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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/business/18organic.html?pagewanted=all
Basically, prices are skyrocketing. Part of it seems to be that as long as farmers can get high prices for conventional produce (particularly grain), they have less incentive to become organically certified (and the 3 year process means a transition where they have the added costs and lower productivity of organic, but can't charge organic prices). So there are supply issues all the way up the chain
The problem, of course, is that if prices go too high, demand will drop and farmers will have even less incentive to change.
I am cynical about the people who say they don't foresee a level at which organic would be too expensive for them. I know that we probably couldn't afford to eat all organic (not that I want to anyway) and we're not bargain shoppers by a long shot.
I've argued for some time that organic, no matter what the Soil Association et al say, has limitations. With prices for organic goods so high, and demand rising (don't say "go veggie"; it may be true in theory, but let's deal with reality) I don't see how organic can possibly become the standard.
Basically, prices are skyrocketing. Part of it seems to be that as long as farmers can get high prices for conventional produce (particularly grain), they have less incentive to become organically certified (and the 3 year process means a transition where they have the added costs and lower productivity of organic, but can't charge organic prices). So there are supply issues all the way up the chain
The problem, of course, is that if prices go too high, demand will drop and farmers will have even less incentive to change.
I am cynical about the people who say they don't foresee a level at which organic would be too expensive for them. I know that we probably couldn't afford to eat all organic (not that I want to anyway) and we're not bargain shoppers by a long shot.
I've argued for some time that organic, no matter what the Soil Association et al say, has limitations. With prices for organic goods so high, and demand rising (don't say "go veggie"; it may be true in theory, but let's deal with reality) I don't see how organic can possibly become the standard.
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