Safeway Introduces O Organics

Is finding organic food in a large grocery store really all that uncommon? All three grocery stores in our town (Stop & Shop, Shaw's, and Belmont) have both organic produce and other organic groceries. Is it truly difficult to find it in San Francisco?

Just a few months ago, Stop & Shop (a supermarket chain in New England, New York, and New Jersey) introduced its own line of organic foods, called Natture's Promise. You can find more information about it at http://www.stopandshop.com/stores/brands/natures_promise.htm

My hometown is the suburbs north of Denver. There were health food stores in Denver and Boulder, and sad, little vitamin-oriented places in strip malls, but nothing like a Wild Oats close by. When I went back for my high school reunion a few years ago little had changed in this respect.

Is this a good thing or not? More people are going to buy organic, but is it going to push out the smaller organic food makers?

Also some big business agriculture groups are attempting to change the organic food standards to make them more lax and less "organic".

If this makes more people buy organic foods, then I am all for O Organic.

But if it helps Safeway put places like Organic Valley and smaller concerns out of business, then I would have to worry.

I hear you, Ed. There has been much recent contraversy about standards (see http://www.eco-labels.org/feature.cfm?FeatureID=10). It seems like a good approach is to stay vigilant about standards as larger entities cash in on growing interest in organics. With luck, as more consumers become exposed to the benefits of supporting organic agriculture, more people will care about the integrity of standards. Local food is gaining more mainstream popularity, too, so, we shall see ...

I honestly don't have much concern for smaller "mom & pop" type stores losing or going out of business due to cheaper products found elsewhere.

In my opinion, the main reason that prices can be cheaper is because the business model offered by larger chain stores is much more efficient, which leads to reduced costs. It is sad though that someone has to lose, but it is a dog eat dog world.

Also, by offering lower cost products, it now empowers the lower - middle income classes who cannot afford to eat organic, to now have that option to do so. And isn't that what is most important? To have more and more people no matter how much they make to have the options to have the option to eat organic just like those who could afford the higher prices?

Local health food stores in HI are so expensive, it's almost ridiculous. The majority of people here are literally forced to consume nonorganic products because of sheer cost, though I believe more and more people will with the introduction of the O Organic line in Safeway's here.

In respect to organic standards, that's an entire different debate.

I live in Hawaii and I am so excited about the O Organics line at Safeway. I am concerned about the standards, and want them to be maintained. But I am happy that I can now afford to buy all Organic food. Before I could only afford basics because shopping at a Organic Store was very expensive.

I would like to know if these products are available to buy, (as in stalk market) If so will you please send any information on it? Thank you in advanc, Cynthia Evans

Wake up, folks! Organics has lost its meaning since agri-business co-opted the name! Once they got in the game it became impossible for small farmers to be certified. $$$$$ is the name of the game! And you are falling right in lockstep with their corporate spin. Small farmers and manufacturers continue to deliver authentic organic produce and products sustainably but have been shut out of the game by agri-business and those naive and unconscious enough to accept their spin without questioning. What ever happened to questioning? O Organics at Safeway? What a joke! I would dare say that not one person on their O Organics corporate team lives sustainably! They simply saw the $$$$ signs and now are after your wallet. Wake up! The technology simply doesn't exist to sustain wholesale mass production like these folks purport. Whatever happened to eating what is grown locally? In order for Safeway to deliver fresh organic products they have to anesthezise their shipments from point to point. Support your local growers! Wake up from the Corporate Matrix Spin Dream!

Hello,

I had a feeling 'O' was a Safeway brand and what most of us don't know or remember is that Safeway was at the forefront of lowering organic standards. In addition, shopping at the big markets does not support local farmers. I hope folks can spread the word about this and maybe take the time to do more research than I can at this time.

Here is a good article on what's wrong with BIG company organic: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/issues/2005-01-05/news/feature_1.html

Thanks,

Fresh!

Come on! For those of us that can't afford to go to the little mom and pop shops for our entire grocery list, O Organics offers us a choice. However, I am not sure yet if big brother is waking up...or if they are just skeeming to make a buck or two. I just know that feeding my little one is expensive! and if I can give her organic peanut butter from Safeway, then I will.

The natural food store in my town, Flagstaff, has got the market cornered. They are the only deal in town and they have the most expensive prices I've ever seen at a natural market...now they are just trying to make a buck!

Do your homework, folks. Already 2 products from the O Organic line have been withdrawn because the alleged certification had not really been granted. Check the labels. Where is it produced? In countries that have no certification procedures and then brought in wholesale to this country? What are you feeding your babies? Is it indeed organic? Says who? Do your homework. Blind trust can be a dangerous thing.