Why aren't you buying organic?

There’s a meme going around on Facebook, and it goes a little something like this: “Why do some people pay $5 for a coffee at Starbucks but then say that’s too much to pay for a dozen organic eggs?” It’s one of those questions that should get you thinking.

First, there’s the obvious. One coffee means one serving of something that isn’t even a meal. But twelve eggs can be used in multiple recipes and meals.

Second, an organic egg can mean the difference between having a nutritious, filling breakfast and just having a cup of caffeine and sweeteners, often with a little fat (cream or milk) thrown in.

Third, what are you supporting when you buy coffee? Most coffee plantations use pesticides and unsavory farming techniques. When you buy organic eggs, you can be assured they come from farms using organic farming methods, feeding the chickens organic food and letting the chickens roam as they should be allowed to do.

Fourth, most coffees are shipped long distances, even imported from other countries. Shipped locally to maintain freshness, organic eggs have shorter “commutes,” thus requiring fewer fossil fuels and leaving smaller carbon footprints.

Finally, Starbucks doesn’t deliver. Wintergreen Organics does, and it doesn’t cost anything other than the price of the eggs.

There are probably numerous other contrasts to make between a dozen organic eggs and a $5 coffee from Starbucks, but we want to hear from you. If Starbucks fans are spending that much on coffee, why aren’t they spending that much on healthy food?