A Critical Look at Organics
In this scathing SF Gate article, giant wholesale retailer Costco is being criticized for mainstreaming organic foods. While this move has improved access to organic food for people from varied socio-economic categories, and helps the farmers and nature by eliminating harmful chemicals, Costco’s actions have harmful consequences as well. Among them, the greenhouse gases from transporting large quantities of organic foods across long distances, and contributing to environmental depletion through large-scale monoculture.
This article struck me because it raises an even deeper question: does Costco care about sustaining the planet? Or is it simply moving to where the market is? Their current sustainability performance benchmark isn’t great. As with many things in life, this isn’t a cut and dried situation. There is a mixed bag of benefits and harms. Ponder-worthy.