Friday, May 18, 2012

To Buy Organic or Not to Buy Organic?

That is the question.. 

Do you walk the produce aisle wondering what and when to buy organic? I did. Organic produce is usually more expensive so I wanted to know where to best spend our hard earned money. Which is what prompted me to research what produce is necessary to buy organic and what produce is not as concerning.

This list is the "dirty dozen" from the Environmental Working Groups current list.  In other words buy these organic:
  • Apples
  • Celery
  • Strawberries
  • Peaches
  • Spinach
  • Nectarines
  • Grapes
  • Sweet Bell Peppers
  • Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes
  • Blueberries
  • Lettuce
  • Coffee
  • Wine
  • Chocolate

So WHY are we buying organic?  There are many reasons we need to consider buying organic foods. The USDA Organic label tells you that fruits and veggies were not farmed using manmade chemical pesticides, fossil fuel, sewage-based fertilizers (eww) or genetically modified seeds. On meat, the label indicates that the feeds provided met those same standards, and that the animals weren't administered hormones and antibiotics. Bottom line: "Organic" is more sustainable and healthier -- for the environment and farm workers, certainly, and often for you and your family.
What makes organic healthier? Some studies suggest that organic produce has more nutrients than its conventional counterparts, probably because the soil is left in better condition after repeated plantings; and healthier because you avoid ingesting harmful pesticide residues left on conventional produce.
The fruits and vegetables on this list (see below) were the least likely to have pesticides, after typical washing, whether or not they're certified organic. In other words you can probably get away with buying these conventional. 
Here's a look at the Environmental Working Group's 2011 Clean 15 list:
  • Onions 

  • Sweet Corn 

  • Pineapple 
  • 
Avocado 
  • 
Asparagus 

  • Sweet peas 

  • Mango 

  • Eggplant 

  • Cantaloupe (domestic) 

  • Kiwi 

  • Cabbage 

  • Watermelon 

  • Grapefruit 

  • Mushrooms
So read the labels on your produce, if the sticker has:
FOUR DIGIT NUMBERS beginning with a 3 or 4 it is conventionally grown, non-GMO produce.

FIVE DIGITS BEGINNING WITH AN 8 means the produce is GMO, genetically modified (AVOID)

FIVE DIGITS BEGINNING WITH A 9 means it is ORGANIC


Regardless of what produce you are buying WASH IT before consuming!!

We use Basic H2.  One teaspoon for a sink of water or a couple drops in a bowl of water does the trick. This is just one of the 1001 uses for Basic H2..  Love it! :-) 


Information from www.dailygreen.com and EWG.




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