Hey knee-jerk Walmart haters, read this: from SFChronicle, 4/12

[Sara S]

Big-box Organic Blitz Seen for State
(https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/Walmart-s-organic-push-could-alter-California-5396629.php)

Walmart's exclusive deal expected to sway farmers to increase production..

Organic processed foods are about to become more pleaniful and much cheaper at Walmart stores, and that could change the landscape of California agriculture........

even as they saw a groundswell in the organic movement, farmers have been reluctant to rip out their fields and let them sit fallow for three years to meet the USDA's organic certification requirements. "But this changes the entire agricultural landscape for organic foods," said Helen Bulwik, of the Newport Board Group, a retail and consulting firm. "Very quickly we're going to see other big-box stores like Target follow suit, which provides a big incentive for farmers to grow organic."

[joehogan]

So they do one good thing and continue to do thousands of bad things. We should love them for that?



Big-box Organic Blitz Seen for State
(https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/Walmart-s-organic-push-could-alter-California-5396629.php)

Walmart's exclusive deal expected to sway farmers to increase production..

Organic processed foods are about to become more pleaniful and much cheaper at Walmart stores, and that could change the landscape of California agriculture........

even as they saw a groundswell in the organic movement, farmers have been reluctant to rip out their fields and let them sit fallow for three years to meet the USDA's organic certification requirements. "But this changes the entire agricultural landscape for organic foods," said Helen Bulwik, of the Newport Board Group, a retail and consulting firm. "Very quickly we're going to see other big-box stores like Target follow suit, which provides a big incentive for farmers to grow organic."

[Sara S]

Sounds like you're one of the "knee-jerk haters" who hasn't done any research; I haven't done much myself, but I do know:

--that Walmart gives a lot, and was the number one corporate donor to charitable causes in 2012, I think it was.

--after hurricane Katrina, while the various government agencies diddled around, Walmart loaded up and sent trucks with supplies for the people who were suffering there.

--it's the unions who keep bad-mouthing Walmart for not signing up, because, of course, the unions would get millions of dollars if they could pressure Walmart into joining; the last time they called for a "strike," I went to the Walmart in Rohnert Park, where I saw zero people outside "striking". I asked a couple of the long-time employees inside what they thought about the "strike", and they laughed.





So they do one good thing and continue to do thousands of bad things. We should love them for that?

[tezor]

Yeah, they have done ONE thing right... now if they would pay a living wage. The unions aren't what they used to be,and I don't find them uncorrupted, but wages and full time employment would do much more for their image, rather than donations that are ment to make them look good in the eyes of the non observant public..

[joehogan]

When you make less than a living wage, you have no other support, you have no union to help you, how are you going to live if you go on strike? The uncounted billions of dollars the Walmart heirs own are sucked out of the poverty wage workers they exploit.




Yeah, they have done ONE thing right... now if they would pay a living wage. The unions aren't what they used to be,and I don't find them uncorrupted, but wages and full time employment would do much more for their image, rather than donations that are ment to make them look good in the eyes of the non observant public..

[treasure]

As I understand it, one of the biggest problems with Walmart etc. is that they drive small local producers out of business by undercutting their prices. I still believe that small is beautiful..
treasure


Big-box Organic Blitz Seen for State
(https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/Walmart-s-organic-push-could-alter-California-5396629.php)

Walmart's exclusive deal expected to sway farmers to increase production..

Organic processed foods are about to become more pleaniful and much cheaper at Walmart stores, and that could change the landscape of California agriculture........

even as they saw a groundswell in the organic movement, farmers have been reluctant to rip out their fields and let them sit fallow for three years to meet the USDA's organic certification requirements. "But this changes the entire agricultural landscape for organic foods," said Helen Bulwik, of the Newport Board Group, a retail and consulting firm. "Very quickly we're going to see other big-box stores like Target follow suit, which provides a big incentive for farmers to grow organic."

[geomancer]

Moi, knee jerk? Not so much.

https://www.americansfortaxfairness.org/files/Walmart-on-Tax-Day-Americans-for-Tax-Fairness-1.pdf

26082

(https://www.americansfortaxfairness.org/files/Walmart-on-Tax-Day-Americans-for-Tax-Fairness-1.pdf)

[Kat]

In addition to not paying a living wage and fighting to keep from doing that or providing health insurance, they do not promote women and they are working to drive down the definition of organic and reducing the organic standards so they can have more "organic" product.

[forveterans49]

Thought people might want to read this...https://grist.org/news/why-you-should-be-skeptical-of-walmarts-cheap-organic-food/


Big-box Organic Blitz Seen for State
(https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/Walmart-s-organic-push-could-alter-California-5396629.php)

Walmart's exclusive deal expected to sway farmers to increase production..

Organic processed foods are about to become more pleaniful and much cheaper at Walmart stores, and that could change the landscape of California agriculture........

even as they saw a groundswell in the organic movement, farmers have been reluctant to rip out their fields and let them sit fallow for three years to meet the USDA's organic certification requirements. "But this changes the entire agricultural landscape for organic foods," said Helen Bulwik, of the Newport Board Group, a retail and consulting firm. "Very quickly we're going to see other big-box stores like Target follow suit, which provides a big incentive for farmers to grow organic."

[Sara S]

Interesting, but all pretty much supposition; he even says:

"For the optimists in all of us, let us remember that it’s too soon to know exactly which approach Walmart will take."


Thought people might want to read this...https://grist.org/news/why-you-should-be-skeptical-of-walmarts-cheap-organic-food/