When the food sanctions were announced last year, many Russian bloggers ran to create scandalous headlines and photos showing empty shelves and the threat of inflated food prices. Now, it's my turn to show a small level of panic arising in the markets of the USA. I'm not good at creating yellow headlines for stories, it's simply not in my nature to have a hysterical or panicked mind, even for the sake of ratings. However, I've noticed these signs posted in a lot of local stores, warning that organic milk is running out. The demand in the American marketplace has far exceed the supply, for many reasons. As a result, markets can now charge a premium for this product, but there's a constant debate as to whether the benefits of this type of product outweigh the increased cost. "Organic"...sounds good and healthy, but what does it really mean?

1. "Organic" is a heavily regulated term in the USA, not any producer can slap the claim on its product packaging. The United States Department of Agriculture has strict requirements for "organic" labeling, which simply means the food is grown and processed in accordance with Federal "organic" guidelines. Mainly, such products are free from chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, genetically modified organisms and hormones. Farmers who raise and produce such products must convert their farms to adhere to these practices, and the cost varies depending on the size of the farm. On average, the amount is about $400,000 and some companies who sell organic products to large markets have even offered to subsidize the funding for conversion of farms in rural populations to meet current market demands. Now, the average price for a half gallon of organic milk in my area is over $4.00, almost double the cost of regular milk.



2. When I read posts in the Russian blogosphere, it seems foreigners have a huge misconception about what Americans eat. I'm completely amazed that people honestly believe Americans are stuffing their faces with hamburgers each day, or standing in queues in McDonald's every night. Where did this stereotype come from? In fact, each time I've ever walked past a McDonald's in Moscow, the lines and crowds inside have been substantially greater than those I've seen in any U.S. location. Many Americans have become more health conscious, particularly in my area of Northern Virginia and Washington, DC where there are a lot of highly educated, younger and high-income residents. I can find any type of organic product in local markets, including beets, useful for yummy borscht. :) For most vegetables, the price for organic and regular don't vary much.



3. Another product essential to the Russian diet, sitting right on the shelves of all stores - organic mushrooms! The price per pack is $2.49. Each weekend, my neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia also has a small farmer's market, where locally grown organic products can be purchased. Perhaps it's more difficult to find organic products in small town USA, not sure?



4. There have been no scientific studies which prove that organic foods taste better, or are substantially more healthy. You can search online, and find many studies with nutritional and health data, comparing organic and processed foods. Personally, I'm not a fanatic about food, the main thing is to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, which I do. I usually buy only organic meats, which are only slightly more expensive (usually $1 - $2). I'm eating this chicken at least two times a week for dinner.



5. Health, eating, exercise - all of these are personal choices. I don't like people dictating to me what size I should be, which foods I should consume, or whether I should smoke, or even drink alcohol. Almost every human has some vice or addictive behavior in life. Some people destroy their body with carcinogens from cigarettes, others stuff their faces with greasy and unhealthy foods, and some destroy their insides by drowning in vodka every night. Yet the vegans, vegetarians and anti-meat people have been on a rampage in American advertising recently. Just this morning on the way to work, I noticed this poster on the side of a metro bus. The propaganda is sponsored by an organization called "United Poultry Concerns," which protests the conditions in which some chickens live in farming operations. Btw, this organization has even created its own holiday, 4 May - "International Respect for Chickens Day." :))



6. For the extremely sensitive and eco-friendly, you can even wipe your ass with toilet paper free from dyes, fragrances and bleach. America - a country of choices! :)



Are organic products in high demand in Russia? I see many comments posted in my journal screaming about processed American foods, but what are the regulations in Russia? Your food can't be completely natural and free from preservatives. I've seen a lot of canned meat, soup and vegetable products in Russian grocery stores which would not have an extended shelf life if they were completely natural. Like here, in the village.


I think the main reason why Americans are larger than other populations has nothing to do with processed foods. The culprit is our huge portion sizes and sedentary lives. We eat more, and move much less, because almost everyone has cars. As a whole, most Americans are lazier than Russians and Europeans. We don't need to climb a lot of stairs in metro stations or stores. Escalators and elevators exist almost everywhere. We're not forced to walk long distances to reach a store or restaurant and, outside of huge metropolises, parking is easily available everywhere.

What do you think of this organic trend? Do you buy such products?