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permaculture
October 2008 
Imported Organic vs Local Conventional at Whole Foods
Posted on Mar 21st, 2006
by 
Raymond
Raymond
Slate Magazine points out in a recent article on Whole Foods that "Let's say you live in New York City and want to buy a pound of tomatoes in season. Say you can choose between conventionally grown New Jersey tomatoes or organic ones grown in Chile. Of course, the New Jersey tomatoes will be cheaper. They will also almost certainly be fresher, having traveled a fraction of the distance. But which is the more eco-conscious choice? In terms of energy savings, there's no contest: Just think of the fossil fuels expended getting those organic tomatoes from Chile. Which brings us to the question: [given the variables of] freshness, price, and energy conservation, should a New Yorker just instinctively choose organic, even if the produce comes from Chile?"
So pretend you live in the Big Apple. What would your choice be?
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Is it impossible to find organic local tomatoes in season in NY? It seems like there must be a farm nearby which grows them and sells them, perhaps at a farmer's market. If that's the case, than the answer to the question is easy: don't shop at Wholefoods for tomatoes.
If, on the other hand, our New Yorker really must decide between conventional local and organic from Chile, I don't know what my answer would be. Perhaps eat tomatoes only rarely and then eat the organic. Perhaps grow tomatoes on my balcony? It's an intriguing problem, though one I don't often encounter living in Berkeley, so close to so many farms.
I'm not sure what my answer would be either. To add to the conundrum, my first thought was: what are the organic standards in Chile?