Publix GreenWise

So I was just opening a can of Publix GreenWise organic kidney beans, and I happened to notice something stamped on the bottom of the can:
"Prod. of China." :shock:
Does anyone else find this disturbing?? Or would it be more disturbing of the country of origin was not identified??

I find it more odd that you are buying an organic can of beans. I'd think the canning process itself would negate the spirit of organic, but that some fine print/maneuvering gets them the "letter of the law" organic designation.

IMO if you're buying organic beans there shouldn't be anything on the ingredient list besides beans and I doubt that is the case, but I tend to tune out Papa Scooterbug's nitrate content and listeria lectures for my sanity.

Based on China's recent track record with products I would be very skeptical as to the "Organic" origins of those beans.

Hell, I'd worry if they were non-organic beans from China!

I find it more odd that you are buying an organic can of beans.

I don't see why. Canning does not negate the benefits of organic agriculture in terms of fossil fuel inputs. But shipping cans all the way from China sure does.
And by the way, "organic" has technically only to do with the growing process. It is not a given that there are no other undesirable ingredients. Check out the list of what all is in a can of Wolfgang Puck's "organic" chicken broth sometime. I discovered that recently while hunting for chicken broth without any msg.
Scooterbug, please don't tell me to just make my own. Sometimes there just isn't time. In a perfect world we would all cook everything from scratch.

Organic is a sort of murky catch-all designation - and I seriously doubt Chinese beans in a can meet any of them.

It's not just how they are grown - there are a variety of regs about how something is packaged, sealed, labeled etc. Basically unless it has a "USDA organic" seal on it, or references a certifying agent it's not REALLY organic.

The reason I questioned the can is that the standard canning process uses preservatives and pesticides that I would assume negate the "organic".

No judgment intended - I eat non-organic food from a can! ;-)

I think it is ridiculous and worth a note to Publix. Meanwhile there is a brand I think called Eden's Organic and it is good.

I noticed the Dole fruit cups my kids love are made in China. I will not buy them ever again. The Publix brand is 15 cents more per pack and appears to be made in the USA, though I guess now I will have to be extra vigilant.

Funny you should mention that. I recently did send Publix a note, about their banana walnut bread, which was on sale. On the internet it said "made with butter" but the label on the product itself said "partially hydrogenated something or other" and no mention of butter. I did get a response eventually. They emailed me their labels, both old and new, and explained that they do use butter, but they are using up their old labels.
Well, I guess that means the label doesn't reflect what is really in the product. I didn't find it a very satisfactory response.

Funny you should mention that. I recently did send Publix a note, about their banana walnut bread, which was on sale. On the internet it said "made with butter" but the label on the product itself said "partially hydrogenated something or other" and no mention of butter. I did get a response eventually. They emailed me their labels, both old and new, and explained that they do use butter, but they are using up their old labels.
Well, I guess that means the label doesn't reflect what is really in the product. I didn't find it a very satisfactory response.

There is no way that is legal!!!

Funny you should mention that. I recently did send Publix a note, about their banana walnut bread, which was on sale. On the internet it said "made with butter" but the label on the product itself said "partially hydrogenated something or other" and no mention of butter. I did get a response eventually. They emailed me their labels, both old and new, and explained that they do use butter, but they are using up their old labels.
Well, I guess that means the label doesn't reflect what is really in the product. I didn't find it a very satisfactory response.

That is amazing. I would love to hear what they say about your can o'beans. I bet the beans are grown here and shipped to China to be cooked, processed and canned.

On a happier note, I can report that the store brand Publix olive oil is actually from the Vigo factory and is the exact same stuff.

I adore our new GreenWise store, and am going at least once a week now, but I surely will be looking at those labels more closely. Thanks for the heads up.

I don't see why. Canning does not negate the benefits of organic agriculture in terms of fossil fuel inputs. But shipping cans all the way from China sure does.
And by the way, "organic" has technically only to do with the growing process. It is not a given that there are no other undesirable ingredients. Check out the list of what all is in a can of Wolfgang Puck's "organic" chicken broth sometime. I discovered that recently while hunting for chicken broth without any msg.
Scooterbug, please don't tell me to just make my own. Sometimes there just isn't time. In a perfect world we would all cook everything from scratch.

You nailed it on that chicken broth. I read the label and could not believe what was in it, but I guess because the broth was from organically raised chickens, they can call it that. Unfortunately, healthy eating requires a vigilance many people don't have the time, energy or budget for. It is truly an ongoing challenge.

Try finding organic Apple Juice made in USA...

Try finding organic Apple Juice made in USA...

Not so much an issue if you go to an orchard. Some places, it's hard to NOT find organic apple juice because they do it the old way. ;-)

Whenever my parents come down here in the fall, they bring us a couple gallons of apple cider bought direct from a proper Michigan apple farm a couple miles from their house. It's just so much of a better and complex flavor than what you find in the grocery stores down here that calls itself cider.

So I was just opening a can of Publix GreenWise organic kidney beans, and I happened to notice something stamped on the bottom of the can:
"Prod. of China." :shock:
Does anyone else find this disturbing?? Or would it be more disturbing of the country of origin was not identified??

Not surprising at all. Their shrimp typically comes from Indonesia. We live at the Gulf, but the seafood isn't local at all. "GreenWise?" Isn't that name supposed to imply that the food was "green?" I see nothing green about shipping food from across the globe, when that same product grows well enough in our own back yard with a little know-how.

Labeling laws are a little whack, too. To be certified organic, farmers have to pay big money, and most organic farmers are small time. I cannot remember if Greenwise products are "certified" organic, but I wonder if the USDA is actually testing products in China, to ensure they are organic, certified or not. Highly likely that they are not.

Here is a reminder, eat locally or regionally grown foods when possible. Naturally, if we eat only local foods, there is no way the entire population would every run risks of dieing off from some food born bacteria and such. However, if the world's food is all coming from one tainted source, we are effed!