Inside Earth Origins Market, it’s anything but quiet.
Customers stride through the door, cars fight for limited parking spots and employees scurry about.
Salyne Pryor, office manager, has almost 10 years under her belt, the days are wearying.
For a tiny organic store located on Northwest 13th Street, business is booming.
Gainesville has a plethora of organic stores and markets that provide chemical-free products for students and residents.
Most are locally owned and keep to their original roots.
However, companies like PepsiCo Inc., Kellogg, Coca-Cola and General Mills are now getting in on the action. For example, PepsiCo Inc. produces Naked drink products.
All over the country, small organic companies worry about this. Their nightmare is coming true.
But Pryor thinks it’s a blessing.
“People that didn’t do organic before are looking more toward eating better for their family.”
However, nothing is truly organic without government approval.
The process starts out with soil that is certified free of any pesticides and fertilizers. Organic meat and dairy products are also produced in the same way. Animals are raised naturally and never fed antibiotics or other quick-producing hormones.
It is very expensive and takes years to aquire the USDA seal.
“I think it’s easier to deceive the customer,” said Kathy Markey, the assistant manager at Sunflower Health Foods. “If you don’t have [the seal], then it’s questionable.”
On the other hand, Pryor said she believes name brands that promote organic food will expand the whole movement.
“A lot of people like name recognition,” she said.
If popularity can cause more organic farming to occur, then prices will be able to come down. Eating healthy can be quite pricey.
Big name companies could help cheapen and produce more organic products for Americans if done in the proper way.
However, most food products are made of genetically modified organisms. This could compromise the integrity of the organic product if name-brand companies introduce this into the organic world.
From organic restaurants, stores and even ice cream shops, the organic movement has made its mark in Gainesville.
“Gainesville does a nice job trying to keep it more plentiful for everybody,” Markey said. “I think that’s something all around the United States. People are trying to go back to the roots and get that good, organic food.”
