Netscape Forum Poll: Top priority in food shopping?

[Robin Garr]

Some of us will pay top dollar for foods labeled natural or organic; others count "food miles," supporting local producers and avoiding product shipped worldwide. Many shoppers buy on sight, choosing the produce and meats that look freshest and best; others put priority on value, buying the cheapest food available regardless of its looks or origin. How about you? We turn from wine to food as we invite your participation in this week's Netscape/CompuServe Community poll.

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Why wasn't "price" one of the options?

Tom T.

Fair point Tom - probably the deciding factor for many people.

For me there's a variety of factors, sometimes ethics, other times convenience. Variety and taste are probably the two things I seek out the most, but sometimes it's just what I can fit in.

[Robin Garr]

Why wasn't "price" one of the options?

Because I considered it incorporated under "value."

Fresh, here. Sometimes that builds in the miles concept, sometimes not. Often it builds in organic in our area. And of course the food has to have high quality.

But with fresh ingredients, it takes some doing to make a bad meal.

Fresh, here. Sometimes that builds in the miles concept, sometimes not. Often it builds in organic in our area. And of course the food has to have high quality.

But with fresh ingredients, it takes some doing to make a bad meal.

I'm with you, Bob. We do buy organic foods whenever possible, including participating in an orgranic produce co-op during the growing season, but only insofar as we get quality ingredients. Given a choice between browning or desiccated organic citrus fruit vs. juicy and ripe-looking convential, I choose the latter hands down.

Mark Lipton

I buy organic when I can, but I'm not driven buy it. [Buy cage free eggs, organic fruit when I can, local corn.]

I'm more value driven.

Another trick question that cannot be answered with only one choice. It was a tie between fresh and miles/local. I ignored "fresh" because I cannot imagine anyone purchasing produce that is not fresh, it is afterall called "fresh produce". More and more we are eating seasonally and local, shunning the vast amount of stuff that is grown in other countries. My daughter is very active and gives talks on "Eat Vermont" a movement in this left wing socialist enclave that promotes only eating things grown within 150-200 miles. It does make sense as the average item purchased has traveled 1500 miles being an enemy to both the environment and the local economy.
Walt