Padma Simha, a young techie, now insists that idlis she makes for breakfast are red in colour. No, she is not seeing things due to long hours in front of the computer; she is just one of a new breed of consumers who want to go organic.
Padma recalls the day when a friend gave her a packet of idli mix prepared from an indigenous variety of rice with a red hue. The mix was made of unpolished grains and she was taken by its unique taste.
"It took some time for us to get used to the colour of the idlis, but the taste made it worth it. Also, there is a texture. You can actually taste the rice," said Padma.
She has now decided to substitute her polished rice with red rice for at least a few meals a week, and plans to take a whole load of organic pickles and jams when leaving for a project abroad.
Padma is not alone. Sumathi Ravi, a 50-year-old homemaker, has regularly used turmeric in her bath for as long as she can remember. But for the last few years she has been swearing by organic turmeric powder. "You can tell the difference from the fragrance," she says.
Organic food is that which is grown without using pesticides or chemical fertilisers and uses renewable resources to conserve soil and water.
Though the market for organic food and products has been less, it won't be too long when it will be accepted as mainstream. Dedicated retail outlets have been springing up around the city and a few of the organic brand names are now quite familiar.
In addition, organic food is not subjected to radiation treatment and artificial colours and is not genetically modified. It includes everything from staple crops such as rice and wheat to vegetables, fruits, pulses, milk, etc.
Wonder food
Health experts say organic food is more nutritious and flavour-rich. Some long-term users of organic products vouch for it.
"I have no stomach upsets, gas problems, belching and other such problems," says Panchasheela, an organic-only consumer.
Organic food has abundant anti-cancer agents. This makes us wonder what we were eating in the name of conventional food.
"Conventional produce being sourced into Bangalore is richly drenched in pesticides, growth hormones and what not", says Arun Kumar, of a retail chain. "They contain lead compounds and traces of arsenic, which have long-term adverse effects", he says.
Increased public health consciousness has helped this market gain importance. But the cost is holding some people back.
However, Prem points out, "It is worth the extra bucks. When we don't mind spending extra for PVR gold class movie tickets or eating junk food, we should not crib about a mere 15 per cent increase in the grocery bill".
sOURCE:http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/nov/241108-organic-vegetables-News-Bangalore-food-health.htm Padma recalls the day when a friend gave her a packet of idli mix prepared from an indigenous variety of rice with a red hue. The mix was made of unpolished grains and she was taken by its unique taste.
"It took some time for us to get used to the colour of the idlis, but the taste made it worth it. Also, there is a texture. You can actually taste the rice," said Padma.
She has now decided to substitute her polished rice with red rice for at least a few meals a week, and plans to take a whole load of organic pickles and jams when leaving for a project abroad.
Padma is not alone. Sumathi Ravi, a 50-year-old homemaker, has regularly used turmeric in her bath for as long as she can remember. But for the last few years she has been swearing by organic turmeric powder. "You can tell the difference from the fragrance," she says.
Organic food is that which is grown without using pesticides or chemical fertilisers and uses renewable resources to conserve soil and water.
Though the market for organic food and products has been less, it won't be too long when it will be accepted as mainstream. Dedicated retail outlets have been springing up around the city and a few of the organic brand names are now quite familiar.
In addition, organic food is not subjected to radiation treatment and artificial colours and is not genetically modified. It includes everything from staple crops such as rice and wheat to vegetables, fruits, pulses, milk, etc.
Wonder food
Health experts say organic food is more nutritious and flavour-rich. Some long-term users of organic products vouch for it.
"I have no stomach upsets, gas problems, belching and other such problems," says Panchasheela, an organic-only consumer.
Organic food has abundant anti-cancer agents. This makes us wonder what we were eating in the name of conventional food.
"Conventional produce being sourced into Bangalore is richly drenched in pesticides, growth hormones and what not", says Arun Kumar, of a retail chain. "They contain lead compounds and traces of arsenic, which have long-term adverse effects", he says.
Increased public health consciousness has helped this market gain importance. But the cost is holding some people back.
However, Prem points out, "It is worth the extra bucks. When we don't mind spending extra for PVR gold class movie tickets or eating junk food, we should not crib about a mere 15 per cent increase in the grocery bill".
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