From a reader:
I read the New Yorker piece you linked to; it was devastating as you said. It reminded me of the little joke about free-range animal crackers: that is, they don’t come in a bag. It also reminded me of how the word “organic” has been hijacked. I have two degrees in agronomy. I support using pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, but I also think that it’s great if you can grow food using organic methods. But given my background, I cringe when someone says something like, “Want some of these grapes; they’re organic?” My first response is that all grapes are organic. The grapes I’m being offered are actually grown using organic farming techniques. I’m willing to accept “organically grown.” Maybe I’m being picky, but it sure grates on me. Thanks for reading this rant.