Table Talk
When should you buy organic?
I often wonder about this. After reading The Omnivore's Dilemma earlier this year, I was even more conflicted. I certainly want to use fresh and healthy ingredients, but I also understand that there is some hype and lots of money being made off of the term, which makes me even more skeptical about the actual value to the environment and my body. This article, written by Lisa Ryckman, was in the Rocky Mountain News October 23, 2007, and puts forward a very clear approach that appeals to me.
"Is it worth it to buy organic? Sometimes, but not always.
An analysis of 100,000 federal pesticide tests by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research organization, found that some produce is simply more contaminated. The group's study found that people are exposed to about 20 pesticides a day eating the "dirty dozen": apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.
Scientists disagree whether the low levels of contaminants you're exposed to in conventional produce would be harm- ful. But if you'd rather not take chances, it's probably worth it to pay more for organic varieties of those fruits and veggies, particularly if you have kids.
But it's probably not worth it to spend more for asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples and sweet peas. Research by the EWG found that pesticide residues are rarely found on those."
