“But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.” ~ Rachel Carson
Why Going Organic is Worth It
If you are a health conscious person, you may already be investing in organic food, at least part of the time. My hope is that as you continue to educate yourself about the benefits, you will become even more committed to making sure that the fresh produce you and your family consume is as clean, safe, and free of chemicals as possible.
Did you know that, according to Alan Greene, MD, of The Organic Center, the average American is exposed to between 10 and 13 pesticide residues from food, beverages, and water each day? Because we can’t see the chemicals, it’s easy to ignore their existence, but ingesting them on a daily basis adds cumulatively to our body’s toxic load. This is especially unhealthy for children with their small, growing bodies and developing brains.
Protection from Poison
The best way to protect yourself and your family from a chemical soup of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, food irradiation and more, besides growing your own crops, is to purchase organic produce. At minimum, consider buying organic versions of the Dirty Dozen, a list of twelve fruits and vegetables found to have exceptionally high levels of pesticide residues. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), we can reduce our pesticide intake by 80 percent simply by going organic with these twelve items, which include peaches, apples, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, imported grapes, peas, sweet bell peppers, celery, kale, lettuce and carrots.
It’s worth the effort when you consider that by regularly eating non-organic food, you may be consuming, on average, 10 different pesticides a day. If you can’t buy organic produce, you can at least focus on the Clean Fifteen, another EWG resource that lists the top 15 fruits and vegetables with the least amount of chemical contamination.
The Clean Fifteen consists of onions, corn, pineapple, avocado, asparagus, peas, mango, eggplant, cantaloupe (domestic), kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, and mushrooms. You may be glad to know that in addition, cucumbers, tomatoes, bananas, broccoli, and winter squash rank among the least contaminated options. The only exception I would make to this list is corn, which is likely to be genetically modified if not certified organic.
Beyond the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen
These two lists provided by the EWG are extremely useful, but what about other varieties of produce not included on either list? I always wanted to find a more comprehensive resource that would ideally list the items in order of their level of chemical contamination. Well, leave it to the EWG once again. This commendable organization has analyzed fifty-three fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA for pesticide residues and has listed them in order from “worst” to “best,” meaning that the lower the number, the more pesticides the produce contains, and the higher the number, the least. As follows:
- apples
- celery
- strawberries
- peaches
- spinach
- nectarines
- grapes
- sweet bell peppers
- potatoes
- blueberries
- lettuce
- kale/collard greens
- cilantro
- cucumbers
- grapes
- cherries
- pears
- nectarines
- hot peppers
- green beans
- carrots
- plums
- blueberries
- raspberries
- green beans
- summer squash
- oranges
- broccoli
- green onions
- bananas
- cantaloupes
- honeydew melon
- cauliflower
- tomatoes
- papaya
- cranberries
- plums
- winter squash
- mushrooms
- grapefruit
- sweet potatoes
- watermelon
- cabbage
- kiwi
- cantaloupe
- eggplant
- mango
- sweet peas
- asparagus
- avocado
- pineapples
- sweet corn
- onions
What Certified Organic Really Means
According to the USDA National Organic Program, organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled “organic,” a government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards.
Buying 100% USDA Organic-labeled products is also a means of avoiding genetically modified ingredients. The United States and Canadian governments do not allow companies to label products 100% Certified Organic if they contain genetically modified foods.
Why Going Organic is Eco-Smart
Along with being healthier for you and your family, there’s another, very important reason to choose organic produce whenever possible—it’s a major part of an eco-smart lifestyle! That’s because along with biodynamic techniques, organic agriculture is the most environmentally friendly approach to farming.
Numerous studies from around the world over the last 50 years comparing organic soil quality with conventional have found that organic management substantially enhances soil quality. Organic farming also promotes biodiversity. Experienced organic farmers have learned over time that combining multiple crops is the best way to promote soil health. And, as we face a greater global scarcity of safe drinking water, it’s important to note that organic farming preserves water quality by limiting chemical runoff downstream or into underground aquifers.
It might surprise you to learn that conventional farming is second only to mining on the list of the most hazardous occupations. Unless great care is exercised, exposures to toxic pesticides, caustic fertilizers, and other chemicals pose risks for many people working on or living near farms. Since organic farmers refrain from using high-risk chemical materials, they can grow food without jeopardizing their own health, or that of workers and others living nearby.
How to Go Organic on the Cheap
Although organic foods were once cost prohibitive for a large majority of Americans, they are now more affordable and accessible nationwide, even in mainstream grocery stores. This is a direct result of people buying them, thus speaking with their consumer dollar to demand greater access to safe, chemical free food. Despite these improvements, however, organic food is still viewed by many as a luxury. While one cannot dispute the fact that organic food still costs more, on average, than conventional, it is possible to access it on a tight budget. These tips can help:
Buy local
You can often find reasonably priced organic fruits and veggies at your local farmer’s market for a fraction of the cost of what you would find in upscale markets. You may also be able to deal with farms directly. While many small operations are not certified organic, a number of them refrain from using unhealthy chemicals. Others may be in transition, meaning they are phasing pesticides out but are not yet certified organic. It pays to ask. Local produce also tends to be seasonal, making it cheaper as well as fresher and better tasting.
Target Bulk Items
Buying organic items in bulk is a clever way to save money and it is eco-friendly too, saving loads of plastic packaging that might otherwise be clogging landfills and the ocean. Many natural food stores and mainstream markets now offer a wide range of organic foods in bulk, including nuts, seeds, beans, grains, dried fruit, tea, herbs, spices and more. There are also numerous web sites selling bulk organic items, some of which are listed in the Resource section. Purchasing food this way enables you to get whatever amount you want or can afford at the time.
Be Sale Savvy
Another smart way to save on organic foods is simply to zero in on sale items first, even if they weren’t on your list. This is an invitation to expand your horizons by trying varieties of produce that you may not be familiar with. It is very beneficial to expose your family, especially kids, to a wide variety of foods as well. See your market’s weekly circular for bargains, and check out on-line coupon web sites too.
Value All Around
When you factor it all in, I hope you will agree that organic produce is well worth the often slightly higher price tag, and the extra effort it may require to obtain it on slender means. We all deserve to have access to clean, safe food, which is not only healthier; it can also help reduce our risk of cancers which may be linked to chemicals in our environment. Supporting the organic movement with your food dollar will also benefit workers, help preserve increasingly scarce water resources, protect wildlife, and better enable us to safeguard our precious environment.