<<I've seen several figures which show that organic vegetables have a higher
mineral content because they grow more slowly, and they have lower
nitrates.
The taste test could be affected by people being accustomed to non-organics.
Some modern NPK forced fruits are tasteless.
Best wishes
Vaughan Jones
(ex dairy & beef farmer & consultant)
Hamilton
New Zealand
jonesv@wave.co.nz>>
I'd like to believe these things too, but I recall a blindfold test conducted
at a NOFA (Natural Organic Farmers Assn.) conference some years back. There
was a slight, but not statistically significant, preference for the
"chemical" produce.
The nutritional matter needs to be looked at more closely. I recall reading
USDA statistics that nutrient content was measured to be higher in the 20's
and 30's, when there was only organic farming, than today. That could be due
to differences in growing practices, varieties grown, measurement methods,
and of course the general decline of soils due to cultivation practices in
general and fertilizing with salts in particular.
We may also see greater or lesser differences in different countries. For
example, much of New Zealand's soils are relatively new and the areas that
were recently under the ocean are particularly fertile. They may not show
the same differential as older soils from the American midwest or soils
longer in cultivation, as in parts of Asia and Asia minor. It seems to me
that the matter is important enough to study. This is the sort of thing
science is good for.
The taste issue is another matter. It would be nice if we enjoyed more food
that is more nutritious, but given the nutrition crisis in places where we
can afford to eat most anything, that doesn't appear to be the case. Then
there is acclimatization. I wonder if I and my (grown) children would find
the organic foods more flavorfull, having grown up eating them. (On the
other hand, I do like pizza a lot. Think I'll sign off and go eat another
piece.)
For Mother Earth, Dan Hemenway, Yankee Permaculture Publications (since
1982), Elfin Permaculture workshops, lectures, Permaculture Design Courses,
consulting and permaculture designs (since 1981), and now permaculture
correspondence training with an email classroom. Copyright, 1996, Dan &
Cynthia Hemenway, P.O. Box 2052, Ocala FL 34478 2052. YankeePerm@aol.com
If its not in our food chain, we're not thinking.