In these times of escalating food prices and economic uncertainty, people are starting to feel the pinch in their pockets and are searching for food that is reasonably priced. Does this mean that all the good work we have put into pushing organic food into the foreground will be lost? What is “organic,” and is it really better for you and the environment?
Organic?
Firstly what is organic? Organic food including both plants and animals are foods that are produced without using irradiation, synthetic food additives and industrial solvents. Pesticides and fertilizers are also surveilled or restricted. These methods conserve biodiversity, cycle resources and promote an ecological balance in the ecosystem. Soil health and water supplies are not affected in this type of farming by unwanted chemicals. The “organic” label is heavily regulated and in France you need to wait a period of around three years (dependant on what you will produce) of practising organic farming principles before you can even get the certification. And that doesn’t even take into account the inspections each year. So rest assured, that little marker on your organic food in France is taken very seriously.
Why organic?
There are a number of advantages to buying organic, not least that it is thought to be better for your health, as the number of foreign chemicals you introduce into your body can only be harmful in the long term. But there are other advantages as well as this climate crisis progresses.
Conventional farming methods
Conventional farming practices use chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers that have no consideration towards our water supplies or the animals around us. We have all seen the video footage of sewage entering the sea, but the quieter war these chemicals wage on our wildlife is endemic. Perhaps we would be more proactive if we saw these chemicals enter our ecosystems each day covered in red flames, but no. It is invisible, enabling our food chains to follow freely without conscious thought. It was only last year that we in the west were suddenly forced to think about what would happen if there was no bread on the table, or for example this week no tomatoes in the shops. A period of uncertainty has reached our shopping trolleys and the unconditional relationship we used to have with our supermarkets and farmers has changed subtly.
Organic in France
According to data from Lending Tree, organic food prices are rising faster than those of conventional foods, with organic fruits and vegetables rising by 13% compared to conventional food by 10%, and foods such as organic chicken rising as much as 19.5% compared to conventional chicken by 5.9%. 80% of Europe’s organic produce is produced in France. This market represents 6.3% of the French population’s shopping. Interestingly, the south of France seems more receptive to shopping organically, having around 6 organic shops per 100,000 inhabitants compard to the north which has around 4.1 shops per 100,000 inhabitants. We must remember though that organic shopping is not necessarily from supermarkets, but also from small shops or direct from the farm.
You can find organic produce more and more in the supermarkets, and even in a small village like Septfonds, there is a small shop on the main street that sells organic produce and mixed vegetable boxes.
Organic in the depths of the Pyrénées
As we make our way into the mountains, the popuation becomes more sparse and therefore the choice of shops can become reduced. However I am pleased to say that even in the depths of the Pyrénées, you can find organic shops and even a mini-supermarket 30km from our future small village. Even here we can make choices that are positive for our planet without creating a huge carbon footprint.
Veggie garden
The ultimate aim for most people who are interested in organic food and sustainable lifestyles is to create little “paradises” of organic vegetables, either growing them in little pots on their terrace, in their courtyard, within large gardens or renting out an allotment and creating a Monet painting of fresh produce all by themselves. It is hard physical work, particularly if you decide to take on a large allotment, but I am sure most people will tell you (including me) that it is well worth the effort. You will find huge pride in creating a laughable 1cm diameter potato, or picking the first flush of raspberries with your children. A fruit and vegetable garden that is flourishing on your little bit of land can be one of the greatest achievements of all.
MidLife Crisis In France
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