Get to the Market!

When to Dig Deep for Organics When You’re Strapped

By Brooke Hewes, 7-21-06

Sustainable foodies often tend toward a “local” or “organic” preference depending which they deem more environmentally responsible. Most are likely to say both is best, but when strapped for cash, which way is a foodie to turn? In Missoula and other New West cities with robust farmers’ markets, the “local” is taken care of. And more, organic is offered, too. But when it’s not, or when it’s price prohibitive, seeking out alternative suppliers or digging deep for the extra dollars to buy organic is, in some cases, worth it.

Like with apples. And bell peppers. And celery, cherries, grapes, nectarines peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.

On the other hand, non-organic, or “conventional,” asparagus, avocados, bananas, onions, mangos, kiwis, pineapples, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, papaya, and corn are OK (or at least less contaminated).

These lists were complied in 2003 by the non-profit Environmental Working Group based on more than 100,000 tests of the top 46 fruits and vegetables by the USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

According to the EWG, consumers can reduce pesticide intake by as much as 90 percent by heeding these recommendations, which can be downloaded as a wallet guide from there or the USDA’s National Organic Program website. All findings consider how produce is prepared -- that is, because most folks wash spinach and peel bananas before eating, spinach was washed and bananas were peeled before being tested.

USDA Organic food is defined as being grown and harvested without pesticides, bioengineering, radiation or the use of synthetic fertilizers. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and diary come from animals that have not been injected with antibodies or growth hormones. And while the effects of pesticide exposure are not fully understood, they have been linked to cancer, birth defects and other illnesses. As EWG says on its website, “pesticides are toxic by design.” So best, perhaps, to be cautious. Or at least, aware.

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