Organic vs. non-organic fruits and vegetables
Smart shopping suggestions for the produce aisle
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Buy organic
The foods below are known to contain the greatest amounts of pesticide residue:
Strawberries
Carrots
Celery
Cherries
Lettuce
Apples
Bell Peppers
Pears
Buy conventional
The following items are either protected by a barrier (their inedible skin) or do not get treated with an overload of pesticides:
Pineapple
Mangoes
Asparagus
Sweet Corn
Onion
Avocado
Cabbage
Broccoli
Sweet Potatoes
Watermelon
Bananas
Organic vs. non-organic ("conventional") produce can be a confusing issue for consumers. Organic produce is grown without the use of man-made fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals or herbicides (for a detailed description of what it takes for a food to be labeled “organic,” refer to the USDA's regulations and definitions) but conventional produce is cheaper, and well, it's still produce.
So what's a grocery shopper to do? Check out these lists and facts to know when to buy organic and when it's okay to buy conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables.
Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to purchase organic or non-organic produce.
Cost
Organic produce is typically more expensive than regular produce. Organic crops have a lower production yield, more labor intensive practices — like hand-weeding instead of using pesticides — and are subject to tight government regulations. All of these things add to the price tag. Try to shop at your local farmers market to save money on organic. Just because fruits and vegetables don't have the USDA label, doesn't mean they're not organic. Ask the person selling the produce.
Nutrition
There is no evidence to say that organic fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients than their conventional counterparts. So if it's nutrition you're concerned about, just eating your daily recommended 10 servings of fruits and veggies — whether they're organic or not — should still be your goal.
Health risks
Though it would seem like ingesting a bunch of chemicals would be harmful to your health, there is no hard evidence that the amount of pesticide residue left on your food is harmful to the body. That being said, if you are one that tries to be all natural, go for organic.
Quality
Organic produce may spoil sooner than conventional produce because it is not treated with preservatives. Conventional produce may come in odd shapes and inconsistent colors. For the most part, they should taste the same.
Environment
Organic farming practices are generally better for the environment, as they conserve water and soil, and cut down on pollution.
Hopefully, keeping these things in mind, you will be able to stroll the aisle of your grocery store or farmers' market with produce picking confidence.
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