howdy~ how readily can organic foods be found on the AT nowadays? naturally some towns have always been more progressive in this respect; still,has there been a significant difference in the ease of finding such items in (less) popultaed towns? do convenience stores stock such items? i ask in comparison to a near decade ago. on that note, what have most folks done having choosen to follow a predominantly organic diet? mahalo!
leslie
Not very readily. The only place I saw, without really looking too much, was the Co-op in Hanover. And it was expensive. A few larger groceries have organic sections (probably significantly more than 10 years ago), but there are very few of those in trail towns–maybe a couple in VA (Daleville, Waynesboro?) and New England (Salisbury, Kent?). Once in a while you’ll see local stuff during harvest season and it may be organically grown. You will not see such food in C-stores.
Garlic
A few of the towns in the south have a grocery store big enough to carry organics, but most didn’t when I was hiking last year. I resupplied more than once at a Dollar General or gas station, and you sure don’t find organics there. There was more available in New England.
Your best bet is maildrops except in areas with big name groceries. I would guess you could find organics in Hiawasee, at the town near Fontana Dam (Robbinsville?), Gatlinburg, Franklin, Erwin, Pearisburg, Troutville, Waynesboro, Front Royal, and Duncannon. My memory of the north is sketchier. 
I know I saw organics in Kent, Salisbury, and a few other places.
Mrs Joy
In all honesty…after hiking for a month or so many, if not most vegans eat a little meat. While nutrition is important, and the wise hiker chooses the best available options along the way, it is not really as important where the food comes from (ie…organic/or pesticide laced) as long it is there. I would not be surprised if after reaching Waynesboro you even stoop to consume a piece of food lying on the ground in Shenandoah Park. Hard to believe? It is amazing what hunger will do to the pampered soul. :boy
stealthblew
If you are really committed to eating organic food on your hike, power to you. Dehydrating your own food and mail drops might work well for you. If you don’t want to make a lot of mail drops, Mrs Joy has listed towns that probably have organics and the Thru-Hiker’s Companion Guidebook lists the towns with bigger grocery stores that probably have organic food. I hiked occassionally with a lady who was vegetarian starting in Maryland. She stayed committed to her diet throughout her hike. She had a lot of mail drops, but it worked for her. She told me that she lost 30 pounds. Whenever I was around her, she had energy to spare. The last time I saw her she was heading down from her summit of Katahdin and her plans were to keep on going to Canada. You can stay committed to an organic diet, but you will have to work at it. Good luck and my apologies, Leslie, for my flippant reply to your post a few days ago regarding comparison of hiking vests.
Wingo
Wingo
I’ve done a little reflection on my last post concerning organic food options and realize I may be a bit caviler. I had a vision of hiking the AT with gear in tow starting around 10-12 miles a day for a couple of weeks… then 12-15 through Tennessee and North Carolina… and 15-20 through Vermont …and the rest of the way slowing back down in parts of New Hampshire and Maine. Yet, I do remember meeting a couple in 07 (Papa Smurf and wife) a week outside of Waynesboro, VA who had claimed to have practically slacked pack the whole way up to that point. This couple was retired, over 60 years in age, and enjoying their adventure. I do not know if he participated in Trailjournals. With slack-packing, often the ride at the end of the day returns the participant back to the relative comforts of a Hostel or Inn. The trail has a tremendous support system and the well heeled hiker has many options regarding their particular style of hiking. I suppose for a few extra dollars the trail angle offering his services would not mind swinging by an upscale health food type of grocery stores where they might exist. On a more personal note, I choose to purchase the majority of my supplies at home and use mail drops to ensure a higher quality of food than is often available within walking distance of the trail. Bob’s Red Mill Cereal’s (stone ground grains), raisons, a brand of rice called Texamati (royal blend-three varieties), Just Vegetables (line of fruits, vegetables, onions, garlic…all freeze dried), tuna packets, and an endless supply of cliff bars were the bulk of my diet. I found these staples quite palatable while on the trail. Regarding stooping to pick up a piece of food off the trail…Higher mileage hiking days with higher mileage between resupply points will drive the hiker to ponder consuming the M&M found laying on the trail. (provided of course some other hiker has not found it first).
stealthblew
hey all. mighty do appreciate the information. sounds as though mail drops are the avenue of choice for an “organic” approach. can anyone recommend a “reasonably” priced website (or two) to purchase such items in bulk? do SAMS and costco’s carry any items of this nature? thanks again kids.
leslie
If you’re highly committed to an organic diet you’re right in thinking you will have to mail drop most of your food and consider drying some or much of it yourself. Doing this work turns out to be a very rewarding part of a hike, but is a lot of work. A couple ideas- Trader Joe’s is a good and reasonably priced option if you are close to one for much of what you might want, Mary’s Farm on the web, JustVegetables at many co-ops and stores and online, doing a search for “organic backpacking food” and related searches will yield many options. There are books available to help in assembling dried meals and ideas for such. I used The Back-Country Kitchen by Teresa Marrone and liked much of what I prepared. It isn’t tailored for backpackers or organics, especially. One other advantage to dehydrating and mailing food is the quality of the nutrition compared to the norm is a plus in maintaining strength during a hike. I’ve shared this before, but I think most hikers are malnourished by the time they complete a long hike. I hope some of this is helpful. Also, freeze dried food is pretty expensive, but is light in weight- just add water. Steathbrew- Papa Smurf and his wife Flame did a car shuttle thing with another hiker in 2002 and they posted a journal on TJ, not sure if it’s up still.
John Mattes
Leslie,
Looks like you’re going to have to forget organic foods unless you want to haul a 50 lb. pack of dehydrated items or deal with near-weekly mail drops. The AT is no place for a specialty diet (Kosher, Vegan, gluten-free or anything else). You’ll be lucky to find or haul enough food to replace 5,000 calories a day. My guess is if you make it to North Carolina, you’ll be eating M&Ms, twinkies, pizza, AYCE Chinese and Mexican buffets and sausage biscuits like most folks.
Good luck and I hope you will be able to find what you want.
Biker Karl
Biker Karl