Help Bring Organic Young Coconuts Back!

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Permalink Reply by jason on October 2, 2008 at 10:10am

I checked this out and a case of 10 is $40. I can buy buy a case of 9 for $13. $1.44 each for chemical dipped coconuts versus $4 for non-chemical dipped coconuts.

This simple fact will keep from joining this. Further, I believe my money would be better served joining some kind of grassroots action to change the mandatory dip laws or something.

Organic is cool and will eventually save the planet if we can shift it together, but this isn't it - at least for me. Also, I have coconut trees in my yard, they suck and aren't young thai, but I'm not foolishly wealthy either.

Peace

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Permalink Reply by Alex Malinsky on October 2, 2008 at 10:32am

Hey Jason,

Very good point, the main reason the price is high for these is that the certification to get the coconuts certified organic is mad high and the price will go down with the demand increase. You vote with your dollar. People that tried the organic cocos find them far superior in flavor and nutrition. Here are some facts about the chem dipped cocos.

* If the young coconut you are consuming is white it is dipped in chemicals!!! Not just once but many times. The workers wear protective clothing when they process the coconuts. They wear heavy aprons and heavy gloves. They use long poles with wire baskets on the end to remove the coconuts from the dips so they do not touch them.

A natural coconut husk turns brown within minutes of husking so when the conventional processing takes place the coconut is immediately dipped in their chemical(s) of choice as soon as the husk is removed, then the coconut is sent to the processing plant where it is polished or trimmed and dipped again in their chemical(s) of choice. The last dip (this makes 3 dips total) is when the coconut is ready for packing, it is dipped again then wrapped for transport. It is a sad process to watch and the workers themselves try to touch the cocos as little as possible, if at all.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Malinsky on October 2, 2008 at 11:16am

I also wanted to add: many people do not have access to young coconuts, so we are able to ship anywhere in the US. BTW my local whole foods store sells chemical dipped young coconuts for $3.99 each..

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Permalink Reply by Rawphi Bird on October 2, 2008 at 11:26am

haha 3.99, classic whole foods and their insanly high profit margins, then they try to justify it by pretending to care about employees and the enviorment, they paid 75 cents each, maybe a 1 buck, those bastards... Whole People , Whole Planet , Whole Profit

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Permalink Reply by Rawphi Bird on October 2, 2008 at 11:36am

i used to sell them for 2 bucks, maybe 2.50, but the og ones, we had to charge by the pound and they came out to like 6 or 7 bucks ea, and nobody would buy them, but this is one thing i don't like about the organic food industry, it alienates the consumer, Organic should be the standard, of course this isn't the case in the world we live in today, but for now i guess i'll just have to get over consuming coco on a regular basis untill i move back to the tropics, and Jason... not in all my trips around the carribean, or South America have i ever had a coconut as good as the ones from Thailand. I think cause they are native to that area, then spread through out the world, but i'm not sure.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Malinsky on October 2, 2008 at 11:41am

The forum does say. General Chat : Anything and everything goes.

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Permalink Reply by jason on October 2, 2008 at 3:34pm

I fully agree that they are better and I don't buy the young thai's anymore after finding out about the chem dip. I am voting with my dollars. I run an organic co-op that is purchasing over $1000 a week in produce and growing rapidly. I am not stupid.

You speak of workers and three dips etc. that has to cost money. The coconuts are coconuts. Coconut agriculture requires very little in the way of fertilizers etc so organic coconuts are pretty much the standard. This weird dip shit is what makes them chem coco's. I'm done with them until the market changes. I can't support the crazy expensive "organic certification" process in this case, it all just needs to go away and let buyer beware of whatever they dip them in defense of, or their fear mongering reasons for dipping them at least. They dip them to "protect us" and it makes them cost more. They don't dip them but it costs a ton for "them" to "certify" them for safety and they cost even more.... How dumb are we?
"they create a world of great confusion, to force on us the devil solution" Bob Marley

Providing organic for $4 when the chems are $2 will never change anything. People let price drive them too much. In my co-op I speak of, I provide organic food boxes for $50 that you couldn't match for $50 with conventional produce from the store and organic would run about $80-90. Thats my solution to the mess today, hopefully someday soon that ad above will be 10 organic ones for $10. Thats the $13 I pay for chemical dipped ones minus the chemical dip and the employee and his chemical suit and insurance etc ($3). When we get the market to follow that line of common sense, I'm in for 100 a week. Until then, short of me winning the lottery I don't play, I can't do it.

Peace

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Permalink Reply by Jason on November 18, 2008 at 1:07am

Jason, I never do this, but I just have to say I think you're an extremely intelligent, impressive human being. Much respect. You have a true sense of what's what. Unlike most people who just talk the talk, you walk the walk. Grow your own food, run an organic co-op, offer real solutions to people that buy produce from you. I think your an inspiration to all of the people on this site. You really won't buy these expensive cocos because its so important to you to keep costs down for your customers. If I lived near you I would buy all of my produce from you.


P.S. Nice use of a bob marley quote

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Permalink Reply by Synergy Chef Collaborative on October 2, 2008 at 6:45pm

Alex,
are these cocos being shipped via air or sea? New harvest Organics had the market on organic cocos. This has been done twice before that I am aware of. There is a reason they dip into the chemicals. It does preserve the shelf life. I personally believe in Local local local as a priority. I do support the small farms of the world for doing what they do.

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Permalink Reply by Lightlover on November 18, 2008 at 11:00am

I don't know, usd 4.50 for a single coconut..?!

I think the best solution for this is that people with big money take control of these markets and offer these coconuts for usd 2.00, while they keep earning their big money with other activities...

But these richies seem to never show up regarding the best activities/actions ever...

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Permalink Reply by Jason on November 20, 2008 at 1:02am

Today, while driving past my local Asian Market I saw a supply truck pulling out, so I went in and asked them if I could buy a case of young thai coconuts. They gladly said yes and took me downstairs to their storage fridge where I was allowed to grab a fresh box of coconuts. They charged me $18 for a case of 9 ($2 a pop). They were all in perfect condition. The lady gave me her cell phone number and told me to call her next time at least a day in advance so they can make sure to have an extra case in stock.
They generally only keep a couple of cocos out at one time, so there was no way to know they had cases. But I asked, and they did. I'd recommend to anyone who is interested, stop by your local Asian market and ask them if they have coconuts, and if they're willing to sell you a case. If they don't carry them, tell them you'd be willing to buy a case every ___ weeks(depending on how many you consume), and ask if they'd be willing to start getting them in. It may not work, but it doesn't hurt to try.

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