The organic food vs. local but not organic debate

Waterfront (Feb-March ): "More Mainers along the coast are having these kinds of debates at supermarkets and natural food stores, as they are following a trend toward increased interest in healthier eating and ethical eating. Many health-food consumers used to focus solely on buying organic produce, but there has been a growing shift toward buying food from local sources. The shift toward local food has created a spirited debate over whether local or organic produce is better, if one had to choose between the two.
But if activities at the Belfast Co-op are any indication, local and organic food camps along Maine's coast are meshing into a new group of food consumers who want a connection to their food and are willing to cross label boundaries to get there.
Many consumers experience sticker-stock when confronted with the price tag for local produce. Local farmers can't grow, distribute, and sell in bulk like giant agribusiness companies, and they often face a disadvantage in pricing. Their plight is made more difficult by U.S. agricultural policies which encourages the overproduction of commodities like soy, corn and cotton through subsidies, said Bob St. Peter, executive director of the Sedgwick-based Food for Maine's Future." Read more.