Synopses & Reviews
The most comprehensive and useful organic food shopping guide ever published, complete with more than 100 recipes
U.S. organic food sales are expected to top $43 billion in 2010, and, with retail giant Wal-Mart and supermarket chains now moving aggressively to sell more organic food, the market is poised for even greater growth in the future. The Organic Food Shopper's Guide gives consumers the essential, easy-to-digest information they need on over 100 organic foods sold today-from vegetables and fruits to meat, poultry, and dairy. The book offers straight talk on why it is important to eat organic food and detailed ingredient-by-ingredient guidance, offering at-a-glance information on Season, Good Varieties, Nutritional Highlights, What to Look For, and Storage and Preparation Tips, plus kitchen notes and more than 100 delicious recipes. For the growing number of people shopping for organic food, this book will be an essential companion.
Jeff Cox (Kenwood, CA) was an editor of Organic Gardening magazine in the 1970s and helped lead the fledgling organic movement from a fringe idea to a mass market phenomenon. A member of the James Beard Foundation and the host of Your Organic Garden on PBS and Grow It on HGTV, he is the author of 17 books, including the James Beard Award-nominated The Organic Cook's Bible (978-0-471-44578-4). His Web site is organicfoodguy.com.
Review
Cox, a former editor at Organic Gardening magazine, has been promoting organics since long before it was fashionable. Using his 30 years of organics knowledge in this guide-cum-cookbook, he attempts to untangle, for the average consumer, the confusing mess of what to eat. Readers will find concrete advice in this basic primer: the science of organic farming is followed by a product-by-product guide to organically farmed foods that can be found in the market. Organized by food group (vegetables, fruits, protein, etc.), each food is broken down by season—how to shop for it, the reason to buy the organic version, and a simple recipe or two that showcases the strength of the main ingredient. The best answer for the health of humans and the health of the planet is to buy everything organic, and the eventual redundancy of the "organic advantage" paragraph on each food reveals just that; there are only so many ways to explain that the product tastes better and that the farming method doesn't destroy the soil. The best parts of the book are the informational inset boxes; Cox is knowledgeable about all the food issues facing consumers and these boxes—including information on mad cow, local agriculture, fair trade and food labeling—showcase his expertise. (Feb.) (Publishers Weekly, December 17, 2007)
Synopsis
This affordably priced shopper's guide, derived from The Organic Cook's Bible (Wiley, 4/2006), gives consumers essential, easy-to-follow guidance on what makes organic food preferable and worth the extra money. The book is organized by food item (over 100 foods total in chapters on Vegetables; Fruits, Beans and Grains; Nuts and Seeds; Meat, Fish, Dairy and Eggs; and Kitchen Staples) in clear, easy-to-use entries, with at-a-glance information on Season, Good Varieties, Nutritional Highlights, What to Look For, Storage and Preparation Tips, and Goes Well With (suggesting complementary flavors), followed by larger sections on a food's Organic Advantage (i.e., why to buy organic) and Uses, plus other informational tidbits. Accompanying the entries are 100 recipes showcasing the flavor and freshness of organic food. Further enhancing the book is a front section giving a detailed overview of organics, and an extensive Sources section in the back.
Synopsis
Why Should You Choose Organic Foods?
Organic food has never been more popular, and for good reason: it tastes better, it's more nutritious, and it's better for the environment. This handy guide shows you how to select the freshest, tastiest varieties and transform your organic groceries into memorable meals. You'll find guidance on what to look for when shopping, how to handle each food in the kitchen, and why, when foods are organic, they're so darn good for you. Here's everything youneed to enjoy food that you can feel great about eating:
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Profiles of more than 100 organic foods
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Complete coverage of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, dairy, eggs, meat, and more
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At-a-glance advice on peak seasons, nutrition, good varieties, and what to look for
*
Detailed information on preparation, storage, complementary flavors, and kitchen uses
*
More than 100 tasty recipes and dozens of cooking tips
Synopsis
Why Should You Choose Organic Foods?
Organic food has never been more popular, and for good reason: it tastes better, it's more nutritious, and it's better for the environment. This handy guide shows you how to select the freshest, tastiest varieties and transform your organic groceries into memorable meals. You'll find guidance on what to look for when shopping, how to handle each food in the kitchen, and why, when foods are organic, they're so darn good for you. Here's everything youneed to enjoy food that you can feel great about eating:
*
Profiles of more than 100 organic foods
*
Complete coverage of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, dairy, eggs, meat, and more
*
At-a-glance advice on peak seasons, nutrition, good varieties, and what to look for
*
Detailed information on preparation, storage, complementary flavors, and kitchen uses
*
More than 100 tasty recipes and dozens of cooking tips
About the Author
JEFF COX, former editor of Organic Gardening magazine, helped lead the organic movement from a fringe idea to a phenomenon. He was the host of Your Organic Garden on PBS and Grow It! on HGTV and is the author of seventeen books, including the James Beard Award–nominated The Organic Cook's Bible. His Web site is organicfoodguy.com.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
How to Use This Book.
Why Buy Organic Food?
Vegetables.
Fruits.
Nuts, Seeds, Beans, and Grains.
Herbs and Spices.
Meat, Fish, Dairy, and Eggs.
Kitchen Staples.
Sources.
Bibliography.
Index.