Dialogic Magazine

By: News Analysis On: July 29, 2011

Having just read about the opening of a new organic foods grocery store in Norman (see below), it seemed appropriate to take a moment to recall the recent Farm to Fork series, sponsored by the Norman Sustainability Network and Xenia, which brought attention to producers, distributors and retailers of local, organic foods in Oklahoma. The topic of organic products is both an increasingly popular and sometimes controversial one. With the total number of organic grocers in Norman now up to four, let’s take a moment to find out some more information about the organic foods industry.

(*Image courtesy of Norman Sustainability Network website)

OU Daily:  “The store, located at 1918 W. Main St., has much to offer Norman residents, assistant store manager Mandy Mays said. “We offer a wide variety of gluten-free foods,” Mays said. “A lot of people are looking for those products now.” Natural Grocers offers a large selection of organic produce, Mays said. “Except now, everybody is buying them all,” Mays said with a laugh. In addition to produce and specialty foods, Natural Grocers offers customers an alternative to Norman water. The store has a filtered water machine that uses a five-part reverse osmosis process to filter out chemicals, Mays said. The water, priced at 25 cents per gallon, is the cheapest water in town, Mays said. Natural Grocers seeks to provide Norman residents with an education about healthy food and a healthy way of life, Mays said. The store will join Native Roots, The Earth and Forward Foods in the list of organic food stores in Norman.”

Smart Planet: “Over the past two years, I have become a much more discriminating shopper at my local grocery store, taking the time to peek at food and product labels and taking note of the organic labels scattered through the produce section. I figure I should try to practice what I preach. Apparently, more Americans are doing the same: a poll released this month by Thomson-Reuters-NPR suggests that close to 60 percent of shoppers will choose organically produced foods over “conventionally produced” foods if they have the option. The younger and more educated a survey respondent was, the more likely he or she was to gravitate to organic. There was decidedly less interest in organic in survey respondents who were more than 65 years old…The healthy eating advocacy campaigns spreading across the United States aren’t exactly the same as the organic movement, of course. But I do feel that the two are related, and both trends should be of acute interested to any businesses involved with food, including grocery stores, restaurants and giant food companies that are evaluating the long-term sustainability of certain ingredients choices…The healthy eating advocacy campaigns spreading across the United States aren’t exactly the same as the organic movement, of course. But I do feel that the two are related, and both trends should be of acute interested to any businesses involved with food, including grocery stores, restaurants and giant food companies that are evaluating the long-term sustainability of certain ingredients choices.”

Manuel Villacorta @ Huffington Post: “These days, one of the most surprising things I get asked about in relation to nutrition and health is whether or not to eat fruits and vegetables. It sounds crazy, I know, but with so much concern about pesticides and organics, a lot of people are confused and scared to eat the natural foods they need. Some of my clients feel it’s better to take supplements than to eat fruits and veggies because they are so scared of what chemicals may have been added to the crops…Finding pesticide-free non-organics is a great way to spend less money and enjoy natural produce. The only downside — if you consider it one — is that you have to eat seasonally, meaning you have to stop expecting ripe tomatoes and avocados in February in many parts of the country. In addition, many areas, urban and rural, have farmers markets. When organic or pesticide-free produce is a concern, direct communication with the farmer is often the best way to navigate your available selection.”

Norman Sustainability Network:  “As the local foods movement has sprouted nationwide, Oklahoma has seen increasing numbers of retailers selling locally produced food. With exciting enterprises like Native Roots Market, Urban Agrarian, increasing numbers of farmers markets and local restaurants like Ludivine, local food is available in more venues and delivered to the customer in more innovative and creative ways than ever before…When it comes to local foods, many people are familiar with the farmers who produce it and the restaurants and grocery stores that sell it.  Lesser known are the distributors which provide a crucial link between them…While the local foods movement has sprouted nationwide, Oklahoma in particular has been a leader in creating new models for distribution. Without access to distributors, “Oklahoma farmers were on their way to becoming extinct,” said Kara Joy McKee, general manager of the Oklahoma Food Co-op. “They couldn’t afford to compete for shelf space at super-sized grocery stores. Farmers market stands were often their only option.” Today, groups like Urban Agrarian and the Food Co-op are finding innovative ways to connect local farmers with restaurants, retailers, and consumers. Their success has led to these models being emulated across the United States and internationally.”