Luyện nói tiếng Anh bằng Shadowing qua video: Should Organic Food Be So Expensive?
C1
We gave these two shoppers the same exact grocery list.
248 câu
Nếu các câu quá ngắn hoặc quá dài, hãy bấm Edit để chỉnh sửa.
1
We gave these two shoppers the same exact grocery list.
2
But there's just one difference.
3
This shopper is only buying food that has this label.
4
Organic iceberg lettuce costs $5.99, more than double the price of regular iceberg lettuce.
5
A pound of organic ground beef costs $14.99,
6
about 80% more than a pound of regular ground beef.
7
And this pint of organic blueberries cost $12.99,
8
44.5% more than the regular pint.
9
In total, the all-organic shopper spent 72.4% more.
10
The organic label was designed to give Americans a trustworthy standard for healthier food.
11
But decades later, it's become a system that rewards large companies and leaves many small farmers behind.
12
We can't use the O word,
13
the organic word, on any packaging, any promotions, any advertising.
14
So what makes organic food so expensive?
15
And if some food grown organically can't be labeled as such,
16
is organic really worth the extra cost?
17
Before the 1940s, most food grown in the U.S would have been considered organic by today's standards.
18
But that changed in the aftermath of World War II.
19
Chemicals originally developed for combat were repurposed as synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
20
Farmers began using them on farms across the U.S.
21
And it worked.
22
Crop yields increased and food production surged.
23
But this practice sparked a backlash,
24
centered on one chemical in particular.
25
It's a mouthful to say,
26
so people call it DDT for short.
27
DDT was originally used to protect soldiers from malaria,
28
but it is also really good at controlling crop-damaging pests.
29
Less dependence upon nature and more control in managing his crop."
30
It soon became one of the most widely used pesticides in the world.
31
Then in 1962, marine biologist Rachel Carson took direct aim at DDT in her book Silent Spring.
32
She warned that the chemical was contaminating ecosystems,
33
disrupting food chains, and endangering human health.
34
The book laid the groundwork for the organic movement and demand for organic food increased throughout the 70s,
35
80s and 90s.
36
But there was no consensus about what what organic was.
37
What was the definition of organic?
38
Some states had their own organic standards and there were private organic standards.
39
That all changed in 1990.
40
That year, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act.
41
It led to the creation of the National Organic Program and a unified definition of organic.
42
Food made without synthetic pesticides,
43
synthetic fertilizers, and later genetically modified organisms.
44
It started this movement towards the national standard,
45
which really was helpful to the industry because people knew what they were buying when they bought organic.
46
In 2002, the U.S.
47
Department of Agriculture took it a step further by establishing uniform national standards for the production,
48
handling and labeling of organic food,
49
creating the USDA Organic Seal.
50
Today, organic food in the U.S is a $70.1 billion industry,
51
so there's a lot of money to be made if you can get the organic label.
52
We traveled to Sonora, Mexico to see what it takes and how much it costs to get the official seal.
53
Wholesome Family Farms runs 86 acres of farmland in both the U.S and Mexico.
54
What we do here is all organic.
55
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers.
56
These are what we call tomatoes on the vine,
57
four or five per cluster.
58
These are cherries on the vine.
59
We grow our long English cucumbers or Euro cucumbers.
60
The produce grown here is sold year round at retail grocery stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts.
61
Even though Wholesome has been around for nearly a century,
62
it received its first organic certification in 1992 before turning the whole company organic in 2010.
63
My dad went to school in California in the 60s and read the book Silent Spring.
64
We began experimenting in the 80s and then my brothers and I came to the business in the late 90s, early 2000s.
65
And in 2010, we decided to convert the whole company to organic.
66
Making the switch to organic wasn't cheap.
67
Even before certification costs, there are tons of other expenses that go into organic farming,
68
Like these $5.5 million, six-acre greenhouses,
69
where Wholesome grows 65,000 tomato plants.
70
Greenhouse growing is a popular method for organic farming because it can prevent pests from reaching the plants.
71
It also helps farmers control temperature and humidity for crops,
72
which can help prevent fungal diseases.
73
But greenhouses like these are a big investment.
74
Just one of these structures can cost $55,000 a year to maintain.
75
And greenhouses are just the first step in Wholesome's fight against pests.
76
All this hands-on work comes with a price.
77
says it pays 10% more in labor costs just from pest control and prevention.
78
Once the infestation is in the greenhouse,
79
it's very hard to correct it.
80
They're natural systems, so that means that you can't really control it all.
81
Natural pest control methods like these are typically less effective than pesticides,
82
which can eliminate infestations more quickly.
83
In a conventional field, what you could do is use a pesticide that is strong enough.
84
You might not be able to harvest for a week or two,
85
but at least you've salvaged the crop.
86
For us, an event like that would mean clean it out and start all over again.
87
So we are scouting for whiteflies,
88
angiutatas, aphids, much more carefully than a conventional grower would.
89
is what really kind of drives the economics in agriculture.
90
Our ability to produce is hindered by all the circumstances that we have to deal with.
91
And it reduces our yield for sure.
92
To retain its certification, Wholesome Farms has to pass an inspection every year.
93
They all check all our records of what we did through the year,
94
what inputs we used, how many and how much products we actually harvest, we sold.
95
There's also a lot of tracking of providing traceability to make sure there is compliance with the standards.
96
They will look for evidence that we're actually doing a prevention program.
97
They will look to make sure that the crop is there.
98
Wilsom says all of these additional steps in organic operations cost
99
it 20 to 25 percent more than they would on a conventional farm.
100
And that's all before the price of the certification itself.
101
According to the USDA, the average annual organic certification cost rose from approximately $1,500 in 2014 to around $2,800 by 2019.
102
On top of that, new farms seeking certification have to pay an application fee.
103
And for farmers renewing certification,
104
there's an annual renewal fee.
105
We typically spend about $35,000 in certifying the company,
106
and we have to abide by a regulatory framework established by the USDA.
107
For large farms like Wholesome,
108
these costs are a drop in the bucket.
109
In 2025, Wholesome Family Farms made approximately $105 million in revenue.
110
I think the USDA organic seal,
111
which you can see here in our boxes,
112
is what people know, that that's something that they can trust.
113
According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, 75% of all U.S agricultural sales come from large farming operations,
114
a consolidation trend that extends across the organic sector as well.
115
Some small farms like this one used to be certified organic,
116
but no longer are because they say they can't afford the certification fees,
117
even though they still follow organic requirements.
118
Harry Jones has run his family-owned blueberry farm since 2018.
119
Unlike Wholesome, Bridge Avenue Berries primarily focuses on a single crop.
120
We have almost seven acres of blueberries out there, about 3,800 plants.
121
We filmed with them weeks before the start of blueberry season.
122
We are in central Pennsylvania,
123
right along the west branch of the Susquehanna River,
124
which gives us wonderful soil,
125
which is perfect for growing blueberries.
126
When he and his wife Susan first bought the farm,
127
they saw the benefits of investing in USDA organic certification.
128
If you're USDA certified organic,
129
that's an accomplishment, that's an achievement,
130
and people are going to notice that
131
and hopefully build more value in the marketplace than what we would have if we were not organic.
132
They transitioned to a certified organic farm in 2021.
133
Being USDA certified organic certainly opened up opportunities and the public perception was,
134
woo, clean blueberries to eat.
135
This is good stuff, you know.
136
We had people stop here who said,
137
man, I've looked for an organic blueberry farm for a long time.
138
You're here.
139
We had three local newspapers put it out when we became certified organic and we did see sales increase.
140
We saw people coming to the farm who had never been here.
141
And so that was good.
142
At the time, Harry and Susan sold their blueberries for $3.50 a pint.
143
We knew we had more costs and we knew we had to charge more for our berries and so we did.
144
Still, the cost of staying certified organic started to add up.
145
The biggest thing was the $1,400 a year going out the door.
146
We're a small blueberry farm.
147
So that took a large chunk out of our net profit, really.
148
Harry and Susan decided not to maintain their USDA certification three years later in 2024.
149
But they've continued to farm using organic methods.
150
Just like the farmers at Wholesome,
151
they use natural solutions and techniques to prevent pests and fungal disease.
152
We put out sticky traps and we look for a fruit fly that likes to lay its eggs in the blueberries.
153
But as soon as we see them hit the sticky traps,
154
we will apply a spray.
155
It's called Grandivo.
156
It's derived from soil funguses that some scientists someplace found,
157
which I am grateful for.
158
And that controls our blueberry fruit fly population.
159
We spray a lime sulfur mix early in the spring to control Phomopsis tip blight,
160
which is a fungal disease.
161
Harry says he uses organic fertilizers to keep the farm soil healthy.
162
You take care of that soil,
163
you produce a plant that's healthy and vibrant,
164
and then it produces berries that smell like blueberries,
165
that taste like blueberries, and this is proof
166
that growing organically really makes a difference in the quality of food that we eat.
167
Despite their all-natural growing methods,
168
Harry says, We can't use the O word,
169
the organic word, on any packaging, any promotions, any advertising.
170
Without organic certification, Harry and Susan have to charge less than certified competitors.
171
That's pushed them to sell locally or directly to consumers,
172
which gives them control over pricing,
173
but a smaller customer base.
174
We sell by the pound.
175
And I think this past year we were at $2.70 a pound, $2.70 a pound.
176
It would be nice to be able to charge more,
177
but do you charge more and not sell your product?
178
Or do you charge what you can,
179
the traffic will bear and sell your product?
180
We're not going broke, but are we recovering everything that we've put into this?
181
No, we're probably not.
182
So how do all these costs show up for consumers?
183
Turns out plenty of Americans are still willing to pay extra for that little green label.
184
According to Fortune, nearly 90 percent of U.S shoppers recognize the USDA organic seal and more than 70 percent trust it.
185
Consumers believe in it and they they believe that if it says it's organic that it actually is organic.
186
I think that there still is trust in the government to regulate food.
187
Demand is especially high among younger shoppers.
188
A 2025 Organic Treat Association survey found millennials and Gen Z buy the most organic food,
189
driven by a desire to avoid pesticides,
190
GMOs, synthetic hormones, and antibiotics.
191
But is organic always the healthier option?
192
The short answer?
193
It depends.
194
Organic foods tend to have lower levels of pesticide residue, residue.
195
And some studies show higher levels of certain antioxidants, especially in produce.
196
But when it comes to overall vitamins,
197
minerals and macronutrients, the differences are often minimal.
198
Some researchers have found that there's a halo effect,
199
so people think organic is more healthy.
200
Even though that really hasn't been proven,
201
there's the safety side that it wouldn't have pesticide residue,
202
but there's no there's no scientific consensus that it's healthier.
203
And not all foods benefit equally when it comes to organic.
204
Take a look at the groceries our shoppers bought earlier.
205
According to the Environmental Working Group's 2026 Shoppers Guide,
206
organic avocados and bananas may offer limited benefits in reducing pesticide exposure because they have thick skins that typically don't get eaten.
207
Meanwhile, foods eaten whole, like blueberries,
208
are more likely to retain residues if not grown organically.
209
Meat and dairy products can also have higher pesticide exposure through animal feed,
210
making organic options often the better choice.
211
I buy both conventional and organic,
212
so I'm not just set on only having organic.
213
I actually am more into the quality of the produce.
214
For organic food consumers, there is some good news.
215
The price gap between organic and conventional food is shrinking.
216
In 2021, prices for organic produce cost about 71% more than conventional ones.
217
Today, that gap is closer to 61%.
218
That shift is being driven by more organic production and better supply chain efficiency,
219
which have brought organic prices down.
220
But organic still comes at a premium,
221
even as grocery prices have risen across the board.
222
If things continue the way that they're going,
223
I expect that it will be for the higher income people and not for the lower income people.
224
Meanwhile, the USDA gives small farmers financial relief through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program,
225
which reimburses organic farmers for up to 75% of certification costs.
226
Congress failed to fund the program for 2025,
227
and funding for 2026 still hasn't been released.
228
Other farmers have instead turned to alternative natural certifications, like Harry and Susan.
229
Bridge Avenue Berries has been certified naturally grown since 2024.
230
Certified Naturally Grown is a grassroots program that follows similar standards to organic,
231
but uses peer inspections rather than government certifiers,
232
making it more affordable for small farmers.
233
We're not a mega bazillion pound blueberry producer.
234
We're a small producer.
235
And they also function off of the National Organic Program.
236
Harry says it's also been more cost effective.
237
So instead of paying $1,450 or $1,450 a year,
238
we pay about $350 a year.
239
There are often times that I have to explain.
240
We are still farming organically.
241
We've just changed our certifying agency.
242
And as soon as you say that,
243
people are like, oh, okay, that's good.
244
We just think it's a good fit.
245
And we wanted our customers to be comfortable with the fact that we're being audited,
246
we're being checked, we're being kept honest.
247
And we want them to know that they're going home with good food.
248
you
Tải Ứng Dụng
Có tính năng chấm điểm câu của bạn bằng AI
TRENDING
Phổ biến
Bối cảnh & Nền tảng
Trong video này, người dẫn đã khám phá vấn đề giá cả của thực phẩm hữu cơ, so sánh với thực phẩm thông thường. Nghiên cứu tập trung vào tác động của việc sản xuất thực phẩm hữu cơ đến sức khỏe con người và môi trường, đồng thời chỉ ra rằng sự tồn tại của các chuẩn mực hữu cơ đã thay đổi từ những năm 1940 sau Chiến tranh Thế giới thứ hai. Những lý do như chi phí sản xuất cao, quy định nghiêm ngặt và sự phát triển của công nghiệp thực phẩm đã dẫn đến việc thực phẩm hữu cơ trở nên đắt đỏ hơn. Việc hiểu rõ về sự phát triển của thực phẩm hữu cơ không chỉ giúp bạn có thêm kiến thức mà còn mở rộng khả năng giao tiếp của bạn bằng tiếng Anh.
5 Câu Chuyện Cao Cấp để Giao Tiếp Hằng Ngày
- Organic food costs more than regular food. (Thực phẩm hữu cơ đắt hơn thực phẩm thông thường.)
- What makes organic food so expensive? (Điều gì khiến thực phẩm hữu cơ đắt như vậy?)
- Farmers began using synthetic pesticides. (Nông dân bắt đầu sử dụng thuốc trừ sâu tổng hợp.)
- There was a backlash against chemicals. (Có một làn sóng phản đối các hóa chất.)
- The organic movement increased in the 70s and 80s. (Phong trào hữu cơ gia tăng trong những năm 70 và 80.)
Hướng Dẫn Shadowing Bước Từng Bước
Để cải thiện khả năng giao tiếp tiếng Anh của bạn, đặc biệt là khi nói về chủ đề thực phẩm hữu cơ, bạn có thể áp dụng phương pháp shadowing. Dưới đây là một số bước mà bạn có thể thực hiện:
- Xem Video: Xem video lần đầu tiên mà không cần phụ đề, cố gắng cảm nhận nội dung và các từ vựng chính trong video.
- Nghe Chú Ý: Nghe lại video và ghi chú các câu nói hoặc cụm từ quan trọng. Điều này sẽ giúp bạn làm quen với cách phát âm và ngữ điệu.
- Shadowing: Khi nghe video lần thứ ba, hãy bắt đầu shadow speech. Cố gắng nhắc lại chính xác những gì bạn nghe đồng thời. Đừng sợ sai, hãy thực hành nhiều lần!
- Ghi Âm: Ghi âm lại bản thân khi đang thực hiện shadowing tiếng anh. Sau đó, nghe lại để so sánh với video và nhận diện những điểm bạn cần cải thiện.
- Sử Dụng Phần Mềm: Nếu có thể, hãy sử dụng phần mềm shadowing để theo dõi sự tiến bộ của bạn và đặt ra mục tiêu cải thiện.
Bằng cách áp dụng các bước này, bạn sẽ không chỉ hiểu rõ hơn về giá trị của thực phẩm hữu cơ mà còn cải thiện kỹ năng luyện nói tiếng anh của mình trong bối cảnh thực tế, giúp mở rộng vốn từ vựng của bạn về các chủ đề khác nhau.
Phương Pháp Shadowing Là Gì?
Shadowing là kỹ thuật học ngôn ngữ có cơ sở khoa học, ban đầu được phát triển cho chương trình đào tạo phiên dịch viên chuyên nghiệp và được phổ biến rộng rãi bởi nhà đa ngôn ngữ học Dr. Alexander Arguelles. Nguyên lý cốt lõi đơn giản nhưng cực kỳ hiệu quả: bạn nghe tiếng Anh của người bản xứ và lặp lại to ngay lập tức — như một "cái bóng" (shadow) đuổi theo người nói với độ trễ chỉ 1–2 giây. Khác với luyện ngữ pháp hay học từ vựng bị động, Shadowing buộc não bộ và cơ miệng phải đồng thời xử lý và tái tạo ngôn ngữ thực tế. Các nghiên cứu khoa học xác nhận phương pháp này cải thiện đáng kể phát âm, ngữ điệu, nhịp điệu, nối âm, kỹ năng nghe và độ lưu loát khi nói — đặc biệt hiệu quả cho người luyện IELTS Speaking và muốn giao tiếp tiếng Anh tự nhiên như người bản ngữ.