TRUE LIFE: Organic ... A lifestyle, not a health choice

The old Becca used to hear the word organic and just laugh in a person's face and say "You're stupid." The new and improved Becca, however, has learned to step back and look at both sides of anything and everything agriculture.... including the organic industry.

Or maybe the new Becca is just better at hiding her eye rolls previously directed towards people buying into the "healthy" organic section at a grocery store... or maybe not.

Let's take a walk through Wegmans, the best grocery store in the whole wide world. Why is it the best ever? BECAUSE I FINALLY FOUND HONEY CRISP APPLES. AT WEGMANS. But wait, hold the excitement because this chick missed the (what I like to think was) fine print on the sign... these Honey Crisp apples weren't just any apples. They were ORGANIC Honey Crisp apples.

Even better huh? Sooo much better that when I was paying for my groceries the cashier was kind enough to say "Uhm, ma'am do you realize that these organic apples are going to cost you $13.98?"

After I brushed off the "ma'am" comment (I'm 21 years old... stop it) I realized that I was about to pay $13.98 for 6 apples.... in case you hate math like the rest of the entire human race, that's $2.33 per apple. Unless there are fireworks that go off in the background and shirtless pool boys that fan me while I'm eating this apple, I'm gunna go ahead and say that price is bullshit.

But, some would argue with me that I'm paying that extra amount of money to be healthy. I didn't pay for the "healthier" choice. I just paid for that organic "lifestyle" that people are confusing with some sort of health trend. What I don't quite understand is where people got this whole "organic is healthier" concept.. SINCE WHEN?!

I'm open to anything and I love to hear other opinions and thoughts. But if you want me to buy into your case, there better be cold hard facts supporting it. Sure, some woman with way too much time and money on her perfectly manicured hands told you that buying that organic green pepper is going to change your life. But why is it healthier? Because it's more expensive than the "regular" version? Organic products are expensive because of the added expenses along the supply chain, not because of and added "value." If just once someone provided me with credible research and studies that organic is healthier, then I'd listen.

But until then, my money supports "regular" products. And in case anyone is wondering, those $2.33 Honey Crisp apples? BIG SURPRISE.. They taste like apples. No fireworks or marching band to follow a mouth watering experience. Just apples with an outrageous price tag that left this broke college student with an empty wallet and disappointed taste buds.

Bloggin out,
Bec

Am I overreacting?

Since arriving back at Penn State, I've had a number of friends asking me to go on a Panera Bread date. When I say no, people look at me like I have three heads. But wait, it gets better. When I go on and tell them I'm not eating there because of the disrespect they showed to farmers in a recent advertising campaign, I have been receiving quite the collection of reactions.

"That's ridiculous."

"Really? Is that a joke?"

"No offense, but that's a stupid reason."

*An example of the EZ Chicken campaign (trying to be "clever" in saying farmers are lazy)*

 

 

NO, it is not a joke and NO, it is not stupid. This is me being very, very serious. Panera Bread attacked and insulted an industry that I'm passionate about and everything I stand for. OF COURSE I'm going to react and retaliate! Not supporting their business is hardly drastic when compared to the EZ Chicken campaign they created .

 

Trust me, giving up Panera wasn't easy for me. I have yet to find a Sunday cure as satisfying as a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup and an iced green tea. But just take a second and put yourself in my shoes....

 

You're on a collegiate baseball team. Nike creates a series of ads and commercials that target baseball players as the "lazy athlete" and accuses you being 'slackers' when compared to other athletes, like football and soccer players. Would you still continue to purchase Nike products and apparel?

 

You're a Penn State alumni. Penn State just released a series of articles that accused the past five years of graduates to be lazy and subpar to those graduating before them. Basically, you're a bad example of the student that the University is trying to produce. So when Penn State calls you for an annual alumni donation, are you still going to give back?

 

You're a young, single parent. Johnson & Johnson has been slandering unmarried and 'young' parents, saying that you are irresponsible  and unreliable to raise a child. Are you going to continue buying Johnson & Johnson products? If you only have even an ounce of self respect, you would be saying "see ya later" to such an offensive company.

 

Now remember, these were all hypothetical situations. Nike, Penn State and Johnson & Johnson have done NOTHING I mentioned above. Why? Because they have a brain and just plain common sense. I'm simply trying to put you in 'my shoes.'

 

My refusal to eat at Panera Bread is my way of standing up for what I believe in. It's only a small step, but a step nonetheless towards supporting the industry of agriculture.

 

 

 

Sit back and think for a moment. What are you passionate about? Someone attacks it. Not just someone, but a someone who either depends on you, or you depend on them to keep that passion chugging along. Like Panera Bread, who depends on farmers for ALL of their products, but still had the nerve to call them out for taking care of their sick animals and assuring that they are healthy. Because we'd all rather be eating sick animals right? Because Panera Bread can get their chickens from somewhere other than farmers, right? Riiiight.....

 

Bloggin out,

Bec

 

 



PETA is a little confused

PETA, more commonly referred to as "People Eating Tasty Animals," has been consistently blowing up our Twitter feeds with campaigns against the dairy industry. These are a few of the images I found interesting:

So what are they angry about? They are angry that dairy farmers are dehorning calves. But let me ask you this, PETA members. Have you ever worked with dairy animals? I highly doubt it. Because if you had, you would understand WHY we remove the horns from all of our animals.

I'll tell you why. Safety and just plain common sense. When you have a farm of 600 dairy animals, imagine all of them running around with huge horns. That sounds like a good idea, right? No, it doesn't. It's not safe and not only putting the farm employees at danger, but other animals as well. And isn't that what you're all about PETA, protecting animals?

Dehorning calves is done carefully and early enough that the calf will recover quickly and completely. Check out how and why we dehorn calves.

Here's another fun fact. Temple Grandin, a well-known and highly respected  doctor of animal science and professor at Colorado State University is pro-dehorning calves. You can also add bestselling author, autistic activist, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior to her lists of talents. Why is her opinion valid? Ohhh I don't know, maybe because HBO thought her opinion was important enough that they made a movie about her work and accomplishments. Let's hear what she has to say about dehorning:

"There is no excuse for not dehorning very young calves. There are several very good heating devices which will destroy the horn button on a calf. These methods are more effective than paste. There have been a few insensitive people who have suggested cutting horns off of cattle shortly before slaughter. This would be very cruel to the animals and it would also result in condemnation of most of the heads by the meat inspector due to hair and dirt entering the openings in the skull." -Temple Grandin

There are always going to be bad people in this world who do bad things. I'm not saying everyone in the dairy industry is dedicated to the safest practices. However, what people (PETA members and supporters) need to realize is that the larger majority of us are.

We're in this industry because we love dairy animals. There is rhyme and reason behind our practices. PETA is like your little brother who stole a cookie from the cabinet and suddenly a UFO came and aliens invaded the kitchen. Because that happens all the time, right?