Which Foods to Buy Organic?

[Lynn]

We are now hearing daily about organic foods and why we should purchasing and eating them. For years, our food has been sprayed and fertilized with syntheic chemicals. According to the USDA, Organic farming has become one of the fastest growing areas over the past decade. Between 1990 and 2002, certified organic farms doubled in acreage and doubled again between 2002 and 2005.

Even with this many acres in organic farm production, organic foods are sometimes hard to find at your local grocers. There a few ways to find what you want by shopping at local farmer's markets. This is a great way to find out first hand how your food is being grown and what pesticide practices are being used. According to the Environmental Working Group, the following list are the fruits and vegetable with the least amount of pesticide. These are relatively safe to eat when not grown organically.

1.Avocado
2.Sweet Corn
3,Pineapple
4.Mango
5.Asparagus
6.Sweet Peas
7.Kiwi
8.Cabbage
9.Eggplant
10.Papaya
11.Watermelon
12.Broccoli
13.Tomato
14. Sweet Potato



Of the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories tested, these 12 fruits and vegetables had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy or grow organic:

* Peaches
* Apples
* Sweet bell peppers
* Celery
* Nectarines
* Strawberries
* Cherries
* Lettuce
* Grapes (imported)
* Pears
* Spinach
* Potatoes

Take the time to choose your food wisely. Just a few simple changes in you shopping habits can make a difference in how your body feels.

[Sharon Porter]

Thanks. I thought this was very helpful and concise...something I can tack onto my fridge for a constant reminder. Thought you might also be interested in knowing the different levels of organic you can encounter in the produce section of a supermarket: http://www.shar-on-nutrition.com/?p=352

The marketers and grocers are very sly and sneaky when it comes to letting you know how the produce was retrieved and grown. Educate yourself and enjoy the post! :) Feel free to leave a comment.