Query on availability of organic food in San Felipe

30 May - Availability of organic foods in San Felipe. On a number of occasions we have had inquiries about getting certified organic foods in San Felipe. Recently, I was prompted by Andrea to look into this need again and to appeal for some help from our readers.

Virtually all of our produce comes down from Mexicali. Many restaurants and stores buy in bulk from Costco and similar retailers (even shrimp!!!). In more and more restaurants we now see uniform cuts of fish and meats showing up on the dinner plates, which leads one to speculate on whether we are becoming a frozen food society. One of the big problems in bringing fresh foods down to San Felipe is the 200 km drive and the high temperatures crossing the desert. Few local merchants can afford refrigerated trucks and there can be some consequent deterioration of the merchandise. (Buying fresh milk in San Felipe is always a challenge - the expiry date on the bottle may be two weeks in the future but I find that the milk goes off within a couple of days. My solution is to use powdered milk and mix it as needed!). When I go to shop in Mexicali, I see the cleanest and freshest vegetables at Walmart and at the new Mega market adjacent to Costco. However, none of this food is labeled organic and I have never seen a store that caters to people who insist on certified organic produce.

Here are some of the comments we have had:

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From: Agpflaumer
Date: Sat, 28 May 2005 14:32:52 EDT
Subject: Food safety

Hi folks,

I've written you a number of times before, but thought I'd try one more time. In addition to the water and sewage concerns, I also want to find out where the produce in San Felipe comes from. At home in California I eat almost exclusively organic produce because I'm concerned about pesticides, plastic residues and contaminated watering systems. I also know that produce grown in the lower Imperial Valley and near the mouth of the Colorado is terribly contaminated - often with jet fuel!! Can you please put me in touch with someone who might know about these issues?

Thanks,

Andrea

That would be great - thank you so much. Yes, I think it needs to start at the grass-roots level. If you have an email address, phone number or street address for Lynne at Playa del Oro, I would like to write or speak with her.

Andrea

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From: Mike L
Subject: Organic food

I may completely wrong but my understanding is that there is no such thing as certified organic food. There are no standards (or government controls) and anyone can call anything "organic" whether it is or not....

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From: Ninafresa31
Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 11:32:41 EDT
Subject: Feedback for produce

Well, one of the most important things that would certainly fix this problem would be to really push the idea of commercial airlines. Anything can be flown in fresh. Another (more realistic idea) is contact my husband, we own a wholesale produce company in Los Angeles and he has many contacts in Mexico that special in organics who might be able to transport them to San Felipe. So why not to San Felipe, right? 

I'm sure he had give you a little bit of information as how to make it possible.

It would definitely be great to have commercial airlines though.

Janet 

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From: "Nelson Villani"
Subject: Organic Foods?
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2005 16:01:06 -0700

Hi, Nelson here... I think Andrea must investigate in : bajaDOTcom (baja.com)
Erica is answering to same guy :terra_amore8 in the section BAJA Q&A , Andrea can get same tips about organic farming in Baja.
Good luck, Nelson

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Thread-Topic: Produce
Thread-Index: AcVqz5v2REhnOKDzTveHsyUbYexWAg==
From: Rory

This article made me think of our last couple of visits to San Felipe and how much more we are paying for produce. It has nearly tripled in price.

I am less concerned with how beautiful produce looks. Even though produce in Mexico may not look as nice, it is very likely more nutritious since it is not being grown in fields that are exhausted of nutrients. They taste better, too, because they are not so rushed to market. I would rather deal with the pesticides and use a good vegetable wash and take my antioxidants!

Also, the rising prices in Mexico due to the rapid growth of the population and the ability of merchants to sustain higher prices for all goods and services is challenging those of us who have planned to retire rather simply embracing the Mexican way of life. And what about the average Mexican. Prices are going up for them, too. I would imagine few are directly benefiting from the new found prosperity.

Organic produce may be outrageously expensive. Not like shopping at organic markets in the states.

Rory
Bahia Santa Maria