ORGANIC FOOD IS FOOD

This is my new favorite saying: “That’s nice. Prove it!” Seriously, now, am I going to have to write to you every week? It seems that your paper has more and more unsubstantiated claims all the time, and despite my admonitions you just don’t seem to agree that actual fact, research, or investigation is necessary. And yet you continue to call yourself a newspaper!

Throughout all your recent various articles on organic food, the assumption is made that organic food is different from other food [“Organic Evolution,” Feb. 1-7]. That it’s healthier, somehow, or has more nutritional value. This isn’t quantified in any way.

I think it’s nice that the Goodmans just know “by instinct” that organic food is “clean.” However, there is no evidence provided, no substantiation made. I have no doubt that you didn’t even look for evidence, since your belief seems to be that it’s so obvious that actual facts aren’t actually necessary.

But if you had looked, you wouldn’t have found evidence. There is none. But I’m sure the rest of Monterey County’s agricultural community is just dying of shame, now that it’s been revealed they are selling unclean food.

The fact is there is no difference between organic and non-organic food. No detectable pesticide residue. No evidence of differences in nutritional value. Nothing. There just isn’t. Prove me wrong. —John Mount | Monterey

WE NEED A GOOD BOOKSTORE

I find the outrage over the Weekly’s (and apparently the public’s) support of chain bookstores a little absurd given the circumstances [Letters, Feb. 1-7]. Of course we would all rather shop at an excellent, locally owned bookstore. The problem is there isn’t one. Of the two that I can think of on the Peninsula (used bookstores don’t count)—one caters to tourists and the other to ladies who lunch. Even Thunderbird, while it may have been great once, was not exactly mind-blowing there at the end. How many pretty picture books of Big Sur do we need to see?

A great bookstore is a place where you walk in and run into fascinating new ideas that stimulate your gray matter, where you’re met with the unfamiliar and the challenging, where you can lose yourself for an hour or two. The question we on the Peninsula should be asking ourselves is, why can’t a town with five institutions of higher learning support a quality independent bookstore? Is it perhaps that we’re not truly interested in having one? Boycotting Borders isn’t going to resuscitate a collective moribund intellectual life, which is the real problem here. —Kelly Rinehart | Monterey

WE HAVE A GOOD BOOKSTORE

Eureka!!! There is an independent bookstore in Salinas! Congratulations and welcome back, Marcos Gallegos, to the Northridge Mall. I, and many, many others, are proud of your endeavors to provide a bookstore that dares to offer the culture and the celebrations of the Latino population. May you flourish and, while you are at it, teach us all about each other! —Ann Sherman- Flint | Pacific Grove

LEADERSHIP SHOWS UP YOUNG

When I was international president of the Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce), I had several very well qualified vice-presidents, who I felt would be outstanding chief executives of our youthful civic organization. Three of these former Jaycees are well known to local citizens and politicians. One is from Carolina and two of the others are or were public officials from the Monterey Peninsula. They are John Edwards, Jerry Smith and Darryl Choates. Let’s show our appreciation for their public and private sector leadership and support their political careers. —Bruce Arthur Perry | Marina

TAKE THE SJ TRAIN

Recently I had occasion to travel to San Jose and chose to ride the MST San Jose Express. I bought a Super Day Pass that included the round trip on the bus plus full access to local VTA services in San Jose, where I rode the Light Rail.

I had to get up early, but the trip was very civilized. I let the driver fight traffic while I kicked back, read and chatted with fellow passengers. The best thing: The whole day was only $9, much less than driving my own car. —Matthew Hammond | Monterey

CORRECTION

The photo accompanying a news story misidentified Will Daniels, quality assurance manager for Natural Selection Foods. We regret the error.