Useful extras
November 05, 2008
Learn about the ‘dirty dozen’
Challenge Yourself for: 24 Hours
That $4 organic avocado got you stymied? Good news: According to the Environmental Working Group, some produce retains relatively low pesticide loads, including avocados, onions, pineapples, mangos and sweet frozen corn. However, other produce retains pesticides at much higher levels. Here’s a list of their so-called ‘dirty dozen’:
1 Peaches (worst)
2 Apples
3 Sweet bell peppers
4 Celery
5 Nectaries
6 Strawberries
7 Cherries
8 Lettuce
9 Grapes
10 Pears
11 Spinach
12 Potatoes
Today, challenge yourself to make a list of the best produce to buy organic and stash it in your purse or wallet. Use it as a reference the next time you’re at the grocery store.
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5 comments
This is so interesting, I am going to start my homework!
does anyone know why organic produce costs more in the store, but less to grow?
This is a good question, but it might have something to do with shipping and storage possibly?
Also, check out this very informative website about why you should avoid these 12 dirty dozen fruits and vegies. It might be worth the price or just worth avoiding all together! That is of course unless you can grow your own.
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=15241
WE are doing a TON of local shopping at our farmers market this spring!! I am so excited to have healthier food to look forward to (and warm weather!)
Organic foods cost more for a few reasons. I recently read ‘green goes with everything’ and it was very insightful. First, companies that dont grow organicly often get a stipend from the government. Also, to get the USDA organic seal, you need to keep very complete records, which is time consuming. And, where they seem like the produce less expensive to grow because they dont have to buy chemicals, some companies have to buy machinery (such as devices to keep birds away from berries-or other things to keep pests away from the fruits and veggies without chemicals); in general, organic farming is simply more time consuming.