new research debunks trad views on nutrition

[saysfaa]

Yes. Link and Link to pdf of same and picture below to give title, author, publication because not everyone sees that in the links to google scholar. This covers whether there are real benefits to organic vs conventional where both are commercial. The citations at the end are probably worth looking at. I think it is some evidence; not necessarily definative.

"Eating on the Wild Side" by Jo Robinson covers many nutritional differences between varieties and a little about correlations between nutrition in a given variety and things such as its color, size, tenderness, and sweetness

 

[Perris]

Do you use the springform cake tin for anything besides cake?

no; are there other uses?

 

[Perris]

I need an undergound larder. I'm even thinking of making one

I thought the exact same thing a couple of years back! Never actually did it though.

don't put the mushrooms in the fridge, use what you need while they are fresh and let the rest dry out.

I knew they retained their nutrients, but hadn't heard this before. That tip makes sense to me. Will try it, thanks

lets say a more rustic style of cooking

You don't spend time with tweezers arranging everything nicely on the place either then, I guess

 

[Perris]

are there any good studies on the nutrition benefits of homegrown produce versus store bought food?

Saysfaa has already given 2 good refs (the Robinson book includes tables at the end of each chapter on which varieties you might find at the supermarket, and separately at farmer's markets and other more specialised outlets, are the most nutritious within a given category (potatoes, root veg, leafy veg, stone fruits etc).

Variety is more important than homegrown v store bought. As with eggs, if you buy production breed chickens and you feed those chickens the same stuff the commercial sector do, your eggs will be like commercial sector eggs. If you keep traditional breeds and let them eat traditional foods, you will see and taste the difference between shop bought and home grown eggs.
Ref for nutritional difference between eggs laid by hens who eat grass v those not, M Hammershøja, N F Johansen ‘The effect of grass and herbs in organic egg production on egg fatty acid composition, egg yolk colour and sensory properties’ Livestock Science 194 (2016) 37–43.

are there any real benefits to "organic" versus "non-organic" produce that make that food worth the extra cost?

It's impossible to generalize because there's so much variety in the commercial sector, and required labels are so inadequate if not positively misleading (e.g. 'free-range'). For the moment, I think the 'regenerative agriculture' label is honest and worth the extra. I don't doubt that big ag will find a way to pretend to be it soon, but I don't think they've got there yet. They have captured the organic label, which is why many truly organic growers have left those schemes.

 

[Down Under]

Also, are there any real benefits to "organic" versus "non-organic" produce that make that food worth the extra cost?

It depends on who is certifying the food, there is organic and then there is organic, I was shocked when I found out that some "organic certifiers" allow up to 20% petrochemicals and/or GMO's in the food that they are certifying. There are a few good certifiers but unfortunately it is the bad ones that make people say that organic food is just a rip off.

 

[gtaus]

Yes. Link and Link to pdf of same and picture below to give title, author, publication because not everyone sees that in the links to google scholar. This covers whether there are real benefits to organic vs conventional where both are commercial. The citations at the end are probably worth looking at. I think it is some evidence; not necessarily definative.

Thanks. I read that article and it does not appear to be very pro-organic. To quote the article "With the possible exception of nitrate content, there is no strong evidence that organic and conventional foods differ in concentrations of various nutrients."

Sometimes I think the label "organic" is more a marketing gimmick to trick people into spending more money on the basic same non-organic products.

 

[gtaus]

Variety is more important than homegrown v store bought. As with eggs, if you buy production breed chickens and you feed those chickens the same stuff the commercial sector do, your eggs will be like commercial sector eggs. If you keep traditional breeds and let them eat traditional foods, you will see and taste the difference between shop bought and home grown eggs.

I have seen the differences in my backyard flock eggs. My chickens get to scratch and peck through chicken compost all day, eating bugs and worms. They also get grass clippings, leftover food, and kitchen scraps. My egg yolks are a darker orange than the pale-yellow yolk store bought eggs.

I can see the difference in the color of the yolks at home. I probably just convince myself the home-grown eggs taste better. The people we sell our excess eggs are convinced they look and taste better than store bought eggs. That's good enough for me.

I don't doubt that big ag will find a way to pretend to be it soon, but I don't think they've got there yet. They have captured the organic label, which is why many truly organic growers have left those schemes.

Maybe that's like "organic" eggs which cost a fortune where I live. Seems like only the big guys can afford that certification. My backyard flock has a good life, outside most of the day in the non-snow months. But I can see a large poultry business keeping their chickens locked in cages and feeding them "organic" feed to get some kind of certification.

The "organic" feed where I live is about 2X the cost of commercial chicken feed. I can't afford that. And, honestly, I don't believe it's necessary. I'm happy with our fresh eggs from our backyard flock.

It depends on who is certifying the food, there is organic and then there is organic, I was shocked when I found out that some "organic certifiers" allow up to 20% petrochemicals and/or GMO's in the food that they are certifying. There are a few good certifiers but unfortunately it is the bad ones that make people say that organic food is just a rip off.

Yeah, I find that shocking as well.

I don't want to say that organic food is a rip off, but I can't say it's really any better either. I rarely pay extra for organic foods. Every once in a while, our local WalMart will have a sale on excess organic food that they discount to move out before it goes bad. I bought some organic bananas on sale for less than the non-organic bananas.

They tasted the same to me. I'm not convinced they had more nutrition in them and worth the extra money.

 

[Krugerrand]

Thanks. I read that article and it does not appear to be very pro-organic. To quote the article "With the possible exception of nitrate content, there is no strong evidence that organic and conventional foods differ in concentrations of various nutrients."

Sometimes I think the label "organic" is more a marketing gimmick to trick people into spending more money on the basic same non-organic products.

The primary value of organic foods is not so much what IS in it, but what is NOT in it. It's the residual pesticides and herbicides that many are trying to avoid with organic foods.

 

[Molpet]

The primary value of organic foods is not so much what IS in it, but what is NOT in it. It's the residual pesticides and herbicides that many are trying to avoid with organic foods.

Yes this is why I try to buy organic.
I figure I have a better chance with organic, even though their have been producers cheating

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Physical activity matters! We can't change our ancestry, but we can move more and eat better...
Mary

Exercise is a very important part of my backyard flock of 7 lives. It just is. Ever watch a hen scratch her little heart out? The butt gets a rhythmatic sway as her little legs dig into the ground. This is great exercise and I will go out of my way to provide this environment.