Organic produce: Just the facts, please!Want to buy organic produce, but don't think you can afford it? Not sure if it's even worth the extra cost? What does organic really mean anyway? Here are answers to all three of these questions and more!
WHAT DOES ORGANIC MEAN ANYWAY? Luckily, these days "Certified Organic" means more than it did a few years ago. Back in 2002, the USDA set standards for what organic means and that little green and white seal can only go on food that meets those requirements. Here are the Food Label Guidelines set by the USDA: "100% Organic" will only be used on products that contain 100 percent organic ingredients. "Organic" on a food package will indicate that the product contains 95-100 percent organic ingredients. "Made From Organic Ingredients" can be used on products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. Organic ingredients can be listed on the side panel, with no organic claims on the package front, if the product has less than 70 percent organic content.
Avoiding pesticides in your family's diet is a great reason to buy it, but there is also the environment to consider. You are protecting our water, air and soil as well. That's because organic farmers don't use pesticides and other hazardous chemicals on their crops. And that makes for a healthier world for everyone! Plus, organic produce just tastes better! Farmers have to ship to stores as close to harvest as possible to avoid spoilage. So, organic produce is fresher when you buy it!
If you can't afford to buy everything organic, here are the top twelve fruits and vegetables you should try and buy organically when possible. (They have been found to contain the highest levels of pesticides even after washing!) FRUIT: 1. Apples 2. Cherries 3. Grapes (imported from Chile) 4. Nectarines 5. Peaches 6. Pears 7. Raspberries 8. Strawberries
VEGETABLES: 9. Bell Peppers 10. Celery 11. Potatoes 12. Spinach
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