The majority of the fruits and vegetables found in our supermarkets today are pretty, but they are largely denuded of their essential nutrients and may contain substances that are highly detrimental to our health and well-being.

Modern agriculture has allowed the farmer or fruit grower to attain higher and higher yields from ever smaller amounts of agricultural land. The resulting produce grows faster, is more pest resistant, holds up to the shipping process better, and looks more appealing in the market. All of these positives come at a price, however. The true extent of this price may be fully coming to light only recently.

Many proponents of a 100% organic diet suggest that most Americans are literally starving themselves while living in the land of plenty. While chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and genetic manipulation--the centerpieces of modern agricultural industry, have allowed farmers and orchardists to produce a greater yield of more visually attractive food, the resulting crops are saturated with chemical residues, many of which have not been fully tested to establish long-term exposure safety in humans. In addition, petrochemical derived soil amendments and fertilizers produce foods with highly degraded nutritional benefit compared to their naturally occurring state.

Conventional producers often use breeds of crops genetically modified for appearance, shipping hardiness, and pest resistance, but they lose flavor in the process.  Organic produce also has a better taste because they are grown in optimum soil conditions and don't have chemicals in them that may mask natural flavors.

Organic produce contains more vitamins and essential nutrients. Tests have shown organic products to have significantly more of the trace nutrients that promote many aspects of a healthy life, ranging from cancer prevention to relieving the symptoms of PMS.  Eating the recommended daily amounts of organic fruits and vegetables gives you nutrients levels that even a multivitamin can't match.  

The lack of chemicals involved in organic farming also helps protect the environment.  When harmful pollutants are put into the soil, they can offset the natural balance, killing not only harmful pests, but also beneficial insects, soil microbes, and nematodes. These chemicals can also work their way into streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, and underground water supplies, polluting the environment and possibly contaminating drinking water.



One significant example of the detrimental effects of agricultural chemicals can be seen in the numerous algae blooms seen in lakes and rivers around the world. These fish killing blooms are associated with high nitrogen content in groundwater caused by fertilizer runoff from farms and orchards.

If you want the benefits of increased food safety, but cringe when you see the higher price tag, you can curb some of the costs by only buying certain organic produce.  Different fruits and vegetables contain differing amount of harmful chemicals.  

Some produce should always be organic, if at all possible:

• winter squash
• green beans
• grapes
• spinach
• potatoes
• tomatoes
• strawberries
• raspberries
• peaches
• apples
• pears
• cantaloupe

Other types of produce have lower levels and are safer to eat when grown conventionally.  Typically, foods with thicker skins that are not consumed harbor lower levels of contaminants, though these foods may still lack nutrients when compared to their organic counterparts.

Production of organic products also includes a pledge by the farmer to help conserve valuable natural resources. These producers conserve water by using less irrigation, they conserve soil by taking measures to prevent runoff, they also may conserve valuable energy resources by working the land less and selling their food locally.  By not using dangerous chemicals and by keeping natural non-farmed buffer areas, organic producers also help to maintain wildlife biodiversity.  The main goal of an organic farmer is to grow their crop sustainably, without causing harm to the local environment.  

Take away message:

1. When possible, choose organically grown foods.
2. Strongly consider buying your organic foods from local farmers and producers by frequenting farmer's markets.
3. When possible, grow your own food using natural organic matter as fertilizers and no pesticides.
4. If you absolutely cannot afford organic foods, wash your food well and peel before eating.