Strawberries – Big, Yummy, and Organic
I love strawberries. They usually are small to medium in
size but the package I just bought has huge berries! Not only are they big but
they are yummy, too. What a Spring treat.
Which leads me to a distressing subject – the quality of our
food. Strawberries are on “The Dirty Dozen” list. So are cherries, grapes,
spinach and potatoes, among others. This list indicates that certain fruits and
vegetables retain the highest levels of pesticides.
Other than growing our own produce, what can we do to get
the best quality food for our families? Well, I buy mostly organic. What does
organic mean? According to the USDA Consumer Brochure: Organic
Food Standards and Labels: The Facts, “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.”
While there is no way to guarantee that organic food will be
pesticide free (considering the air, water, and soil quality), at least we can
support programs that attempt to produce food without adding chemicals into the
process.
I tend to buy organic, especially of the most
pesticide-susceptible foods. More stores, even the larger supermarkets, are
carrying organic products now. But the choice is ours to make. I see organic
farming as not only offering us healthy foods but also as supporting our
planet. These strawberries are a responsible – and delicious - example of what
can be produced.
Check out “The Dirty Dozen” and find some safer produce
items:
USDA definition and regulations:
If you want more detailed (and somewhat scary) info:
No comments:
Post a Comment