me very expensive. Fortinos has a fair selection and the Farmer's Market good for grain fed poultry and veggies.
Any other suggestions. I believe this will be a growth industry but subject to false labels or presentation to elevate prices.
Is there any stalls "organic" at Ottawa Street?
We are looking for grain fed beef.
Thanks for any pointers.
You do get what you pay for.

[thistleclub]

Meat-wise, Cumbraes in Dundas is probably a safe bet. While you're out that way, you can also try Mordens. And in the summer, Plan B Organics is in at the Dundas Farmers' Market, Thursdays 3-7pm. (I think they're in on Saturdays at Skydragon, but you might want to double-check.)

Ottawa Street Farmers Market is 100% local as far as I know, but I'm not sure how much of it is organic. Seems like a lot of widely available organic stuff comes from California and Mexico. The economy of scale makes for an appealing price point, I guess.

As far as greenwashing, "organic" is a loaded term and much-abused already. Even if you're telling a terrible truth: Lead and mercury are organic, to make an exaggerated point. And most people aren't really that critical when it comes to reading labels against the grain. The ideal is probably something that's fresh, local and organic from a farm that's been vetted by the OCO or OCPP, but consumers' dedication to the cause is a personal choice.

[highwater]

There's also Manorun Farm (http://www.manorun.com/). They're the ones who partnered with the Old Mill's Jeff Crump and Bettina Schormann to produce Earth to Table, which you should definitely pick up if you're at all interested in local organic food, or just good food period.

[BrianE]

When in doubt, ask the folks who collect our tax money to keep an eye on these kind of things.

Here's a good site from OMAFRA

Here's the Standards Council for organic food

I agree with ThistleClub, the cheapest way to sell 'Organic' food is to buy a black magic marker and some paper and write "Organic" on it. If you see a sign like that without any certification symbol that could be all the investment the producer has made towards producing Organic foods.

[emge]

If you have a chest freezer, you can order half-cows and quarter-cows from a butcher for excellent prices - I can get grain and grass-fed, antibiotic and hormone-free beef for under $3/lb cut and wrapped and butchered/portioned to your specifications.

(My grandmother used to own a beef cattle farm, and after she passed away and the farm was sold, my family still orders from the same butcher who knows farmers with similar cattle-raising practices).

PM me and I'll get you the contact info for one.