Question of the month: how important is it to you to buy organic? Why?

Vegetarian Times, Sept, 2005

As the father of an infant son at home, I try to purchase as much organic food as possible for him. My wife and I both believe that at a young age, organic products are better for his system than foods that have been sprayed or modified with chemicals.

Andrew Welander

Huntington, WV

We try to purchase only organically grown/produced foods, fibers, herbal remedies and, of course, chocolate, coffee, beer and wine! The results have complex and far-reaching advantages, but the simple reasons for us are that organic goods generally are produced by people who make a living wage, who support their families in nontoxic environments, on sites that have very low impact on the land (and sometimes benefit it). For good sources of producers, see Co-op America's National Green Pages at coopamerica.org.

Claudia Rogers

Utopia, TX

It's very important. I'm recovering from lymphoma and chemotherapy, and I believe that eating organic foods will help me heal completely from both.

Laura Coleman

Via email

Whether a food is organic or not is not an issue with me. If there is an easy organic option, I take it, but I don't go out of my way to find one. I believe the word "organic" is becoming too synonymous with the idea of vegetarianism. While many people choose to cut meat out of their lives for health reasons, many more have other motives. There have been too many times I've been called a health food junkie or an all-natural nut.

Lindsy Thomas

Greensburg, PA

I'd like to buy organic because it is better for my health--and more importantly, better for the environment, which we definitely take advantage of. But to be honest, it is too expensive for my tight budget. My first priority when my budget has a little more leeway will be to buy organic.

Katie Hayek

Bethesda, MD

Every dollar we spend on organic food helps convince more producers to go organic. But it's even more important to me that food be locally produced. My CSA isn't organic, but I know how my vegetables are grown because the farmers tell me.

Rachel Bauer

Boston, MA

It's very important. I don't trust claims that pesticides are safe. I don't understand how something designed to kill living things can be safe to put in our bodies. Also, a lot of pesticides are added to soil--not just sprayed onto plants--so toxins get inside the plants and can't be washed off. The extra cost of organic food is worth it, and prices will come down as organic farming practices are widely adopted.

Audrey Bryk

Via email

My husband, 11-year-old son and I made a conscious commitment two years ago to buy and eat organic foods.

We are very concerned about the harmful chemicals and hormones in conventional foods and feel that organic foods help to preserve our health, the planet's health and family farms. We subscribe to a local organic CSA and enjoy food grown by someone we know who delivers it the same day he harvests it.

Our commitment to organics has expanded into a green consciousness in all aspects of our lives: We now compost, landscape with native plants and buy eco-friendly cleaning products, fair trade coffee and organic cotton clothing.

Lisa Riggin

Prairie Village, KS

I think most of the concern with pesticides and genetically modified foods is just media hype, so I only buy organic where taste or quality are concerned: cow's milk, farmers' market produce (which is typically organic) or specialty produce such as heirloom tomatoes. Otherwise, I can take it or leave it.

Nikki Sullivan

Via email

Where produce is concerned, I almost always choose organic for both flavor and quality. I don't like biting into wax or tasting chemicals. To taste the difference between organic and nonorganic produce, compare the flavors of juices made from nonorganic and organic carrots. Organic just tastes better.

Dana Morris

Seattle, WA

Organic produce is grown without polluting soil, killing insects and harming wildlife such as birds. And it's better for us to eat because it has significantly more nutrients than nonorganic produce. When we buy regular produce or eat at restaurants that cook with it, we may as well be applying the chemicals ourselves.

Diane Ives

Via email

I always wanted to go organic. But it wasn't until my pregnancy that I did since it wasn't just my health my food habits were affecting. Now I give my daughter organic baby food.

I can't stand the thought of toxic chemicals making their way into her system, and I'm doing all I can to keep it to a minimum.

Jen Prokhorov

New York City, NY

By not eating meat, I avoid many of the steroids and chemicals that can affect my body. I already pay high prices buying plant-based foods, so I save by not buying organic. I probably will buy organic later when I'm out of college and have more money.

Amanda Schramski

Ann Arbor, MI

I try to buy organic produce whenever possible. When I can't find affordable organic produce, I go without. I prefer organic eggs for their flavor, but I avoid organic dairy and bread because they spoil too fast. And I usually don't bother with organic canned goods. As long as the canned ingredients are cooked and vacuum-packed, I think that any pesticides used to grow them pose minimal, if any, health risks.