To us, it’s not just another produce item. It’s our ambassador.
It’s also the best example of the difference between Mollie Stone’s and the market down the street. We have a buyer whose only job is finding the best commercially grown produce available. Beginning at midnight each night, he hand-picks produce from the largest terminal in the Bay Area. By 10 a.m., it’s in the store.
No giant chain can do that. Instead of hand-picking, chain supermarkets buy in mass quantities, by the pallet. A Mollie Stone’s tomato is far more likely to be larger and fresher than a tomato from somewhere else. It’s also far more likely to be organic.
Which brings us to the next point. Everybody agrees that organic foods have nutritional advantages, but not everybody understands exactly what makes them organic. IT’s time we spelled out some facts.
“Organic” isn’t just a dumb advertising word.
Organic produce comes from farmers who have been certified by a state-recognized organization. They have to demonstrate that their methods replenish and maintain soil’s natural fertility and reduce the impact of farming on the environment. Single-crop commercial farmers compensate for soil depletion by adding chemical fertilizers and get rid of pests with toxic pesticides and weed-killers. Organic farmers enrich the soil by alternating crops and feeding it with compost, manure and plant wastes, plant cover crops such as clover to choke out weeds and get rid of pests with a range of non-toxic methods. Example: releasing beneficial insects that attach plant-destroying organisms.
Okay. What about irradiation?
It prolongs shelf life, it kills nasty bacteria like E-coli and it’s blessed by the EPA, which counts for something. That’s why some organic farmers use it as a substitute for chemicals they don’t use any more. At Mollie Stone’s, however, we remain cautious. For the present, we avoid carrying irradiated products whenever we can.
Yes, organic tomatoes still cost a little more, but the gap is narrowing. Meanwhile, they taste better, and they’re better for you.
To us, tomatoes symbolize what we mean when we talk about the best of both worlds. A full range of organic foods, just like you’d find in the best health food stores, and the convenience and selection of the best supermarkets.
Get all of your food staples at Mollie Stone’s Markets or order delivery to your door through Instacart.
What’s your favorite product from Mollie Stone’s Markets? Let us know in the comments below!
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