A post by Julie at A Finger in Every Pie recently got me thinking again about organic and locally-grown foods. I think I will start a category here for this, as it's certainly a subject that can't be covered in one go -- this first post is based on an article in Real Simple a few years ago, which I think is well worth repeating here. Organic foods can be incredibly expensive, and so for those of us on a budget, it can often be difficult to buy what is best for one's family with what's in the pocketbook. Here is a list of things to start with, the organic Top Ten, as it were:
Apples According to the FDA, more pesticides are found on apples than on any other fruit or vegetable. If you can't find organic apples, peel them before eating. Look for apples from New Zealand, which are treated with about half of the pesticides as those in the U.S.
Baby food The fruits and vegetables in baby foods are treated with chemicals, which are more harmful to a baby's immature immune system than to an adult's. Real Simple recommends the Earth's Best brand. You can also make your own fresh purées by processing organic fruits and vegetables in the blender.
Butter and milk Dairy cows are fed grains that are heavily treated with pesticides, and the cows may also have been treated with bovine growth hormone and antibiotics, all of which have a significant presence in dairy products.
Cantaloupe Cantaloupes often contain five of the longest-lasting chemicals used, including dieldrin, which, although banned in 1974 still persists in soil and can be absorbed into the edible portions of these melons. If you can't find organic cantaloupes, wash the outside thoroughly, as a knife can drag chemical residues and bacteria through the flesh as it is cut.
Cucumbers The Environmental Working Group ranks cucumbers second in cancer risk and 12th in "most contaminated food" in a survey of 42 common vegetables. If you can't find organic cukes, wash thoroughly and peel them before eating, since the waxes used to make them shiny can retain the chemicals.
Grapes Grapes ripen quickly, tend to mold, and attract insects, so they are especially prone to chemical use. Grapes from Chile are treated with as many as 17 different chemicals. If you can't find organic grapes, buy domestically-grown grapes, which are treated with fewer chemicals.
Green beans The Evironmental Protection Agency has registered more than 60 pesticides for use on green beans. If you can't find organic beans, choose fresh beans over canned or frozen, and wash them well.
Spinach Chemicals used to treat spinach may cause cancer or interfere with hormone production. If you can't find organic spinach, wash it thoroughly before eating.
Strawberries Strawberries are one of the most contaminated of all produce items in the United States. If you can't find organic strawberries, choose locally-grown ones, as there will usually have been less spraying.
Winter squash Winter squash, like cantaloupes and cucumbers, has a tendency to absorb dieldrin from the soil. If you can't find organic squash, buy Mexican-grown varieties, as the soil there is largely uncontaminated by dieldrin.
