Organics VS Conventional

We consciously and unconsciously rank one another as we go throughout the day. No matter how unbiased you tend to think you are, your capacity to organize things even guides you to discriminate who is good from who is bad based on social beliefs and values. So what can we say isn't considered deviant? If, after all, deviance is based strictly on the social construction of rules and values and all persons have the natural ability to organize things- then we all have some form of deviance. In my immediate environment I have deviance all around me, or that's what some of you would call it, “normal” suites my life just fine. From homosexuals, to outrageous tattoos, the vegan and organic movement, to everyday racism I am surrounded in

I recently got transferred to a different store within the company I work for, Whole Foods Market. The subculture I chose to study is part of the booming health, green, organic, and vegan mission nationwide today; organic customers. I used to work at a store in Vancouver, Washington where being organic seemed as if it was a privilege or class differentiation from other grocery stores. Beginning my position in Portland, Oregon allowed me to be immersed in a culture where organic foods are a more significant consumer base. Customer's within the Vancouver community look down on those who shop in other stores. Ironically, they often mention how non-organic customer's health is slowly deteriorating from harmful conventional foods. The Vancouver location recently had a New Seasons Market open a few blocks away from it, (for non-grocery store employees this is like the BIGGEST gossip to hit in months), many of the regulars there are disgusted by any possible shoppers that converted grocery stores because of New Season's sale of both conventional and organic products. In the Portland store, this is hardly the kind of conversation you have with a customer. You would think attitudes would be similar because of the relative distance from each other these stores are. Comparably, The Portland store is located next to several other conventional and organic stores. I have yet to hear a negative comment about surrounding business customers the way in which Vancouver customers belittled conventional grocery stores. I think it is more widely accepted in the Portland area that organics are good food for you; but that being organic is an expensive privilege others ought to experience given the funds.

Meat eaters are often stigmatized within my work environment as well. While we sell meat, and many customers buy it, those customers who do not eat meat love to share of the health benefits of resorting to more natural proteins. I guess, we can assume there is no pleasing every person with one form of grocery shopping. Right? Conventional shoppers stand to gain money by separating themselves from organic customers. Conventional purchasers do not have the same natural and beneficial ingredients but are likely afforded additional spending money from what they save. Especially when many of our products today are sold in conventional stores for much cheaper. The messages I experience in my work place are corrupt with overt messages of conventional shoppers, now did you ever think that organic could be deviant as well? Just a thought.

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